Getting big.

Both of them.

We went to New York, and

all I took were these SIX pictures!  The weekend just flew by, as it always does when we visit, and sadly my camera didn’t make it out of its bag for most of the weekend.  The kids met some of their cousins they’d never met before, saw old friends (and some of their new baby brothers and sisters), and even got their first taste of snow for the season. 

    

    

    

Lookin all boy

with a tattoo, battle wound (from Corduroy), and a desperate attempt to NOT smile (which ended up making an adorable smirk).

First pigtails

Big girl sported her first set of pigtails tonight…

Happy Third Birthday Kingsley!

For months Kingsley has been asking for a suitcase for her birthday.  She found it at Target some time ago, and since then has demanded to walk the aisles with the suitcase every time we take a trip to Target.  She brings it with her throughout the store, and then when we’re ready to check out, we put it back in its spot.  So, naturally…first thing in the morning of her birthday, the suitcase was waiting for her in the kitchen…

Per Kingsley’s request, her birthday was celebrated at My Gym with a “pink Ballerina” theme.  It was a super fun day – the first time she’s had a real birthday party, and the first time she’s had a great group of friends to celebrate with her.  Most of the girls came in their tutus to go with the theme, and Kingsley chose to wear her newest one from Mimi and Papa.

Some of her friends as they arrived:

       

Getting “warmed up" around the red circle:

Everyone jumping over the rope…

     

     

and then crawling under…

Loving the parachute:

   

Swing time:

           

Cake time!  All the girls got their own birthday hats (made by yours truly) and enjoyed some pink cake after singing to the birthday girl.  (Who at this point was getting tired, so pictures of her and the cake weren’t really happening.)

A view from behind as they ate cake in their tutus.  Love those little piggies…

Me and my big three-year-old:

Favorite picture of the day of my sweet girl hanging from the monkey bar:

Kingsley. Three.

If I could reach up high and hold a star for every time you’ve made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.

Today you turn three. With each passing year I hear myself say “I can’t believe you’re already ___”. This year is no different. I can’t believe you’re already three. I can feel it in my bones that three is going to be a great year. At three you are:

Funny. You have a great sense of humor. You are silly and sarcastic, and love to play jokes.

Sweet. You say “yeah, sure” to all kinds of things that other children would say no to. Your brother asks if he can open your presents – “yeah, sure” you tell him. “Can you give that to the baby?” I ask you – “yeah, sure” you say.

A great sister. You play all kinds of games that wouldn’t ordinarily interest you, just because your brother asks you to. You’re generous – every day after ballet your teachers give you a piece of candy, and despite LOVING candy, you save that one piece for Jack. Every time. “This is for Jack” you tell me.

A fashionista. You love picking out your outfits and getting yourself dressed. You ask for “a dress, tights and bloomers” when we’re going to My Gym to play. I showed you a picture of a dress the other day and asked what you thought. “Perfect” you said. Just that one word. Perfect.

You love:

Dancing.

Singing.

Candy.

TV.

Snuggling.

Mommy.

Your favorite books right now are: Little Pea, Too Many Pears, and Mermaid Sister

Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever little fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel.

~ Pablo Picasso

In Kingsley’s words…

While sitting down for lunch, the kids and I start talking about strangers. What is a stranger? How do we know if a stranger is good or bad? I remind them that even if a stranger seems nice, he/she could be pretending so we have to be very careful. I present them with different stranger-danger scenarios, Part of the conversation goes like this:

Me: “What if a stranger offers you candy. Do you take it?”
Kingsley: “No.” (pause) “They have germs. We have our own candy.”

Hilarious…not quite the reasoning I was going for, but I’ll take it!

Ballerina body

If this body doesn’t say ballerina, I don’t know what does!

      

Kingsley can…

Ride a bike!

Love that she learned to ride a bike in her ballet clothes, with a pirate patch on. True sign of a well rounded little girl!