Happy 3rd Birthday!

Today is little Miss Ella's 3rd birthday!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl.

Ella is our wild child. The stubborn one. The hilarious one. We call her the tough cookie, the hurricane, the little monkey, the crazy goose. She embraces life with 172% of who she is. I'm delighted and blessed to be her mom. I also pray for wisdom everyday that God would show me how to mother her!

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Ava is SOO incredibly excited to celebrate her sister's birthday. I love that.

We were wrapping presents last night...Ava made a pile of presents that were from her to Ella...at least half of the gift I had purchased for Ella. At first I thought, Hey wait a minute...I want to give them to Ella!


But to see the excitement in Ava's eyes...well, that's what it's all about.

I did need to defend my role as mom and my desire to give her at least a few of the gifts I bought her...So I told Ava one of those "When I was younger..." stories...


When I was young...Miss Ava...guess what? I didn't get gifts from my brother and sisters...


You only got gifts from your mom and dad?


Yep...just my mom and dad.


So...like...this whole pile here they would all just be from your  mom...


Yup...


She turns up her nose and makes a face...


Oh. Well then I guess, I suppose I'm a pretty lucky girl cuz I'm giving these all to Ella...


I just smiled. Yes, you are a lucky girl.

And I'm a lucky mom.


Then later...We were signing Ella's card...

Ava, what would you like to say to your sister...

       "Dear Ella...I hope you like all of these presents and you have to share them with me."

       "Ava...I think we could find something nicer to say..."

       "Oh. O.k. Dear Ella, I wanted to give you all of the presents but mommy had to give you some."

       "Uh...try again...How about Dear Ella, I love you and you make me laugh?"

       "Yeah...Yeah....that sounds good."

  So...anyway...We have two days full of fun planned...

This morning...balloons...cards...happy birthday headbands...frosting cupcakes for later...

This afternoon...the bouncy house place, as the girls call it...

Tonight...spaghetti and meatballs (Ella's choice!), cupcakes and presents...

Tomorrow...Oh boy, watch out-- the Mexican fiesta in honor of Dora and Ella is on!

Don't worry...I'll take pictures.

Happy Birthday Ella!