Eliza Turned 3

In April we celebrated Eliza’s third birthday.  We had a small(er) party with mostly family including a bookworm/literature theme and asked everyone to bring a book to donate to the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital.  Of course that meant Eliza got some books as gifts, too, and we had to stop opening presents so she could be read each one.  She was quite excited.

Lynne created a cool book mobile, and a bunch of decorations from pages of some classic children’s stories. Old kids’ books were also all over the house.

Eliza sported a book-themed skirt made by her Gram.

Reading “Tangled” even though she hadn’t seen the movie yet.

Eliza got some princess puzzles, and put them together repeatedly for the next few weeks.  She really likes puzzles, and we had to get her some with 50 pieces to challenge her.

The food include “worm” pasta salad, fruit salad, a “dirt” pudding, and, of course, chocolate cake

Drinks were apple, mint, tea punch served in mason jars

Two days before the party was Eliza's actual birthday, and she was thrilled to open some "princess" presents. It had only been two months since our Disney visit and time in Florida where we learned that the best place to buy kids' things is a Goodwill store in Florida. Thanks to all those wonderful grandparents, the Goodwill we went to had so many great princess things for lower-than-garage-sale prices. Eliza received a set of Disney fairy outfits, complete with jewelry accessories, wings, and headbands. The sets were red, green, and blue, and our astute little girl realized those were the same colors of Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty. She also got a wand, Disney books, and a Disney pretend oven that uses magnets to make cakes and cupcakes "magically" rise. We love Goodwill, and we love that Eliza loves "the treasure store," too.

Grandpa Smiley’s 90th Birthday

In October we celebrated my grandfather’s 90th birthday in West Lafayette.  My grandparents met Matilda for the first time and we had a wonderful time honoring Grandpa Smiley with my cousins and extended family.

Our Cookie is Two

To celebrate Eliza’s second birthday, we had a “milk and cookies” themed party.  This included twelve types of cookies (two courtesy of her grandparents) and a cookie sandwich cake.  Of course, I had to make a lot of decorations and utilize my mom’s expert sewing skills!

We had three different kinds of milk available (2%, whole, and homemade chocolate – Kirk refused to serve skim), and we served them out of traditional glass jugs into glass Ball canning jars.

Eliza’s favorite cookie of the day was the chocolate spritz.  It was my favorite cookie growing up, and I’d always ask my grandmother to make them.  We aren’t sure how many Eliza grabbed throughout the party.  If I had known I wouldn’t have placed them so close to the edge of the table.

Eliza loved seeing some of her friends and family.  Thanks for celebrating with us!

It’s become difficult to get a picture together where Eliza isn’t saying “cheese” with a funny face.  These were also taken after all those cookies and cake, so she was easily distracted!

Eliza Turned Two!

Celebrating Eliza’s birthday this year was quite fun for us.  Eliza knew what was coming as the day approached, and she loved asking us to sing the “Happy Birthday” song to her.  Kirk was able to take a long lunch with us and we had a great family day.  It was perfect and we had a lot of fun together and some great laughs.

When I was around Eliza’s age my grandfather made me a doll house.  I loved it and played with it for many years.  It hadn’t been touched for almost twenty-five years (I can’t believe I’m so old!) and needed a good cleaning and “renovation.”  I didn’t realize how much time it would take to “flip” a doll house, and a few weeks before her birthday my dad helped me get the project started.  After a lot of sanding and delicate painting, it was done…at least for now.  I even added some pink shutters to the outside that I think my grandfather would have liked.  However, he’d probably be mad that I painted the wooden trim white, although I left the stairs as-is under strict family orders.

Eliza got new furniture for the doll house thanks to her grandparents.  This was definitely needed since some of the older furniture is thinner and easily broken.  She loves moving the dolls throughout the house, changing the baby on the changing table, and having them all cook in the kitchen.  Of course she has to put them all to bed, too.

We went to Patachou for lunch since it’s one of Eliza’s favorites.  She loves their French toast – and this time she had it with poached pears.

Eliza’s Gram came over to see her, too, and they read some new birthday books together.

We ended the day with a special dinner outside (after some quality playtime outside, too).  Now she wants to eat dinner outside every day!