Taylor turns 3!!!

I can't believe my baby is 3! Where has the time gone? On one hand it seems like just yesterday that she was my little round faced baby fresh from the womb. Then on the other hand, I can't even remember what it was like to NOT have her around. She is my little shadow, my little friend, play mate, helper, and probably one of my most favorite people on this planet. There is just something about her that I absolutely adore, even when she is whiny and scream-y and no fun at all. I can't help but just LOVE LOVE LOVE her. We have had a connection from the moment she was born. I can still remember the first time they gave her to me and let me hold her in the hospital when she was about 5 seconds old. We had an instant connection that I didn't have when Tucker was born. As much as I absolutely loved him the moment he was born, it was totally different with Taylor. (I hope that doesn't sound bad for Tucker-I love him too!!!) But Taylor and I have always just had a thing, and I love her for it! I love having her with me most everywhere I go. I look forward to many many many years of just her and I together as the women of the family.

This year her birthday fell on a Sunday, and you know what that means!!! A whole weekend of celebrations!!! :) Woo-Hoo!!! Ben thinks I go over board with my 'more than one celebration' for a birthday. But I have lots of friends who celebrate birthday weeks or even birthday months, so I'm not ashamed to admit that we had a whole weekend of celebrations!

The Friday before her birthday, we were hosting her play group at our house, so I decided to turn it into a little party for her. The school district also had a make up snow day that day so there was no school for the older kids, so I invited the older siblings of the kids in the play group. And what a party it was! I somehow got out of making a cake for her this year. Since the play group is in the mornings, from 9:30-11:30, I got her birthday doughnuts. And since her birthday is right around Valentines day, there were a lot of pink sprinkles to choose from! Extra bonus! :)

She was very pleased with her birthday doughnuts. :)

Add some goldfish, Starburst flavared jellybeans, grapes and popcorn with M&M's (A few of her favorite things) And she didn't even notice the lack of a cake! :) Also, some Target dollar section crafts, mini-play doughs and mini bubbles for the kids to take home as favors and to play with while they were here, and it was a perfectly simple and easy party! :)

Drew's older sister Kendyl came to play/help since she was out of school for the day and it was so nice having a little helper. She totally led all the kids in games and kept them entertained for me! :) You can tell it is the day after Valentines day, everyone is still wearing Red or Pink! :) 

Kendyl helped Taylor  make a heart shaped pizza out of her play-dough:

Of course, even though I told them not to, they brought gifts:

Maggie gave Taylor this owl, that she still absolutely adores! (I think that Taylor thinks that Maggie is her older sister, they spend enough time together, they are totally buddies, even though Maggie is Tuckers age, and is really good friends with him too. She is so sweet to Taylor!) I will be sad next year when Maggie is in all day Kindergarten, we won't have as many play dates!

After the crafts were done and the toys were opened and there was only a few minutes left before the parents were to come to pick them up, Kendyl led them in a dog pack and they were all dogs and roamed around our house in a dog pack, barking and panting. (Thank goodness for Kendyl, glad it wasn't me down there with them!) :)

My mom came in to town that afternoon to spend the night with us before flying out to my sisters house the next morning. It was a perfect night to celebrate with grandma.

This girl loves her some grandma!

You can see she was very excited to be opening presents:

We went to Hu-Hot where they give the birthday kids a free S'mores dessert. So we roasted some mallows:

I'd say it was a success: :)

Sunday morning, on her actual birthday, we once again had doughnuts for breakfast before church. Leftovers. And she got to open her gifts from us.

After church that evening, we watched a movie together as a family. And had some icecream and cookies after for a treat. It was a perfect way to end the day.

Here she is snuggling with daddy watching the movie:

Yes, she wore her 'Birthday Princess' shirt again on Sunday :) I love this girl!!!

 Then on Monday, because my dad was out of town on Sunday and so was Kathryn, they wanted to do something for her for her birthday. Kathryn had just spent the weekend in Tacoma at the Washington State High-school boys Wrestling tournament that John was in, so she had gone to a cute little cup cake shop over there and had brought back one for Taylor for her birthday. So sweet!

Papa was singing a bit crazy and she wasn't quite sure what to think about it! :)

And all of us with the birthday girl!

Happy Birthday my funny, smart, sweet and crazy little girl! I love you SO very much!