Jade, Strawberry Shortcake and a Gothic Snow White

Jade is my sensitive, safety girl.


(the helmet was her idea)



But don't get me wrong, she likes adventure...just on her own terms.


She recites the agenda of each day in order and finds comfort in a plan.

She is thoughtful and caring...genuinely concerned if someone is hurt or in pain.

Praying comes naturally to her.

When told "no", she often rebuts with, "But tomorrow can I ____ ?"

She is imaginative...has to be to keep up with the mind of big sister.

Jade is our cuddle muffin and LOVES to be held.

She gives the BEST kisses, and when she hugs you, she pats your back as well. ;)

The words "thank you" roll easily off her lips.


She likes "one more minute".

She does not like anything LOUD.

Pink is her favorite color, but she often gets purple if sister has anything to do with it.

She has been telling everyone for months that her birthday "is on the 6th of July".

So it was fitting that yesterday she ran out of her bedroom in the morning saying, "Mommy, Mommy! Lily told me that TODAY is JULY SIXTH!"

And now, Jade is THREE.

And she has a new found love for Strawberry Shortcake. As in just since last week when we went to pick out her cake.

Who doesn't like pink and strawberries and red hair?


And four little girls with strawberry glasses?

She got to invite one friend to join her family at the Magic Time Machine for a little birthday dinner. Strawberry Shortcake was not on their server list that night. So instead, Snow White served us in the library.

She was a little goth in my opinion...


but I doubt they noticed through their rose colored glasses.


Happy Birthday, Sweet Jade! {See the post below for verse one and two of her Happy Birthday song!}

Happy Birthday, Jade! {Verse One AND Two}

2 down, 18 to go

At least this one came out at home...and with just the swipe of a toothbrush.




Daddy missed the event again, but got to play tooth fairy when he got home.

And since there were no complaints of bears this morning, I think he has found himself yet another role around here.

Father's Day Weekend

After a long week of teaching VBS and wrapping up swim lessons I was really looking forward to Father's Day weekend myself. Typically when a holiday falls on a Sunday it means that Jerry doesn't have any meetings--a rare and special treat. Getting to ride together and sit together at service as well as having his help getting the girls in and out of church is a bonus too.

We celebrated his dad Friday with a train ride to the zoo for a special evening event and a big homemade breakfast the next morning.



My dad is in Canada, which left Sunday completely to celebrate my Jerry.

It started with snuggles from his girlies and then it was off to church.


We grabbed lunch at a new-to-us burger joint which happened to be on a trolley stop.


So we rode the trolley to the end of it's line which was downtown.

Walked a couple of blocks and ended up at the base of this building.





At which point my camera battery died (all little pics from cell phone), but not before snapping this pic of my 3 favorite people.


I don't think I could have imagined a more perfect impromptu afternoon. Especially not 12 years ago when Jerry proposed to me exactly 57 floors above this perfect fountain spot.

I definitely wouldn't have envisioned how needed our afternoon nap would be or that the evening movie choice would be Toy Story 3.

What I did know then was that if a restaurant wasn't busy on Father's Day when everything around it was on a 30-45 minute wait, that you should definitely stay away. Far, far, away. But then again, what I didn't know then was how skewed your thinking can become when you have two hungry children and it is nearing bedtime. (and you don't feel like cooking!)

That restaurant choice, which shall remain nameless and NEVER, EVER, EVER visited again, is the very reason you are getting a Father's Day post today and not on the actual day. You know that feeling of food that is sitting in your stomach but not digesting. Yes. That is the feeling I went to bed with last night.

And in our Daddy's truest form, Jerry bathed and put the girls down for me on a night I was hoping he could put his feet up and take a well deserved rest. Instead it was me who was laying on the couch trying to get in any position that wouldn't further my indigestion pains...subtle reminders of a dinner gone very wrong.

A yucky way to end an otherwise perfect weekend.

Hoping yours started and ended well!

Jade: Sailor Girl Dance Recital

Our littlest dancer made her debut on stage last weekend.

I didn't get any decent video to share with you, but it was a hoot.

She did a ballet routine first, during which she proceeded to stand there politely with her hands over her ears. The look on her face was one of, "It is way too loud, would someone TURN IT DOWN?".

The dance studio had really nickel and dimed us through the whole recital thing. Making us buy tickets and pay for programs, in addition to recital and costume fees.

So it was pretty funny when after her first routine my dad sad, "Well, that alone was worth the five dollars!"

I managed to talk to her during the intermission when I went to change her tights and shoes. I told her that the music would also be loud during her tap routine, but to try to enjoy it and do the dance.

Well sure enough, she didn't cover her ears and tried to participate a bit more.

At one point she got so into it that when she did a step she knocked herself over and went behind a couple of dancers over.

It was then that we decided the tickets would have been worth $10!

Actually I wouldn't have missed it no matter what the cost was, but whew! After two recitals in a matter of weeks, I am ready for a SEA CRUISE now!