A "SWEET" Party

Thursday Thirteen... Birthday Edition

Thirteen People Who Attended Ella's Party
1.  Grammy
2.  Papa
3. Aunt Z
4.  Grammie Bobbie
5.  Aunt Karen
6.  Aunt Donna
7.  Ian
8.  Dawson
9. G.G.
10.  Kristy
11.  Brianna
12.  Pam
13.  Sarita

13 Somewhat Edible Items Found at Her Party
1.  Colorful Twizzlers
2.  Skittles
3.  Jelly Belly beans
4.  Sour Patch Kids
5.  Small Gum Balls (somewhat edible)
6.  Large Gum Balls (somewhat edible)
7.  BIG lollipops
8.  Cake
9.  Ice cream
10.  Mini M&Ms
11.  Capri Sun (drinkable counts!)
12.  Diet Dr. Pepper
13.  Coke

13 Gifts Ella Received
1.  Doll House
2.  Living Room for Doll House
3.  Birthday Set for Doll House
4.  Nursery for Doll House
5.  Piano for Doll House
6.  Pet Set for Doll House
7.  Vaniety for Doll House
8.  Sesame Street Playset with Figurines
9.  Leapster
10.  Barbie Playset
11.  Mermaid Dora
12.  Art Set
13.  LOTS and LOTS of Clothes and Pajamas

13 Oh-So-SWEET Decorations

THREE!!!

 

Ella's birthday was on a Wednesday this year.  When she woke up we celebrated with a special pancake breakfast.  She LOVED her pancakes with sprinkles and candles, but I think her favorite part was the syrup.  After school Ella got to build her first Build-a-Bear as a special birthday treat.  She choice a pinkish bear and decided to use a birthday song for the sound.  She enjoyed filling the bear, putting her heart in, giving her a bath, registering her, and putting her in her temporary home.  Ella insisted that Brudder have a Build-a-Bear too, and there was no objection from him of course.  The only objection came when Brudder was not allowed to "dress" his bear!    As soon as we finished building our new bears, we headed to Grammy and Papa's where we had a special birthday dinner and party for both Ella and Phil since they share the same birthday!  Ella had a FANTASTIC "official" birthday!  I can't believe we are already celebrating TWO THREE!!!

On the Eve of THREE!!

Ella Pants,

     Mommy just couldn't slow time down!!  We celebrated TWO, and now we are in the midst of planning to celebrate THREE.  I cannot wrap my mind around how quickly time is flying and how you are growing up into such a precious little girl right before my eyes.  You have BLESSED my life in so many ways this year.  I count my greatest blessing to be the relationship we have formed and you finally becoming Mommy's Little Girl!!  From one to two, I was briefly removed from your precious little life.   It was during this time when you developed such a strong bond with your daddy.  Don't get me wrong, I was so glad you two were so close, but my heart would break a little each time you would choose your daddy over me.  Wow... Things are so different now, and even though I complain at times, I wouldn't trade the precious moments of you insisting on mommy brushing your teeth, mommy getting you dressed, mommy brushing your hair, mommy putting on your shoes, and mommy putting on your coat for ANYTHING!
     You have such a sweet, calm temperment.   You are such a people pleaser, which is so different from your brother who his strong willed.    You heart breaks a little and tears pour out of your eyes when you think someone is "mad" at you.  I LOVE picking you up from school each day to read the kind notes Ms. Ashley leaves me.  She always comments on how you played with your friends, helped clean up, and were kind to others.  I pray that as you continue to grow, you will hold on to that precious personality that you have now!
     I am so proud of all of the accomplishments you had this past year.  You FINALLY gave up your baa baa!  I didn't think that day would ever come.  I guess there is ONE positive to the nasty stomach virus you had at the time.  I have to admit I fibbed a little when I said the bottle would make you sick again!  Despite the small white lie, you believed me and that was the end to the baa baa.  Your vocabulary developed so rapidly.  You would amaze me each day with the words and phrases that would come out of your mouth.  I have to admit that I find your personal pronoun confusions absolutely precious!  I love to hear, "Him is mad at me",  "Z, I want to go to you house", "Him is saying booger"!  Your developed a GREAT love for books this year.  You will sit in Mommy's lap for a long time and listen to me read.  You have your favorite books of course and insist that I read them "again" and "again".  Finally, I would have to say the accomplishment that I feel a little sad over is that you officially potty trained yourself.  You beginning to use the potty made me realize that you definitely aren't a little baby anymore.  You were so easy to potty train.  You started on the Wednesday of Thanksgiving Break, and were in panties at school on the following Monday.
     Ella Roo... Ella Pants... Ella Mae... Roo, you are an AMAZING little girl!  You are such a truly a BLESSING.  I realize time is NOT going to slow down.  I pray that God will SLOW ME down though, so that over the next year I can enjoy every single second of your life!   I love you to the moon... and back!!!

-Mommy (aka "your best friend")
    

... and then it SNOWED!!!