Happy Birthday Big Girl Elle!!

Happy Birthday Elle! My baby girl is 3! She is growing up so fast! She's just short of 40 inches tall and speaks to everyone, about everything, all the time - unless she's decided she's "shy" momentarily. She LOVES her dance class. She started tap and ballet class last month and wishes she could go everyday. She also started a once a week Child's Day Out program, that she loves most days. She is certainly proud to carry her own Dora lunch box into school and hang it on her hook labelled "Elle."

Elle is a dedicated dresser-upper starting each day with a carefully picked dress-up gown and shoes - the shoes being the most important element of the outfit. (So much like her daddy, about the shoes, not the dressing up, lol) Her favorite dress is a little unconventional: her Dora night gown. You can see it in the "Huntie Cafe" post.

YEAH! The newest Grandma dollie! My mom made this amazing little doll from her late mother's bathrobe. She's been making one for each of her grandchildren's birthdays this year. Here is Ellie's! So beautiful! She gushes pink and lacy and ruffly and girly, complete with jeweled slippers and crown. PERFECT to represent Elle. And as you can see, Elle approves.





In true Adams fashion, I decorated Ellie's bed with streamers so she would be celebrated the moment she woke up. So fun! I'm pretty sure Michael and Huntie were more excited about it than Elle. Oh well, she'll get the hang of it eventually. LOL.



We had birthday cake at grammy and papa's house on Sunday with daddy before he left for Norway. I made a doll cake, like my mommy used to make for me. SO fun! I really had a blast decorating that cake. I hope Michael likes doll cakes because I will be making them from now on, lol. Nah, I'll leave the rest of the cake making to grammy.


Elle was clearly pleased. *success*




This is what happens when you layer pink strawberry cake batter, then funfetti cake batter, then strawberry cake batter in a glass bowl. Looks SOOOoo cool!! Not to mention yummy.

A New Rule

The other day, before bed, Michael asked if we could make a new family rule. I said, "Sure, what do you have in mind."

He said, "I don't know, just a rule."

I said, "OK, how about make your bed when you wake up - before you get out of bed."

He said, "nah, not that rule."

So we laughed and he went to bed. The next morning he had done it! What an amazing little person. He is my Captain Moroni, a valiant and obedient spirit.

Happy 34 Kevin!!

YEAH! Happy Birthday Kev!

We celebrate our favorite councilman, vice president and daddy of the century on his 34th birthday!



Kevin's mom made his all time favorite birthday cake - homemade cherry cheesecake! In fact, she made lots of cakes! No one was left wanting as there was more than enough cake to go around. Especially since I also made my handsome husband a cake out of his favorite cookie: peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

Huntie Cafe

Huntie woke up before anyone else and created the BEST Huntie Cafe EVER! She set an impeccable table complete with flowers and tablecloth. Elle was the first to discover it and enjoy the cheerful ambiance.


She was quickly joined by the proprietor. I love my Huntie!!

Letters from Grandma

Of all my kids, Michael enjoys this family tradition most of all - pen pal with grandma. Grandma Adams started this tradition just after our first Family Reunion in 2007. She created beautiful boxes to remind each of the grandkids of our amazing time together and then provided them with cards, envelopes and stamps to write to her. She promised to always write back. She has always kept her promise.

Michael knows whenever he writes grandma a letter he can expect one back in just a couple days. So when he especially misses her, he starts to writing. Thank you grandma! We love this tradition.

Care for a Spot of Tea?

Huntie has taken her love for the culinary arts to the playroom. Auntie Janice bought Elle a ceramic tea set when she babysat her the other day, so Huntie helped Ellie break it in with a tea party of apple juice and sliced peaches. YUM!

Huntie kept telling Elle, "this is tea Ellie!"

Ellie promptly replied, "NO Huntie! This is apple juice!"

After failing at the make believe at least 5 times, Huntie conceded, "OK Elle, this is apple juice."

LOL! What good sisters! I love to see them take care of each other.

Super Sally is Famous!

Well to me. Kevin's little sister was in the paper today and I couldn't be prouder.