Animals at School

Last week was our week to host school again. We did the usual painting and play dough.

We celebrated Audrey's third birthday with popcorn and muffins.

We took turns planting some flowers on the balcony. (That was...hmmm...interesting.)

But perhaps the best part of the whole week (and perhaps the whole school year) was having a special, furry guest for the day. Teacher Vickie brought her cat, Tipper, for animal week. 

She didn't play with the toys I carefully selected for her, or drink from the bowl of water I gave her, but she roamed around and didn't mind all of us little people poking and pulling her.

 Oh, man. I really, really, really want a kitty of my own.

Love and only nine more weeks of school,

Zadia Love

Mini Me

The older Aiyana gets, the more she resembles me. Both in appearance and in personality. And most definitely in her actions.

"I think we see Daddy!"

Ring around the Rosie and ruffled skirts. 

Admiring the Magnolia trees.

Mommy, we think you missed a spot.

Sisters? We think so.

Sharing an outdoor snack.

Party girls.

Love and an adorable mini me,

Zadia Love

Little Shoppers

There's a grocery store in the neighborhood with kid-sized shopping carts. We didn't need anything really. We just went for the carts. We picked up a lot of produce we didn't need, including some mushrooms (which I've never had, but claim I like), a few handfuls of dried fruit from the bulk section (oops, was I not supposed to stick my hand in there?), cheddar bunnies, and a box of my favorite cereal.

Love and serious shopping,

Zadia Love

Pigtails!

Just when you thought I couldn't get any cuter, Mommy puts my hair into two little pigtails. Even Zadia tells me I'm cute. Then you ask her what she is and she says, "adorable." (We're not very modest here.)

Love and pigtails,

Aiyana Eden

Stop And Smell The Cherry Blossoms

It was a little cold and the cherry blossoms weren't all in bloom yet, but we still loved being amongst the beautiful flowers and trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

It's so difficult to get pictures of me and Zadia together. Zadia was surprisingly cooperative and affectionate, but I like to do what I want to do when I want to do it, and having a tender moment with my sister was not on my agenda.

Yup, this little girl likes to have a little space sometimes.

Love and the sweet smell of Spring,

Aiyana Eden

Don't Forget About Me

There was so much excitement and prep for Zadia's parties. But has anyone wondered what I was doing while everyone else was busy planning Zadiapalooza?

I wasn't completely neglected.Nona and Grandma Marcia were pretty quick to sweep me up into their arms.

 

When I was left to my own devices, I was often seen with something in my mouth.

 

But mostly I was shadowing my big sister and learning how to be a pretty little princess.

Love and little sisters,

Aiyana Eden

Purple Princess Party: Part 2

My second birthday party was on Sunday and this party was for my friends (even though I already celebrated with most of my friends at school earlier in the week!) I had a few very specific requests--chocolate cupcakes with purple frosting, homemade strawberry ice cream, light and dark purple balloons, and presents for my friends with their names on them. 

 Mommy added a few touches of her own--a cupcake tower, white chocolate pretzel wands, flower-shaped PB&J sandwiches, Grandma Marcia's custom made chocolate lollipops, and a princess throne (made from Mommy's old mosquito net.)

And what's a princess party without magic wands and crowns?

I didn't want to mess up my perfect pigtails with a crown, but my friend Audrey and her little sister, Aisley, looked very pretty in their theirs.

My friends especially loved the throne. Perhaps the boys more so than the girls.

I was very excited for my purple princess party and had been looking forward to it for months. But of course, as soon as my guests arrived (in total 12 kids and 17 adults) I got a bit overwhelmed and spent some much needed quiet time in Mommy and Daddy's room. I finally warmed up when it was time for my friends to look for the lemons I hid. We took turns squeezing them and made them into yummy lemonade, another one of my favorites! (Too bad we didn't get any pictures of us in action.)

 By the time the lemons were squeezed and the candles lit, I was more comfortably appreciating all the attention, and more easily tolerating the noise.

Meanwhile, my friends were fully appreciating their ice-cream-cone cupcakes.

It was finally time for my presents. My friends gathered 'round, as three-year-olds love to do, and helped me unwrap. (Some of my friends tried opening them for me, which I didn't particularly like!) Everything I got was either sparkly, purpley, or princessy. Mommy will assure you I wasn't always this predictable or easy to please :)

I willingly gave all of my boy friends thank you kisses. Some of whom liked them.

And some of whom didn't.

 It was a quite the party for a three-year-old. People are asking, "If the party was this elaborate at three, what will the sweet sixteen look like?" But who's thinking that far ahead?

 All I know is that I woke up today and I was STILL THREE! 

That makes me one very happy little girl.

Love and pretty purple parties,

Zadia Love

P.S. Thank you Daddy for capturing my day with such pretty pictures. xo