Oh Emma!

Emma is officially one!  Even though Emma would like to be as old as Cate, she is one.  She relished her day in the spotlight.  Her little pals at her music class began the class with a birthday song.  Later that day we had a family celebration followed by a trip to watch Cate rock around with her classmates to Jingle Bell Rock.  Here's a few pics, including a few from her preparatory party with our closest buds earlier this week where she practiced the first-cake plunge with a Sprinkles cupcake (by far my favorite in DC, although I do like the little cafe around the corner, Frostings).


Emma ready to party (and a good sport in her tutu and hat) . . .

 Cate insisted they get fancy for Emma's birthday.

Emma admiring Cate . . .

Emma checking out her "birthday suit"

 Wrapping paper is the best part of presents . . .

 The singing birthday dog.

Waiting for cake  . . .

Ready to sing . . .

For our little star Emma.  Above is her personal cake, and below is the one for the rest of us . . .

When you are one, you need a big sister to help blow out the candle . . .

First bites . . . 

Cate is eating her slice yet closely monitoring Emma's cake.

Post-cake, Emma's sugar high began.  She started playing with her new microphone,  but quickly made it over to her chair and literally started bouncing off the chair.  I thought she might actually take her first step.

We took a quick break for a costume change as we prepared to head out to Cate's school holiday party. The bouncing continued.

Fast forward another thirty minutes, and we were watching Cate "rock" it out at school.

The larger group at school (the older kids are alums who came back to join the group).

And a few shots of Emma from earlier this week while prepping for the big day and celebrating Christmas with some best buds . . .

The little posse . . . 

The older kids "being sneaky" . . . 

And, while I am posting, which is rare these days, clips of my miniature madame trash heaps.

Celebrate!

We've been busy lately doing a lot of things, but definitely the most fun has been had celebrating birthdays.  We headed to NYC to celebrate the arrival of baby niece and cousin, Maya Sloane, born on 11/11/11.   Congrats Paul and Robyn (and Otis)!  We look forward to watching Maya grow.  While visiting, we managed some birthday celebrations for Cate too!

Starting the party off on Sunday morning . . . 

Uncle Joe and Anastasia joined us at their neighborhood park for cupcakes and a run around the playground . . .

This is the first round of cupcakes. 

No surprise that Cate served herself the one with the large purple flower.

Emma snick a nibble of her daddy's cupcake . . .

Uncle Joe and Cate chasing . . .

Thanks for taking a break from studying Joe!

The best way to ride, at least for Cate . . .

The next stop was FAO Schwartz . . .

Cate has developed an obsession for high heels . . . Her first stop was to pitch in to the basket every color of play high heels she could find.  We negotiated and settled on a blue pair.

Scoping out the dollhouse . . .

Finishing up with some music on the piano . . .

The party continued yesterday as we met up with some of our favorite friends on the National Mall for cupcakes and carousel rides.

Before leaving, Cate requested matching rainbow nails . . . 

On the way to the party, we stopped to pick up a package from Cate's Gigi at the post office.  Cate unearthed a Cinderella gown and slippers that she insisted on wearing.  It made for a nice sight, and several groups of Japanese tourists stopped to catch pictures of the birthday princess.  They were also kind enough to take some group shots for us too.

First stop was riding the carousel with some sweet friends . . . 

Two of our wee guests, the third was chilling in her stroller . . .

Taking a break for a birthday song and cupcakes . . . 

A little break to chase around the lawn . . . 

One more carousel ride . . .

Finishing up the time with some rock and sand dumping into the drainage grate - absolute entertainment!

And, while I am posting, here are some recent shots of Emma - the current theme is pulling up, climbing and cruising.