Let's Get Cooking

Natalie is in a helping stage right now. She LOVES to help...mostly with tasks that involve heavy vaccums, sharp knives and hot stovetops. So, when we think of something relatively risk free that she can actually help with it's so nice to be able to include her. This week she made granola bars with Nana (I have a great recipe if anyone is interested...I started making them about a year ago when we found out about Natalie's peanut allergy and I had a difficult time find them at the store that weren't made on shared equipment with peanuts!)

She mixes, she stirs, she tastes, she licks the bowl and then she even helps clean up. Fun.

Birthday Party

It's been a while...I apologize. It's been a crazy month! We celebrated Natalie's birthday a few days after our little groundhog turned 3. We enjoyed an afternoon with friends at the park again this year, although, just like Natalie's park party last year, the day of our big event was cool and rainy even though the weeks before and after were sunny and gorgeous. But the sprinkles subsided by the time everyone arrived and we were able to concentrate on the only sprinkles that mattered to Natalie...the ones on her cupcakes!

We are so blessed to have met some wonderful friends here in AZ. Because we've lived all over this valley in the past year and a half, most drove quite a ways to celebrate with us and we really appreciated it.

Jackson and Jude

Miss Carrie and Peter

Aris

Brooke

Peter and Mr. Rick

There were quite a few other little friends that joined us but between refilling the chips and salsa bowls, keeping little hands away from cupcakes until cupcake time and catching up with great friends we weren't able to get everyone on film! Sorry about that!

Corey bought her a balloon bouquet and she carried it around the ENTIRE party. It wasn't hard to spot Natalie amongst all the other little party guests and park visitors. After the party she and Nana walked all the way home, Natalie carrying her balloons the entire way.

Why is it that balloons are always the favorite gift?

Happy and Fwee

Natalie is 3 today! Or as she would say, "I'm fwee!" It was a sweet day for our little sweetie. Her Nana and Papa Franc arrived from Michigan last night so they were able to join her while she opened presents and enjoyed her brownie cupcake!

What a delight our girl is...when she wants to be. When she doesn't want to be?..well, that is another story. But, it's all part of being fwee, I suppose!
She's pure entertainment most of the time and for that, we're very grateful.





Yes, this face is for real. Can you believe this? You'd think she'd just opened a package containing a live bunny or something...but no. It was a freakishly large My Little Pony that came with oodles of hair, hair accessories and her very own comb and blow dryer. It was obviously a hit!
We love you like crazy, Natalie Ann!