birthday tea party ...

For Em's birthday party this year she decided that she wanted a big girl tea party. We had so fun much even planning the party. The whole family got involved. I made pretty "grown up" invitations" on scalloped notecards (she picked out the notecards herself).
The party was so nice and definitely worth all the work. Riles decided she wants the same party idea for her birthday. When I explained to her that that may be hard since her best friend is a boy she said "he can have a Spiderman tea cup".
We had a craft table for the girls to decorate their gift bags. I am so sad that I forgot to get a picture of it, but for favors I made each girl two sets of bows for their hair and a personalized set of notecards. The logo that I used for the stationary for each girl, I also used for the lollipop bouquet.
Favorite foods: butterfly and heart shaped PB& J sandwiches, french toast, and fruit
Least favorite foods: chicken salad sandwiches on croissants"Tea" was apple cider and strawberry lemonade.
I had organized so many tea party games, like pin the tea cup on the saucer and

musical chairs but the all the girls preferred playing with Mike. It was so funny!! They thought that everything he did was so hilarious. They literally copied everything he did and chased him around. He was such a sport.

We had a Cupcake Cake. Each girl decorated their own cupcake. We also made so many other traditional tea party desserts (thankfully my friend Becky came over the night before and end up helping bake) that most girls were too full too eat cupcakes so we sent them home with their cupcakes.

What a fun party. Her friends are so sweet. They were so excited to be at a real tea party. Most importantly, she and her little sister really loved it. And that is worth cooking until 1:30 a.m..

IT'S VALENTINES DAY

AND

I LOVE DINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I decided to break my long-standing no blogging policy in honor of Dina, the best wife and mother I could ever imagine. If you've spent any time at all on our blog, its pretty easy to tell that she is amazing. I can't even begin to describe how lucky I am. Unfortunately, I am also at work, as usual, so I really can't begin to describe how lucky I am. Let's just say that Dina is smart, beautiful, patient, fun and beautiful, and that I love her more than anything.

Happy Birthday Em!

Em just had her birthday. We just love that sweet girl. I remember praying and praying that Mike and I would have a baby. When I kiss her goodnight I still whisper to her that she was worth the wait.
I feel like I have already learned more from her than I could ever teach her. I really am a much better person because of her.
She is so kind. I have never met anyone more kind than she is. She has always had this amazing ability to find other children in her classroom that need special attention and be their friend. In all reviews at school, the teachers always say that she has a unique talent of making other feel accepted.
She is also so obedient and intelligent. She never ever wants to let Mike and me down. It is so sweet. She is very determined and dedicated in everything she tries. This girl loves LOVES to learn. She has this great wonderment for all things science.

But mostly I love the way she loves. She loves completely and is loyal. She lets the people she loves know that they are loved and important to her. Yesterday during tennis lessons, every time she had a great hit she would run over to me and kiss me and say “that was for you, Mom.”
We love you, Em!
I really really like these girls of ours.
Now, if only I can get them to share and stop being so competitive with each other!! But, other than that …

mash potatoes bad guys and pensive love

" Daddy, I'm not gonna eat my mash potatoes. They look like bad guys."
~ from Riles (who normally loves mash potatoes, as long as they are shaped like fish or other non-combative shapes)

"Mommy, I just don't know why I love you so much. I weally don't." ~ a very contemplative and somewhat confused Riles.