A Happy Birthday

This little girl has been talking about her birthday since December of last year. I'm not even exaggerating. She has been so excited for this day and I didn't want to let her down in anyway so we really made a day out of it. Here is my litte 3-year old angel. My sister took these pictures for me and Makenzie was actually quite difficult during the entire shoot. Her hands were on her face, her eyebrows were furrowed, she kept lifting up her shirt, and the list goes on. Luckily, however, Katie got a few really sweet pictures out of the hundred (at least) that she took.

I had to add a couple that showed how she REALLY was during the photo shoot :)

She is still a doll even when she isn't cooperating.

Things about Makenzie:

• She is a wonderful big sister- She is usually really good at sharing with Henry too. A couple days ago she was eating a Hershey's bar (a real treat in our home) and she was sharing it with Henry. She got down to the last piece which, despite it's large size, was too hard for her to break in half for her brother. She looked at it for a second then gave the whole piece to Henry for himself. These kinds of thing happen quite often in our home.
• She still loves to sing and is even pretty good at it. Sometimes she makes up her own words to songs but she keeps the key really well for a three-year-old.
• She loves church and asks to go to church all week long.
• She loves to ride a bike. She started getting pretty good at riding a tricycle a few months ago. It is so fun to watch her pedal as fast as she can on that little trike.
• She talks a lot and says such funny things all day long. She is also very kind, encouraging and complimenting. She often tells me how pretty I am or that my shirt is cute or that she likes my hair. She thanks me profusely for the yummy food I make her (even if it's boxed mac and cheese) and whenever Shane and I throw the football around she becomes our little cheerleader, telling us how good we're throwing and catching. She just brightens my day all day long.
• She is potty trained! Woot woot!
• She loves to dance and asks to listen to music so she can dance to it every day.
• Every time I give her a piece of gum, she tears it in two and gives me the other half. I think it is the sweetest thing ever!

I asked Makenzie a few questions about herself
What's your favorite color: purple
What's your favorite book: Dinosaurs (Oh my, oh my, dinosaurs!)
What's your favorite movie: Bell (Beauty and the beast)
Who's your favorite princess: Bell (although the first time someone asked her this question she said "Auntie Kate" who is my sister)
Who's your best friend: Mallory (her cousin)
What is your favorite food: rice (she really does LOVE rice)
What's your favorite thing to do outside: Play with my friends
Where is your favorite place to go: to live in a castle (not sure where she got that, haha)
What do you want to be when you grow up: A mommy (good answer!)

When I said "we made a day out of it," I wasn't kidding. Shane and I stayed up and blew up 75 balloons for her to walk out to in the morning. She loved it. After breakfast, we went to Barns and Noble and let her pick out a couple of books to buy. We also got her a free birthday cupcake at their café. When we got home we had friends come over to make little pita pizzas. I think they all liked making the pizzas more than eating them. It was wild having all those children around one table but it was a blast. After lunch, we went outside and invited all of the court kids to decorate cupcakes with us. We had naps and then we were right back to it. We went to a little place called Jumping Jim's. Though it was very old, Makenzie had a blast on the little rides they had and playing games in their arcade. When we got home, we had baths and then opened presents. Whew! What a day!

Makenzie helped me make cupcakes the night before her birthday. She LOVES to help me with the kitchen. Of course, the best part is always having a little (or not-so-little) taste test of the batter.

Decorating cupcakes.

Makenzie's beautifully decorated cupcake.

Opening a present before going to Jumpin Jim's.

In the play area at Jumpin Jim's.

This face just kills me! I love it so much!

Daddy had just as much fun as the kids did :) He was such a good playmate!

Thumbs-up's are Makenzie's new thing. She gives me a thumbs-up all the time. I think it is the cutest thing!

Opening presents before bed.

Her very own nail polish. Makenzie loves to "pink" her nails.