Lucy's Third Birthday

 Lucy, what a change from infancy to three years old! 

(Pictures on the left taken within a week of her birth.)

 The centerpiece for Lucy's day. Flowers from Grammy - thanks mom! 

The day was SO full of wonderful things - and to top it all off Brad made this amazing video that captures the fun spirit and so many sweet memories from the day! If you haven't seen it already on Facebook, please watch it now:

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Isn't that the best thing ever? It made me cry the first time I watched it and I melt a little every time it ends... Lu's little sentiments are too much. 

We started the day a bit earlier than anticipated! We really wanted to beat Lucy awake and wake her up with singing - but the fact that she was in with her brother meant that she got up even earlier than we thought! I had set an alarm for 6:30 but at 6:26 I heard some sounds from the monitor! We still went in and sang, but Lucy was "faking" her sleep at the beginning of the song! 

After a breakfast of blueberry muffins we opened three gifts. 

Playing with her Playmobil sets - she got this one and this one. A friend of mine laminated some scrapbooking paper for Lucy to use as "flooring" and it's worked perfectly!  (Thanks Michelle!!!) We added some living room furniture from our other doll house stuff to help round out the home. :) 

My mom and sisters were here from San Antonio to enjoy the day with us and we had a great morning playing, we even got to Skype with my dad and sister Jana mid-morning! Our new age of technology is so great. We had an early lunch - which we were all ready for! That's what happens when you wake up at 6:30 and are half done with breakfast by 7:00! :) After lunch we all put on our swim suits and headed to the water park! Pampa has a really nice one but we haven't visited it too often with our kids. It took them a bit longer than I anticipated to warm up to the idea of the water - there was a lot of mist because of the wind and my kids aren't a fan of sprinklers or showers so they had to adjust to that - but eventually she started exploring and being a bit more independent. :) She ended up having a good time! Once Michael warmed up, he was a bit too adventurous! Goodness - that boy does not have a healthy sense of caution sometimes - but he enjoyed splashing around and trying to blow bubbles into the water. :) 

My exhausted girl (can you tell?) enjoying her snow cone after a fun trip to the water park. :)

"I love you more than ever." She loves her elephant so so much and it makes me happy. 

 While Lu napped I frosted and decorated her cupcakes. Anyone who knows Lucy well, knows that she loves to make "Beds" for her things. 

From little figurines... 

...to Uncles, Lucy loves making beds!

 Anywhere will do! Rocking chairs... 

...and dining room floors too! Lucy loves making beds! 

So in honor of my bed-making girl, we decided to make little beds on her cupcakes. We used Air Heads, cut into thirds, for the pillows. Sour Patch Kids for the Kids (Duh!), and Rainbow Ribbon (also made by Air Head) for the blanket. Because Lucy's bed sheet is green, we decided on green frosting to top off the strawberry (PINK!) cupcakes that our girl chose. I am really happy with how they turned out. Unique and cute - just like our three year old. 

 

Lucy checking them out after her nap - she liked them a lot! :) 

And so did Michael!

Dinner was Pizza (Lu's request - don't think that's the only birthday meal we enjoy at our house!), Strawberries and bean salad. We had our cupcakes and then FaceTimed with Grandma Lori and Grandpa Wayne while we opened the rest of her gifts. Because it was such a special day, Lu stayed up until 9:00 (two hours past her bed time) - I don't think she stopped talking from 5pm to when her head hit the pillow, she was so excited! 

For any who are wondering, Lucy LOVES her fishing game! She goes fishing and then ether feeds the fish to the "Big Bad Wolf" (What??) or fries them up in a pan and eats them. Haha! She cracks me up! Lucy also received a tent (much larger than mommy and daddy anticipated - but it folds up into a very small bag, so it's all good!), some games, art supplies, duplos, books and a bubble machine. :) 

It was a fabulous day! For both Brad and I - 3 years old signals a shift from toddler hood to little girl. Our Lulu is no longer a baby and is growing up - it's very bitter sweet. But we are SO thankful for the blessing that is Lucy Jo in our lives. She's pretty great. :)

Now that the birthday is done - it's time to start packing boxes! Phew! From one thing to the next - I'm hoping to share some house pictures on here in the next few weeks. To document some changes we've made and also so that I can remember this great house after we've gone. :)