Tea for 3 + Me

We celebrated Willa's 3rd Birthday with a super-girly tea party. Camden Parsons, Sofia Janc, and Reyn Linder attended. It was a drizzly day but the guests stayed warm and dry in the playhouse, for the most part. They wore frilly dresses and homemade hats, and sipped tea from Willa's finest china. PB&J sandwiches and grapes served as the main course, and a chocolate-frosted cake with sprinkles and a giant cookie "3" was the eye-popping dessert. Everyone was appropriately demure through lunch, until a handsome Mr. Brooklyn Parsons popped in. Before long, carnations were flying and giggles had turned to full-on laughter. The party moved outside for some swinging and tricycling in the rain. Everyone got pink-cheeked, wet-headed, and dirty, which wasn't part of my original plan, but made for the perfect ending. It was the best of both worlds!

Dance Recital

Willa has been taking tap and ballet from Ms. Rhonda for the past 6 months or so. Nona's treat! I take her every Wednesday, while my Dad and Paula keep the babies and make me a delicious dinner, and Sean goes bowling at Turner Hall. At the first class of each month, parents get to observe the lesson from inside the studio, as opposed to through the crack in the door. Being inside truly distracts and disrupts the dancers, but it is absolutely worth it. I leave that 45 minute class with cheek cramps from smiling so much. There just isn't anything cuter than a row of tiny, tutu-clad 2 and 3 year olds! You can see what I mean as you scroll through the photos below. But trust me, it's nothing compared to the live version. Anyway, her recital was last Saturday at Hondo's on Main. (She danced on the very stage where Sean proposed to me 12 years ago. Sweet, huh?) Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree was their tap number, and Silver Bells was ballet. She did great, remembered her steps much better than I expected, and completely nailed first position! It was quite touching, watching my little girl brave the stage for the first time. Sniff.

A Party for Willa's 2.5

June 27th marked Willa's Half-Birthday. So, as promised, Sean and I hosted a big bash in her honor. Lots of family and friends came and dined picnic-style, on hotdogs, macaroni salad, baked beans, watermelon, and fresh squeezed lemonade. The non-pregnant adults enjoyed Peach Bellini's, Green Lizards, and of course, Bud Light. Dessert was brownies and cupcakes with sprinkles. The gargantuan inflatable fortress was a huge success and Willa ran wild and shoe-less all day. She played harder than I have ever seen and must have had the best time of her entire 2.5 years! This one will definitely be hard to top next year.