It's a "Family Party!"

The day after Ophelia's birthday, PJ, myself, and Ophelia were having a "balloon fight" in the kitchen, when Ophelia excitedly announced "It's a family party!" Indeed it was :) Living with her is a party everyday pretty much :) Last Saturday my sweet little baby girl turned three years old. Can't believe how big she is getting. I look at her baby pictures and just can't believe that "that baby" was actually her. Change happens so gradually, unnoticeable by parent eyes, since we seem our babies everyday, until here they are all grown up and independent and what not... I think I need to stress out less about kids making messes and enjoy their exploratory nature. Last week Ophelia was helping me set the table for breakfast and she was carrying her bowl of oatmeal to the table. She asked me if she could touch the butter that was on top of the oatmeal. I said, no, it was not a good idea. Next thing I hear was a yell of pain. Bowl almost dropped, she stuck her whole hand in hot oatmeal! Nothing serious, but...good grief! I told her that I only tell her to do/not do things because I love her and I don't want her to get hurt. Saying that to her made me think of our Heavenly Father and how he must feel looking at us and our little mess-ups in life.

It was a fun month for us. We are enjoying our new home immensely, making more and more friends every day, and are just happy to be surrounded by good, kind people, and also to have our wonderful family so close to us. Here is our "suppy boy", as his big sister calls him. When I asked her what "suppy" means she said it means "small". I guess, in Ophelian language.  

She is starting to notice the different languages spoken. One time at a splash park a little girl overheard me speaking Russian to Ophelia, but thought it was Spanish, so the girl turned to her Dad and told him that we were speaking Spanish, to which, Ophelia loudly announced: "I know Spanish! Spasiba!" (which means thank you in Russian). Here is our little splash bug in a bucket of water on the back patio. You need so little to have fun! As long as you are naked. Ophelia loves being a "nakee girl". One time when I was taking all her clothes off for bath, she wiggled her naked bum and said "Nice and cozy!".

Never mind the oreo-cookie mouth...

First chipped tooth. We went to the mall with some friends and she started climbing on the booth benches at the food court, slipped (while I was telling her not to climb), hit her tooth and chipped it. It's not too noticeable and will fall out eventually. Ophelia loves showing it to everyone though.

Here is our lovable, kissable, thumb-sucking, mister squeeze-me-thighs:

Nap time. Otherwise known as tummy time.

Our children's differences are evident even when they are asleep. When we peek into Ophelia's room late at night, she is usually asleep on her back, spread out. But Emerson is usually on his side. Ophelia doesn't wake up when we talk in her room or even if we drop something or make other loud noises. But Emerson stirs if we drag our feet on the floor or whisper.

For Ophelia's birthday weekend our good friends from Fort Worth came to visit us. There was so much excitement in the house the night of their arrival, I thought the kids will never be able to fall asleep. Here is the no-sleepy gang. Carter is 2, Ophelia 3 and Raine is almost 4.

It took Ophelia about a day to get used to saying that she is three years old instead of two, she kept messing up at first and then correcting herself.

Rapunzel cupcakes was something that she planned for the past 4 months or so. She loved it!

Besides Raine and Carter, we invited Carlie, Sasha, and Benjamin to the party. And also cousin Winston with auntie and unkie. And grandma and grandpa, of course. Babushka and dedushka joined us via Skype for happy birthday song and candle blowing.

It's a dance party!

Blowing bubbles

The Deweys helped us blow about 25 balloons in preparation for the festivities. Ophelia thought they were great!

Playing with balloons

Presents

It was cute that Ophelia thought that those presents were for her guests instead of for her. She started passing them out to people who the presents were from :) I guess we've gone to so many birthday parties lately that she thought she should be giving gifts away again. Sweet girl!

The pinata I got was, apparently, the "unbreakable" kind. We had to just tear it open in the end. I think I'll wait for at least 3 more years before we get another birthday pinata. Let's grow some muscles first!

After the party, later in the day, we took Raine and Carter to the splash park. The kids had so much fun together, they didn't want to part. Here are the good-byes. Raine is not crying, but it kind of looks like a sad good-bye picture.

Sunday morning before church. For once we weren't running late, so I snapped a daddy-daughter picture. Turned out nice!

Turns out Emerson fits quiet nicely into Ophelia's doll stroller :) And loves it too!

We are so excited for babushka & dedushka to come visit us in November!  Can't wait!