Jasmine, Anali, and Hannah painting pots for June's "Art Day"

Anali at the park

Asher, while Anali played at the park

Trying valiantly to sit up

Tea for Two

Happy Birthday, Anali!

Anali turned two yesterday! For months, her favorite song has been Happy Birthday. We'd sing it at the car. She'd push the buttons on the CD player until it moved to track 4: Happy Birthday. She'd request it at bedtime. Everything with over 10 grams of sugar was coined "Happy Birthday" in her mind. "Happy birthday?" meant, "Can I have a cookie?" As the days to her birthday approached, she became even more excited. Dozens of times a day, I'd hear, "Do my birthday! My birthday!" She learned to say, "I'm two," and the countdown began. I decided to throw her a little tea party because she loves to dress up with heels and purses and sit down at the table and pretend to serve us tea. It was such great fun to see her and her little friends delight in being little girls with feathers and tutus and lots and lots of pink. I never thought I'd encourage such displays of feminity, but Anali takes such joy in it. God made us feminine for a reason, I suppose. You could tell she knew the day was hers when we brought out the cupcakes and sang her favorite song...just...for...her (That's her reaction in the second picture; it was priceless!). She was so sweet and thankful and truly, purely happy. I love being her mama.

All the girls admiring their new dress up shoes.

"My birthday!"

Kimberly, Ava, Hannah, Jasmine, and Anali, and lots of feather boas

Kid Pictures

I thought I would try to see things from Asher's perspective. Pretty boring.

Three months old
We think he looks like Brandon.

Two years old next week!
Looks like her mama.

Anali's First Haircut

I'm not so sure this was a good idea.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Word to the wise:
Moms probably shouldn't cut baby's curly hair at home.