Happy FOUR, Evelyn!

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Happy FOUR, Evelyn Han Huizhen! 

Two years ago, we were just home from China and she spent her 2nd birthday in the hospital.  Last year, she'd just had a rough surgery up in Columbus, Ohio and felt rotten.  So this year her birthday feels extra special, and is filled with a heavy dose of gratitude. This girl.  She taught us to celebrate and has challenged us to focus on the beauty of all our todays.

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We celebrated with all her favorites: Lay's potato chips, cheese, strawberries, watermelon and rolls of deli meat.  Her cake boss daddy even worked his magic to make her Daniel Tiger cake dreams come true. 

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We invited the cousins and a couple friends over and called it a party.  Of course, she's was ready with a most appropriate favor.  (That we later forgot to give!)

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They giggled.  They sang.  They ate.  They giggled.  They ate again.  They rolled in the grass. 
They giggled more.

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A special birthday bonus was that her beloved "Baby Charlotte", who is newly home from China, partied with us.  Evelyn has prayed for over a year for this special one (who was too busy playing to be photographed well!), and was even requesting a "Baby Charlotte" party.  So, her presence was akin to having Princess Elsa make a party appearance!  All Evie's birthday wishes came true!

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Sometimes you see a kid doing kid things and it feels like a miracle.  

Happy FOUR, Evelyn Han Huizhen. You are a spunky, silly, music loving "big helper".  Your little giggle is the best ever and we all love when you say "idea" before your crazy suggestions of what we should do next. 

And your stanky legs?  The most hilarious. 

Courage, dear heart.

Make Way for Ducklings Par-tay!

When little creative ideas come, what fun it is to say yes!

After reading Make Way for Ducklings, Sophia's little creative juices started flowing with dreams of a book party.

We've had a whole lot of stuff going on, so the girls needed some attention, and some make a big old mess kind of fun.  And a book party?  Yes, please.

We said yes to the party play-date, and invited some pals over for some duck focused good times.   

 Daddio made the welcome sign, and the girls did all the rest. 

Goody bags are top priority, and their's included a duck coloring sheet and some duck-friendly snacks. 

They had a big time covering the house with duck decorations. 

Finally, any good party planner knows that the eats must go with the overall theme, so we came up with snacks that the ducks ate: peanuts, worms and fish!

When our friends came over, we read the book, watched the book being read on DVD, and played a couple crazy rounds of duck, duck, goose in dress-up clothes!

  The little artists learned to draw ducks, ducks

and more ducks.

All the ducklings had a great time, and the little party planner beamed the whole time. 

And Claire's beloved duck has gotten extra lovin' and squeezes ever since. 

Beach Birthday

Last weekend we had great fun celebrating a friend's fourth birthday
at a (new to us) local lake beach. 

With sand and surf, BBQ, buckets, shovels, M&M cupcakes and friends,

it was the perfect laid-back bash. 

And the evening topper?

Chilling lakeside with a couple kindreds.