Kaitlyn's 3rd Birthday!

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY Kaitlyn!

3 Years of happiness!
12 seasons of wonder!
36 months of laughs!
1096 nights of sweet dreams!
1096 days of joy and blessings!!

Kaitlyn is THREE today! How exciting for a little girl to be three!! Today she awoke to a beautifully sunny day (blue skied and warm!). My good friend Alexandra sent Kaitlyn a birthday gift last week (I peeked last night and knew it had to be the first gift she would open today). It was a BEAUTIFUL summery, strawberry dress which was a perfect match with her Strawberry Shortcake birthday theme (THANK YOU ALEX)! She looks like a princess in this dress with the flared, full bottom and feels like one too! She twirled and spun as she put the dress on....Excitedly she sped downstairs to the birthday room .Krista and I were awake until midnight last night decorating the family room with balloons and streamers and setting out her gifts. Her big gift this year is a princess bicycle! Her FIRST bike with training wheels. She loves it...although for the moment it is Krista and Erik who are pushing her around on it but I know it won't be long until she pedals on her own. Infact, after her nap today we'll head out and see if she can do it by herself. I predict by the end of this weekend she'll be a pro on it!

After she played on her bike, we opened a few more gifts..She LOVES puzzles so she got about 4 puzzles and of course her Barbie doll from yesterday. Toomas made her pancakes for brunch and she ran around ( or was pushed around on her bike) all morning. She was exhausted and is soundly sleeping now. This afternoon we'll open a few more gifts---A Strawberry Shortcake bedding set which will accompany her in her transition into her BIG GIRL bed in the next few weeks, and a few coloring books and reading books left to open for tonight. We plan on taking the bike out later today too and then ordering...you guessed it--PIZZA for dinner! And for dessert cake and ice cream! :) A fun day for a big girl! Happy Birthday Sweet Kaitlyn!!!!

Here's her big girl bike!!!


A video of Kaitlyn opening her new dress from Alexandra and Gabriel!

Robeez from Gabriel!

How thoughtful are Alexandra and Gabriel? Very! We received our SECOND gift from Gabriel yesterday-- our second pair of Robeez, but this time in the beautiful shade of pink! Kaitlyn just LOVES them as do I! Alex and Gabriel sent us a Christmas package back in mid-December , but unfortunately the Fed-Ex guy was a bit of an air-head and did a switch-a-roo with Banjo's and Kaitlyn's gifts from Gabriel! There is a funny post with little Banjo wearing the shoes intended for Kaitlyn! Anyway, thoughtful Alex went WAY out of her way to send us a new pair of Robeez. Thoroughly not necessary, but we must admit we LOVE them! THANK YOU GABRIEL, you know the way to a girl's heart----SHOES!!! And these are not only just shoes--they are developmentally designed and VERY comfy looking! Check out the Robeez website, it is amazing!

Kaitlyn checking out her new shoes

A happy girl!

And finally a big CHEER to Gabriel and Alex!

The REAL Santa

Today was a special day...not like any ordinary day. Today we met Santa, the REAL Santa. There comes an age when the kids start asking who is the real Santa Claus. There is a lot of confusion out there--all the Santas at the malls and shops... all dressed up and all looking so different. Today however, we found him. The real Santa Claus.

In fact today he tapped me on the shoulder when Erik and I were standing in line at Atac grocery store. He had white hair, beautiful blue eyes and the rosiest red cheeks you could imagine. I'd say he was about 75 years or older..but his age doesn't really matter and in fact his looks don't matter either. There wasn't a beard, but if there was he sure would have resembled our idea of what Santa should look like. The fact is... I KNEW he was Santa by what came next....He said he noticed my son in the toy isle. He said he noticed that he seemed to really want something--a BIG stuffed teddy bear. He said he was playing with it and then put it down to stand in line with me. He asked my permission to buy this bear for Erik. He said he would only do it if I said it was okay. I was floored! Erik had indeed seen and played with that big bear..and like a good boy put it back when I told him we had to leave. He didn't ask for it, beg for it, but it WAS clear he would have loved it. So next...this kind soul took Erik by the hand to the toy isle and let him choose what he would like. He proceeded to buy this gift for Erik...and nothing else...just this gift. He paid in cash and he walked away.

We barely had a chance to thank this gentle man. Erik did manage to give him a big hug though before he left and I uttered to him that "maybe Erik had just met the true Santa Claus." He didn't deny it.. he just kindly looked at me and said, "maybe he did." He walked away, I was speechless. We ran to the door and he had disappeared, just as magically as he had appeared---this wonderful soul bringing kindness and happiness to my son.

Thank you Santa and to all the Santa's out there who bring kindness, joy and love to others. All of those who act in the spirt of the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Gifts!!

Well...you know it is Christmas-time when Fed-Ex and UPS start visiting you more frequently! :) We had two pleasant surprises this a.m. with some boxes filled with gifts!

First off was the arrival from Alexandra for Kaitlyn. THANK YOU GABRIEL for the Christmas present! What a wonderful and unexpected surprise that was! We LOVE surprises so that just made our day :) I can't wait for Christmas so Kaitlyn can open her gift! You guys are so thoughtful!

Then we had the box from Mike arrive. The kids just love getting those Christmas boxes from Uncle Mike! Lia always does such a nice job wrapping too. Ooooh and gormet Hazelnut Creme coffee for me. I'm so spoiled! Anyway, WE ARE SO EXCITED for Christmas. These little deliveries at the door just make the season so exciting and fun! THANK YOU Alex, Mike and Lia!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Christmas came early!

I'm so excited! Kaitlyn got to open an early Christmas present today from Banjo and Lauren. What was it??? Well, it has to be the CUTEST jacket sweater EVER!! Handmade from Chile, I might add. A rare gem! This was so very sweet of Banjo and Lauren! Now we have to go Christmas shopping (luckily one of my favoite things) to find an equally cute gift for little BJ! THANKS LAUREN :)

Baby Shower Gifts!!

I had good intentions to email photos of Kaitlyn wearing her fancy presents from all of you, but.... (insert standard excuse here___).

So finally, a few pictures of Kaitlyn enjoying the wonderful gifts she received from her birth shower. Here are just a few, but the thank yous are MANY!

XO

Kaitlyn

Outfits from:

The Below Family, Montserrat Enrich Mas, The Darcy Family