Holiday festivities (a birthday included)

We like to end the year overloaded with celebrations...Christmas parades, 9 month birthdays, Christmas, a 3 year old's birthday and New Year's Eve.  It's hard to believe we have already been parents for 3 years (and we still like each other...most days)!  At 3, Harper has all the vocabulary and attitude of a teenager, but still such a sweet innocence about her (if only that would stay forever).  She seems to pick up on everything from our social vocabulary and tone to how we speak to Silas and models it all perfectly.  She often brings things when we go out, "just in case" we need them or gets "frustrated by traffic."  When she receives a gift she says in the most perfectly adorable way, "Oh, thank you so much!"  The "thank you so much" phrase is also uttered when I clean her room, make something especially yummy for dinner or help her with glitter glue projects.  She loves to play school, doctor, dentist, write letters, do puzzles, and her absolute favorite thing to do is play me to her baby's.  "Baby" can be her Pooh bear, an actual baby doll, or any other stuffed toy works.  She feeds, carries, strolls and puts her baby in time out.  Our favorite is when she gives us instructions on how to take care of "baby" while she goes out to dinner with her friends (I swear we don't go out that much!).  She certainly keeps us on our toes and has us jumping between hysterical laughter and tear-your-hair-out frustration.

Silas, at 9 months old, is crawling with the speed of sound, babbling every sound but "ma ma", and charming everyone he encounters with his movie star smile and lovable belly laughs.  He watches his sister intently whenever she is around and tries earnestly to follow her every move.  He really likes eating and has decided that he no longer really cares to be fed, but would prefer that everything he eats be the perfect size finger food so he can feed himself (I'm still trying to figure out what to do with yogurt).  He loves to be outdoors, spotting the nearest leaf in 2.2 seconds and promptly choking it down.  He loves to dance and I mean for real...whenever he hears any music, even my terrible singing, he starts to rock in place.  The best part is he rocks to the beat of the music.  Thank goodness he has my rhythm. 

Although this life as four is hectic, we have realized that we are so lucky to have these two. For they have taught us what true unconditional love is.  No matter how tired or frustrated or hopeless or scared we may feel at times, we still, simultaneously, feel rocked-to-the-core in love with our Harper and Silas.  It really doesn't seem fair that we are living this life!

Enjoying the Seal Beach Christmas parade

One of our many Christmas deliveries came packaged in a "bed" for Harper.  She slept in this box for 2 weeks at nap-time and fell asleep at night (we moved her once she was asleep) there, too.

Big Sis pushing Si in the "swing that Nanu built"

Aunt An and Grammy came to celebrate Christmas with us.  This is how Aunt An gets Harper dressed for bed :)

Our first Christmas in our own home as a family of four.
We are so grateful for all the mailed gifts-our tree looks super impressive because of you!

This Christmas morning business is no joke!

Someone's happy with what Santa brought him

It was such a happy day!

Princess Harper-her first Disney dress-up dress...Thank you Nana & Nanu

And thank you Aunt Deirdre for the awesome tutu

Aunt Andrea took us on our first trip to Disneyland.  Harper's first ride...the Teacups.  I think she liked them!

"It's a small world..."

Grammy had fun too...And I can't tell you how impressed I was with how quickly she was able to get up on this horse.  Who says 70's old?

Lunch break at Disneyland

Tarzan's treehouse-fun but not loving the monkey sounds coming from seemingly nowhere

Aaaahhhhhh, ahahahahah, aaaaahhh-Tarzan

Grammy and Harper waiting in the never ending line for the Jungle Cruise

Finally, we're on the cruise...lots of fun!

Happy Birthday, Harper!  We love you so very much!

Daddy did such a fabulous job on the decorations and
Silas loved the sloppy seconds of playing with the wrapping paper :)

We had 3 of our best friends over to celebrate Harper's birthday...Ansley, Leah and Grace (Ansley's brother Landon was sick and sorely missed).  Amazingly, Harper was still super shy and uncomfortable when we all stopped to sing her "Happy Birthday" which reinforced our decision to have a low key party this year.  We had Lucille's BBQ for the adults, Mac n Cheese and chicken for the kids, and Curious George cupcakes for the birthday cake.  It was an absolutely perfect celebration for Harper's 3rd birthday!

I'm not that mother...I promise.
Harper was so overwhelmed with the singing she insisted I help her blow out the candles.

The sweetness of this day and picture simply warms my heart and brings me to joyful tears

All the kids were excited for the awesome gifts that Harper received.  We were so grateful for the generosity and thoughtfulness of everyone there and those that sent gifts.
Harper is one lucky little girl and we never hesitate to remind her. (wink)

Aunt Andrea was the real star of the party.  She rushed in with a fabulous ice pack whenever someone got hurt and best of all, she was the tickle monster in the ballon tent.  Now don't get too excited about this ballon tent...it consisted of our 4 man camping tent with balloons inside.  The kids thought they'd died and gone to fun heaven.  

Such a fun day and fabulous way to wrap up the year.  See you in 2013!