Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

On your first birthday we...

...ate breakfast - silly fruit/cheerio faces on toast (you had yours on french toast),

...put on your fancy birthday outfit, dropped Luke at school, and went to the store to buy you a BIG balloon,

... came home and you played with Brother's trains while he wasn't looking :),

...picked Luke up from school, packed a lunch and took a walk to the park,

...Luke made sure to pack you a pink lollipop,

...we swang on the swings,

...and slid on the slides,

...after our big afternoon and nap, we met Day and Paw for a celebratory dinner at Aqui's,

...and came home to video chat with Grandma and Grandpa,

...we all sang "Happy Birthday to you" and you had your first cupcake,

...and you opened some presents (a new kitchen, doll highchair, and ride on car)

What a special, fun day.

Happy first birthday, sweet Mia!

365...

...that's how many days it has been since we first held our sweet girl in our arms. Hard to believe it's been a whole year, yet I couldn't imagine our lives without her.

Today, on the eve of your first birthday Mia, I want you to know just how much you are loved. You light up our lives and you fill our home with sparkle. You are everything I could have ever imagined having in a little girl ... and then some. You are sweet, cuddly, CUTE, spunky, curious, FAST, smart, LOUD, loving, silly, serious, full of laughter and life. We love you for being you. You're amazing.

Tomorrow the "experts" will say you are officially a toddler, so I wanted to capture you today, on your last day as a "baby." But, I also want you to know that you always, always will be my baby girl.

365 days we've had to hold you. We are so blessed.

Visit to the Discovery Museum

We returned home from Tahoe after Christmas with the anticipation of having Grandma and Grandpa visit from New Jersey ... only to find out that with the huge winter storm that hit the east coast, their flight had been cancelled. Long story short, it was nearly impossible to leave the east coast for nearly a week. Everyone was disappointed, so in an effort to find something else fun to fill our week, we headed out to the Children's Discovery Museum (with our new family membership thanks to the Zyla family!!!).

It was Mia's first visit and, as we all know, it's one of Luke's favorite places. On this particular day, it was packed, so we didn't stay too long ... one of the perks of being members is not feeling bad about just dropping in for an hour or two.

While we were there we split up so that Luke could do big boy stuff (his top priority was the water play area) while Mia visited the Wonder Cabinet (the infant/toddler area).

We met up towards the end for some fun on the fire engine before heading home!

Can't wait to put that membership to good use ... I'm sure we will!

Did Santa visit?

"Brother, what are we supposed to be looking for?"

Of COURSE he came!

For Luke: a marble run (that Mommy & Daddy have since sent back to the North Pole - too difficult and precise for us to put together, not to mention Luke. Santa's elves are working on a new gift for Luke), a lollipop, Chuggington trains, Kevin Henke books, and Thomas DVDs...oh, and the promise of a visit to the local roller skating rink since all Luke kept asking Santa for was roller skates (???).

For Mia: A ball pit (which Luke also loves), some "girly" cars, a caterpilllar toy, a new hat, and board books


They must have been very good kids this year!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2010

We had a Christmas eve filled with fun, food, gifts, and laughter. The kids had so much fun (although, I think Mia was overwhelmed by it all). What a special night!

The beautiful tree


Dressed up for Christmas Eve



Uncle Todd & Michelle


Opening gifts together - Luke loves his Playdoh set and new binoculars, Mia loves her Twilight Ladybug and musical peek-a-boo toy, and Paw loves his box of Atlantic City Salt Water Taffy!

"The children were nestled (or, passed out) all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads"

More pre-Christmas fun

We traveled up to Tahoe to enjoy a white Christmas this year!

Luke & Mommy had fun decorating his Gingerbread Man and making Christmas cookies for Santa

Our car was completely full with our family of four, Brooklyn, our luggage, and the Christmas gifts, so we didn't bring any additional toys for the kids up with us. Because of this, Luke & Mia had very little to play with leading up to the big day so we decided to let them each open another early Christmas present.

Luke opened a Fire Station from Day & Paw (basically a doll house for boys ... he LOVES it!)

Mia opened a baby doll from Mommy & Daddy

Uncle Todd is here ... one of Luke's favorite people!