Little Red

Another year has passed.
It is so hard to believe that Matilda has made Nate and I parents for FOUR years now.

And she continues to make me so happy to be her Mom.
I love watching her grow into her own skin, becoming more comfortable with herself.

She has a tender heart, and listening ears. She likes to learn, and do puzzles.
A silly streak, and a cautious approach to things that she is uncertain of.

She is an observer. A great big sister. An ear-rubber and finger sucker (at least for nap time!).

There is never too much time that passes before she poses her next question, whether it be why a squirrel can balance on the fence and she can't, or where do buttons come from, this girl is always thinking.

We hosted 10 of her little friends over for her Little Red Riding Hood Birthday Party and it was everything you would imagine 90 minutes with that many kids in one house would be. Loud. Silly. Fun. Crazy. Hectic. Amazing.

Little Red Storytime

Waiting for the door to open to go on our Red Riding Hood Scavenger hunt

Matilda wasn't quite sure it was fair that Bea got to have a GIANT egg hunt for her birthday, so we had to get creative on how to incorporate some sort of 'seek and find...'#justicepolice

Making Masks

Cupcakes courtesy of Grandma Nancy!

Waiting to be devoured

So sweet

The finished product

Balloon Dance Party should have been called Screamfest

Happy Birthday Matilda!

The anticipation of the cake!

Make a wish!

And just like that we have a four-year old.

I cannot believe we are lucky enough to call her ours.

And how fast time is going.

It seems like just yesterday I was crying to Nate saying "I just want her to be an age that I can DO stuff with her."

 And now I am crying to Nate saying, "It's going to go too fast. Pretty soon she is going to be way to cool to play with us and just want to hang out with her friends. Can you invent a time machine??"

We love you Matilda!!!

Summer Lovin'

This maternity leave continues to get better. Day after day, the thought of work creeps in and makes me wish I could figure out how to strike it rich (or at least rich enough to not have to worry about losing our house and car) so that I didn't have to go back to work. Can you blame me? This is who I am hanging out with each day....

Sure, he can be cranky at times. Definitely poops his pants more than the average human. Drools. Spits. And has recently discovered the joy of making fart noises with his mouth. But....he is also smiley. And snuggly. And pretty damn cute.

We have busted out the exersaucer which is the perfect little entertainment center for Odie, while the girls run around in the backyard. And as a double bonus acts as a little fortress of protection from Bea.

The girls...well they like water. Water for washing rocks. Water for washing much. Dump it out and start all over. I love games like this. That require just imagination (perhaps some would call it manipulation) and whatever you can discover laying around your backyard.

We haven't busted out the swimsuits yet. But personally, based on this picture, I am quite ok with it. Check out Bea in her little undies. GIves me extra motivation to potty train. That booty.