Happy 3rd Birthday, Caroline!

We started Caroline's birthday weekend like any girl starts a good party weekend...getting a mani and pedi. :) This is Caroline's second mani/pedi and she LOVED it. She sat completely still and loved that the ladies painted flowers on her thumb nails and big toes. She showed everyone her finger nails and "tony-nails"...even the random man at Academy and the greeter at Wal-Mart.

Caroline's birthday party was at Chick Fil-A on Saturday. She asked for a "chocolate princess crown cake" and specified that she did not want cupcakes or cookie cake. I like people who are specific and tell you exactly what they want - it just makes things easier. Caroline is one of those people. :)



Grant, Nolan, and Caroline. It was the only way we could get Grant and Caroline to stand together for a picture.


At first, Caroline just ate the icing off the cake which made me laugh since she demanded a chocolate cake. Thankfully, she did eat the cake later.

Caroline's second piece of cake...
My two great friends, Allison (Farrah's and Azam's mom) and Sarah (Grant and Nolan's mom). These two have been my saving grace (next to my wonderful parents and Kevin of course!) during this adventure called motherhood. We have learned that wine and laughter helps us get over the days of tantrums. I love them!
Caroline handing out balloons to her friends as they left the party.
Grant Man gave Caroline a doctor's kit and she loves it. She has not stopped playing with it since she opened it.

Cute picture of Caroline and Papa.
Caroline found Papa's credit card!
The girls doing something silly...
Wearing Nana's glasses at dinner.

On the way to Sunday birthday brunch - with her new Hello Kitty purse!
Caroline asked for birthday cake for breakfast and we obliged. She spent a long time checking out the cakes at Breadwinners...Getting Papa's opinion...Sunday brunch at Breadwinners. This is the closest thing we have to a family picture for the weekend.
Back at the house after brunch, Caroline opened family presents.
Caroline coming out of her "new house" (a Dora tent from Nana and Papa).
The Dora tent quickly became "Dr. Caroline's office"

Caroline gave Madison a "shot in the face". I figure that's the sign that we've raised Caroline in Dallas - she pretends to give Botox shots at the age of 3. We're so proud. :)
Caroline and Madison peeking out of the windows of the house.


Caroline checking Aunt Kim's blood pressure in the Dora tent.

Giving Aunt Kim a hug bye.
Caroline getting one last kiss from Madison before she left.Caroline was using the magnifying glass to look at the flowers painted on her thumbnail.

Sunday night we celebrated one last time, just the three of us. (Can you say "only child"?) We turned the lights off and gave Caroline a piece of her cake on her birthday plate that she eats off of every year. We sang to her and then she made a wish and blew out the candle. I told her to think of a wish and she said "I wish to go to the beach!" (We are meeting my parents this week at the beach house in North Carolina and she's really excited about getting to swim.)

Caroline's previous two birthdays have been fun but this one topped them. Watching Caroline filled with joy for an entire weekend and enjoying every minute made me realize this is what being a parent is all about. We had such a great time with her that none of us wanted her birthday weekend to end.

Happy 3rd birthday to our sweet Caroline!