my four year old!

After the little bug party with Lucy's friends I gave into her endless requests for a Tangled party. On Wednesday March 30 we celebrated our sweet little miracle's fourth birthday! Unfortunately Lucy was struggling with a yucky cold but once the family party started she was able to enjoy herself.

Rapunzel and her locks all over the cake - you'd think the idea of this might disgust me enough not to eat it but no - Dick's Market cakes are the best.

It was a small gathering with gammy & poppa, Caitlin & Brinton, Coleman & Calah and Lucy's great-grandma 'Nani' - after the gifts inside mommy & daddy took Luce outside for her 'big' gift!

Her reaction...squatting?

And then a run in her wings and rain boots to her new playhouse!

When I first saw this in the store I kind of started to cry. I wanted this more than Lucy - because I've wanted one for almost thirty years!

Blake and his brother Brad put this all together in only one Saturday afternoon. Once the weather settles down we have BIG plans and Lucy's going to have a third of our back yard to herself!

We hope you had a wonderful birthday baby -

we love you so, so, so, so much!

Thank you for being ours.

ladybug bash

On Saturday our 'buggy' had her ladybug party with all her little friends --

and I do believe it was a success!

We met at the Sprout House at Red Butte Garden and started with smocks and painting pots.

ladybug balloons

ladybug earrings

followed by a lesson in ladybugs

then the hunt was on for aphids in the garden

8 of our bug friends - 3 must have been exploring

once the aphids were found and pots were dry it was time to plant

present time!

and as each present was opened the kids moved in closer and closer!

So cute to see all of them so excited for Lucy to open her gifts.

My favorite part of the party was seeing all of the kids in their ladybug masks! All through the garden little ladybug faces would pop up.

I just have to say...this group of kids was so fun to be around. Without siblings, cousins or school Lucy has met most of her friends through our friends. And these are the most adorable, funny, smart little kids. It was such a joy to see them all play so well together and I just love all of them. Blake and I are lucky to have some really great friends and now Lucy is just as lucky.

a happy, happy girl who has some lovely 'bug' friends!

tea time

Last Sunday my mom invited Caitlin, Lucy and me to Afternoon Tea at Grand America for our March birthdays - and it was grand!

Lucy held onto her invitation all week asking if we would

- have pink tea

- use spoons

- use sugar

- have tiny cakes

and lucky for Lucy she got to do all of that and more!

Caitlin got all three of us sweet little gifts for the occasion.

We opted for the couch seating instead of the normal tables so Lucy could be within reach of everything and pick her own items (only two broken glasses!). We started off with fruit, crackers and cheese, choice of tea and champagne (only for Lucy and me). Next was mini sandwiches and scones with fruit spreads and cream.

We pretty much devoured the three tiered tray and it was little awkward when the waitress asked if we were finished...and all that was left was a lone green olive slice and crumbs.

Maybe at tea you're supposed to leave a little on the plate...

or not!

The dessert tray came next and it was delicious! We were seated right next to a harpist and Lucy was thrilled. She kept saying "oh I love this song."

After tea we had to check out La Bonne Vie Patisserie - we wished we lived there!

Very appropriate birthday hats everyone should have.

It was such a fun afternoon, thanks mom!

the birthday bowl

I'm not sure what the best part was of Caitlin's bowling birthday bash:

- finding out my parents haven't bowled in 40! years

- the pizza factory bread torches

- 3 of us talking about past back issues and all secretly hoping for no injuries

- watching Lucy's dramatic sing and dance routine when Justin B.'s "Baby" came on

- knowing that we only were playing one game

We really had such a fun night and I think some of us might opt to start picking activities for our birthdays instead of my snoozer senior citizen birthday breakfast at little america.

(Coleman was up to bowl during this pic and Blake disappears when I have my camera)

Happy birthday - bash sister!

princess makeover

On Saturday Lucy's princess dreams came true!

I actually let her out of the house in princess garb (Rapunzel to be exact)

and we met our girls Angie and Dakota for a full princess makeover.

The stylists at the Paul Mitchell school used their brightest blush, pinkest gloss and created a fog of hairspray to please these princesses.

The presentation...

Lucy especially liked the manicure with a lovely deep purple hue that still hasn't come all the way off.

Rapunz & Belle

After princess overload Angie and I were in desperate need of some caffeine and lunch so eventually we found a place that was open but walked in and they sat us in the dark. Well, the whole restaurant was dark - and empty. The staff acted like nothing was wrong and Angie and I both went into mini panic attack mode when we heard there was a major power outage in the area. We're both nervous like that but once the chips and salsa came we enjoyed our afternoon eating in the dark. It was an odd but very, very fun afternoon with two of our favorite friends!