Candles are best deep in the cake!

We celebrated Uncle Tyler's birthday a week or so ago, and Mary Ellen loved having another birthday party to go to. She wanted to be a big helper, including putting the candles in the cake. She found her own way of doing it, and decided that it is best when they are deep in the cake! It gives it a little extra flavor and flair!








Mary Ellen had to blow out the candles, too, so we did it again for her to blow out.


Mary Ellen thought the the new water hose home was a mailbox, so she put Tyler's birthday cards in it.





Uncle Tyler and Aunt Rayni taught ME how to show off her "guns!"


Mary Ellen watching the presents be open.


And this is not from Tyler's Birthday, but we went to the indoor playground at the Church of the Rock Creek. Mary Ellen liked playing, but she really liked the fish tank the best.

Go getters to the River Market

If you keep up with Mary Ellen, then you know that she is a go getter. Always into something and goes, goes, and goes, until she falls asleep. But, in this case, the Go Getters is our Senior Adult Ministry from church. I had planned an outing to the River Market for them, so we went along. Mary Ellen loved walking and seeing the farmer's market and loved the trolley, which she called her special ride!


Waiting for the trolley with Daddy


"I told you I didn't want my picture taken!"


Very excited about being on the trolley



Mommy and Mary Ellen


Part of the group who went with us


Mary Ellen was very excited to see the water from the trolley. At one point, she told us that she saw a shark. That is something new for the Arkansas River!


After she got her picture taken, she thought that daddy needed his picture taken too!

Beginning adventures of a 2 year old

What do you do, once you turn two? Well, you have lots of fun and begin exploring more and more. Mary Ellen has definitely done that this week!

Mary Ellen began the week playing with Caroline and keeping an eye on Emily, or as Mary Ellen says, "Baby!" I think that this will soon be the 3 musketeers causing all sorts of trouble!




Next, you have your 2 year old check up. Now, they don't let her just run around naked, but have a special gown for her. Her 2 year stats were great! She weighs 32 lbs and is 35 3/4". She jumped in her height from being in the 75 percentile to 90th. I knew that she was growing, but WOW! She also did everything the doctor asked, including opening her mouth and saying, "Ah!" She had to get one shot and didn't even make a beep. She was just excited about the bandaid.


The week has also been filled with trying out many new toys. Her she is flying around with her new fairy wings and wand.




We had a trip to the River Market park. Mary Ellen was ready to explore a lot more than she did when we went almost a year ago, so there were not many pictures taken. I was having to climb after her.


And the week ended with a great evening out with Caroline and her family eating pizza! The girls loved it from the salad bar to the the pizza to finishing with the dessert pizzas!

Mary Ellen's 2nd Birthday - A Garden Party

MARY ELLEN IS 2! We had a great day celebrating her birthday! It was a garden party with perfect weather and wonderful family and friends. This post has a lot of pictures, but it was hard to narrow it down. Hope that everyone enjoys sharing in Mary Ellen's special day through these pics!

First thing in the morning, Mary Ellen found her house that Mommy and Daddy gave her for her birthday. She began playing in her pajamas and didn't want to stop.




She loves checking the mail in her mailbox.


Once I got her dressed for her party, I tried to get a picture, but as you can tell she was too busy and went back to playing in her house.


Party prep is in full motion. Mary Ellen is checking out the "cake."


The table for the cake. The flower pots were edible along with the cupcakes and the edible flowers and worms on the the cupcakes. It was our own edible garden patch.




The food spread! The sandwiches were in the shape of flowers, and the flower pots had pinwheels as the flowers.


Party is about to begin! Mary Ellen looks out the window and watches for her guest to arrive!


We began with playing outside with bubbles, Mary Ellen's new wagon, on the slide, in the house, and many other toys!
















Mary Ellen had to check everything out. She was watching the babies sitting on the blankets playing and wanted to see if Jack would crawl to her.





Picnic Time!




Spectators looking on!




Mary Ellen has her hands in 2 bags of chips. I guess the birthday girl gets what she wants!


Mary Ellen giving a little love to Jack!


Cake time! Mary Ellen loved hearing everyone singing to her and was prepared to blow out the candles as soon as the song ended!






Mary Ellen enjoying a worm!




Present time! Mary Ellen loved opening the presents that I couldn't even keep up. She would quickly open it and then move on to the next one. I was exhausted when we were finished. She was ready to play with everything!



There was a break in the present opening when Mary Ellen saw the Clifford coloring book. She had to read it!







Showing her her new kitchen. She tried to just tear into the box.


Dancing to the singing card. We played it over and over again!


With Uncle Tyler and Aunt Rayni


With Mommy and Daddy


It was hard for her to give in for her nap, but when she woke up, she was ready to play again and found that her kitchen had been put together. She went right to work!




And finally, playing with her new baby doll, her first Cabbage Patch Doll.


So, that is a recap of the big day. Thank you to everyone who was a part of this day both near and from far. Mary Ellen loves everything and is excited about playing with and wearing all of her new items. The start of year 2 has begun with a bang, and I know that it will be a lot of fun and many new adventures!