Tea Party

Azalea went to one of her first big birthday parties last weekend. Her friend was turning three and had a "girls only" tea party. I could go on and on about this fantastic party, but I think I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

She found some.

I couldn't keep Azalea inside any longer today. She was begging to go outside, talking about her boots and her snow suit. I looked out in the backyard and thought it looked pretty decent. The snow had been melting all day but I couldn't see any mud.

But she found some.

Oh this little girl.

Azalea no longer sits in her high chair that is connected to the table. Now that she is a "big girl" she chooses to sit in a regular chair with the rest of us, happily perched atop a gigantic phone book. Finally we have a use for that thing.

She's also taken to wearing that hat around the house all day long which is a fashion statement her father and I can really get behind.

Azalea can put her pink boots on all by herself. I did not teach her how to do this. One day she came to me and said "boots!" and she was wearing them. On the right feet. She prefers to wear them with no pants.

She also enjoys carrying stools, books, and other elevated objects around the house so that she can then climb on top of them and jump off of them. Again, not something we taught her.

Azalea's latest dinner of choice is popcorn (ka-corn). Here's an actual conversation:

Me: Zayley, what should mommy make for dinner tonight?

Z: Ka-corn (nods solemnly)

Me: Popcorn?

Z: Yeah. Okaaaay. Sure!

Oddly enough, popcorn is my dinner of choice also.

Azalea and I went to the zoo today and she walked pretty much the entire time.

Me: Zayley, do you want to go to the zoo today?

Z: ANIMALS! Raff, Effant, Zeeba, Backpack!

Me: Okay, I guess we're going to the zoo.

I really like hanging out with her.

I also wish I had her style.

Cake?

This morning Nate was telling Azalea that her birthday was coming up soon and that we would have birthday presents and birthday cake. She thought the idea of cake sounded so great that she decided to sit herself down at the kitchen table and have some.

Unfortunately, there was no cake in the house.

Lucky for this little girl, she has a thoughtful dad who brought home some cake from Safeway after work.

She does love her some "choca-cake."

Thanksgiving Wrap-Up

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Idaho. First of all, we were greeted by dad's turkey which was possibly the best one yet...

Not to brag on dad's behalf of anything, but we saw several people stop to take pictures of his turkey over the course of the weekend.

Azalea was showered with attention since both sets of grandparents were there. That basically meant that under no circumstances (barring sleep) was she ever without someone to play with, talk to, be picked up by, or go outside with. She loves going outside and finally got used to the idea of her big winter coat because as she says it was "coldy."

Bill and Gail went outside one morning while dad sorted cattle with Spence and Ephrain. Izzy got to come along too so she could demonstrate her cattle working skillz. I got some video of her in action too and I'll try to post that later.

Gail and I decorated the table and I was quite pleased with the final look.

Dinner was delicious as always although I seemed completely incapable of taking a shot that was focused or adequately lit. For crap's sake.

(I put together the cheese tray and then promptly camped out in front of it)

Mom and Aunt Connie hustled around the kitchen and wouldn't let me take a decent picture of them. I told them I was taking these action shots for posterity.

(mom is very happy when she is making pie)

(Connie hid behind somebody else in EVERY SINGLE picture I took of people at the table...therefore, I'm forced to post this picture as the only documentation of her presence)

(One out of focus and one poorly lit. COME ON! Why did I even take pictures?)

And now...the picture's you've all been waiting for: Azalea's second Thanksgiving.

Hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings and best wishes in your upcoming holiday festivities!

Not a swimsuit

We had another big snow storm this weekend. Church was cancelled and we had a great day bumming around in our pajamas. When Nate went out to shovel the driveway, I decided that it would be a great time to dress Azalea up in the new snow suit that Grandma Nina gave her. I was, however, mistaken.

I think the misunderstanding happened when the word "suit" left my lips. I'm pretty sure that anytime Azalea hears the word "suit" she automatically thinks, "swimsuit" and that she obviously must be going swimming. When I began stuffing her into something that was decidedly NOT a swimsuit there began to be much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

I persevered.

We'll probably need to get her some gloves. Or some socks wrapped in grocery sacks.

Azalea appeared to be apprehensive about the snow...though I prefer to think she was just keeping an eye out for ninjas.

We didn't spend too much time outside...mainly because I was not dressed for the elements. But you can bet we'll be out there again before the 50 degree weather comes back. We can't have Azalea growing out of that suit without getting any use out of it!

I'm sure she'll like it more once she forgets what a swim suit is right?

Waiting for Parker

We've started going to Parker's school early to pick him up so that Azalea has time to play on the playground equipment. Why on earth did it take me two months to decide to do this? I don't know...

She can go down the slide all by herself...but it takes her about three minutes to gather her courage.