Heeellloooo!!

Hello out there!  I decided with birthday season in the air it is time to get back to sharing some photos and snips!  As you probably know if you are one of my readers, Cate celebrated FOUR years yesterday.  Wow!  I actually have a little girl on my hands.  In some ways, these little ones have the same personality from day one, but, in other obvious ways, they really start becoming such little people with their own distinct personalities.  It is so fun to share with them!

Over the weekend, we headed to Texas to visit my family, giving us the chance to celebrate my newest nephew Aiden's baptism, and now my only godchild!  He is adorably calm, and I am sure that has just a little to do with the fact that he has two sisters and two little girl cousins, leaving plenty of drama to keep him entertained.   We also celebrated Cate with a little pool party and an amazing cake.  If you know Cate, the cake and the table and everyone seated around is by far the most important part of a party.

Cate with her cake and table set.  She's becoming a pro . . .

  

Aiden ready for his baptism . . .

Cousin Rory and little buddy Emma . . .

Cate and cousin Mayzie . . . both in good spirits after a weekend of play and a sleepover together. . .

Now, for the actual day of celebration.  Cate slept in after her trip, and I let her make the calls on her day.  She started by opening an adorable flower crown from one of her old besties - thank you!  That set the theme for the day.  She decided we should bake cupcakes, dress up as princesses, and have a cupcake and tea party.  So that was what we did.  

Here's Cate's table set up with cupcakes, sandwiches and tea and name cards (she is obsessed with name cards at the table, she has made ones for our family (and anyone who visits), and relishes setting the cards and deciding where everyone should sit for almost every meal - come visit and you will be sure to have a card too!). 

Full of princess for her tea party . . .

Cate sharing a cupcake with pal Bella . . . 

And pal Charlie making a very "special" tea with her icing. . .

And, Emma was not caught on photo at the table but was there.  She is all about business, eats her cupcake and returned quickly to jumping and landing on balloons, laughing, even when they pop!

While I am posting (which I hope not but may continue to be rare), here are two photos from Halloween.  Cate was beside herself that she dress as a Christmas tree.  We went over choices for weeks, and it never wavered.  It made for a fun evening and lots of conversation.  Cate had high hopes that Emma would join her in the theme and dress as Santa.  That did not happen.  As Madeline says to the tiger in the zoo, Emma said poo-poo!  She hightailed it from the Santa costume, went for the dress-up bin and put on the most-purple princess dress she could find.  She then insisted that she be pushed in her "carriage."

And, last, here is a quick photo from a visit to the children's museum in Texas where they had a mock newsroom with working microphone and camera.