Shamu - my fave

I love Shamu.

(and baby Shamu, and mommy Shamu & all the other Shamu's)

But Steve would not permit this hat to leave the store on my head.

Wise choice?... :: sniff sniff ::

Here they come...

I have over 600 pictures and videos to edit from our best Christmas ever vacation to Disneyland and SeaWorld. I'll start with the videos of Piper's favorite event....

:: Dancing with Princesses ::

{the new princess fairytale land is a little girl's dream come true}

-here is the Royal Walk with Ariel, Belle, and Minnie Mouse...

- Then the coronation ceremony and royal ball, with Cinderella, Snow White and Princess Aurora... (they teach a couple dance steps, then bring out the may poles)

- the first time we did this, Cinderella handed Piper a ribbon and Piper was so overwhelmed that she just stood there in amazement, then dropped the ribbon and watched as everyone walked around her...

Happy Birthday Piper!

Piper turned 3 today!

We've been celebrating all week, so today was pretty mellow. {She did have to stick a candle in her muffin this morning and blow it out several times while singing 'happy birthday'.} We actually were on our way to McDonald's ("megan donalds" as Piper calls it) for a birthday dinner (Piper's choice), when she fell asleep at 7:30pm tonight. So her happy meal is in the fridge waiting for her to eat it as breakfast tomorrow, I guess.

::update:: She then awoke at 10:30pm (she didn't have a diaper on & therefore wet the bed) and started crying hysterically because we didn't go to McDonalds. We tried to explain that we did go, but she fell asleep, and her food was in the fridge. The explanation didn't go over well. And, to make a long story short, we headed back to McDonald's at 10:30pm on very icy roads to satisfy the birthday girl.

At 3 years old, Piper is 40 inches tall and weighs 30 lbs.

She loves her doggies, Georgia & Zoei.

She also loves "fries & Coke" (Sprite actually).

She is constantly singing and dancing, and has just discovered the Disney Princesses.

She is always talking, many times just rambling on and on about nothing.

She hates going to bed and is really trying to end daytime naps. But in her prayers she always says, "bless that I'll go to sleep."

She still isn't a good eater, but loves the minestrone soup at the Olive Garden.

She despises most breakfast foods and sandwiches, but will usually eat a a few bites of a hot dog or pepperoni pizza. She is somehow surviving mostly on milk.

Her favorite food is "treats".

She is getting to know most of her colors, but not letters, and can count to about 14 before jumbling up the numbers.

She is a tv-aholic, but loves to read books too.

She is really into using scissors lately, and has cut her hair, a brand new dress, and one of her doll's outfits.

She likes to use the phrase, "Don't worry 'bout me, Mom." when about to do something naughty or dangerous, or "Go into the office and work, Mom."

Another favorite phrase right now is, "I have a good idea..."

Piper, we love you!!

Celebrations

Cake #2 - half 'castle' for Piper / half 'tire' for my brother, Ryan (he owns an auto repair shop).

Piper has been asking for a train for her birthday since she saw one at IKEA a month or so ago. Steve said we should get her something more princess-y. So we got her a princess/ballerina dress up. She loved it (along with new slippers from Ryan & Momi).But Grandma K. got her the train.And Grandma S. made her this cute pillowcase with her name cross-stitched on it.On the way home I asked her if she liked the train or dress better. The train!This was her first reaction to the princess castle when she saw it for the first time.

(I only took video at party #1 - I may or may not get it edited and posted this week.)

Prepping for the long-awaited birthday

Piper thinks it's her birthday a lot. She often wants something from the store telling me it's for her birthday. Mostly she just wants to blow out candles, over and over. So with her birthday less than a week away, and Grandma & Grandpa in town, let the celebrations begin.

Cake #1 - for Sunday dinner with Steve's family {also celebrating Uncle Mike's birthday}. The ice cream cone turrets were a hit with the kids who just wanted to fill the cones with ice cream - no cake. However, Piper is finally having a piece of cake now - it's 9:30pm - that seems about right. {and yes, this is the reason I was late to church today}

Cake #2 - check back tomorrow - dinner with my side of the family...