Emelia's class field trip

 Eme's preschool class took a field trip to the Scotsdale Train Park and Museum. So Maddie and I tagged along too.

Maddie got to ride the carousel all by herself, sort of.  After one time up, she got really nervous, her little knuckles turned white! So, I stood next to her w/my hand on her back, and she calmed down and yelled "whee" and "yee-haw", just like her sister.

 Eme loved having fun with all of her little friends.  But she made sure that she and Maddie rode next to each other on the carousel.  She's a great big sister.

 We took a lovely "train" ride all around the park, which is fairly extensive.  The kids loved it.  There was even a box car, only kids rode in that one, and laughed the entire time.



sisters, I just love them.



 All of the little girls made a train as we walked around the park.  They would also stop frequently to do an impromptu ring-around-the-roses.  The funny thing is, I remember doing the exact same things at this age.



not Eisenhower's train car.



 We ended with a tour of Dwight D Eisenhower's private train car, and then a picnic lunch.  It was lots of fun, and a beautiful day.

Birthday girl!

Here are some pictures of my baby's 3rd birthday.  Oh my goodness, she is getting so big-we even measured her, Madeline's grown 4 inches since Feb of last year! No joke, my baby isn't a baby anymore.

 My not so baby girl can now ride her trike, peddling that is.  She still needs to learn how to steer.

this was pretty typical of our day

 She is in love with anything "pretty": dresses, skirts, jewlery, hair brushes...

our Rapunzel-inspired cake

 She is getting clearer in her speach, although she can be difficult to understand when she's excited, or tired, or throwing a tantrum.  She's also getting really good at throwing tantrums.  Really good.

Maddie finally got he Rapunzel doll, she was in heaven

 Madeline has got the most beautiful eyes, and I love that she's still got kissy cheeks.  She loves to have her nails painted, both fingers and toes.


Nana and Papa's bag was almost as big as she is!

 She's becoming quite a good little mommy to her own dolls, feeding them and dressing them, and putting them to bed.  Now, if only she'll stop making them pee and poop everywhere, we'll be fine.


her hair looked "nice" for almost an hour before Maddie "brushed" it.

I love her sweet smile, and her soft kisses.  I love the scar just below her lip from where she bit herself with her snaggle-tooth when she was learning to walk.  I love that she's got back dimples, not on her shoulder like I have or Aidan, but on her lower back.  She'll still snuggle with me, but only briefly.  She is my little buddy, my shadow, she always wants to be wherever I am, I like it, I know it won't last forever.

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby.