There's a storm a brewin'. {365 - Day 198}

Savannah Dog hates thunderstorms.  She claws her way to the top of the stairs at the first rumble and cries until the storm is over.  Not a big deal during daylight hours, but it sure is a bummer in the middle of the night.  We usually let her up until the storm passes - we're not heartless, after all. I mean, look at this pathetic doggy face?

Day 197 {iPhone}

Here she is post-thunderstorm looking slightly more dignified.  I took this with my 5D.  It was basically dark in the room, so I cranked up my ISO to 25600 to see what it would do.  Pretty darn amazing.

The Party Doesn't Stop {365 - Day 197}

...until all the cupcakes are gone.  We had a few leftover from yesterday, so we kept birthday-palooza going one more night.  After breakfast and a bbq this afternoon, Sarah Beth was worn out and crashed for a two hour nap.  Which means, you guessed it, she is still up at 11:15.  The big sugary cupcake for dessert probably didn't help things either.  Oh well.  Birthdays only come once a year.

Day 197 {iPhone + Photoshop}

Pool Party! {365 - Day 196}

Today was the big day.  Sarah Beth's 3rd birthday party!  It was her first real party, so the excitement was over the top.  We were fortunate to have so many friends celebrate with us at our backyard "beach." 

Preschoolers + Kiddie Pool + Giant Sandbox = Endless Fun.

Here is SB drenching her pal Avery...

Day 196 {Canon 5D Mark III}

    See how she plays all innocent? 

Birthday Cake!

 Mini-cupcakes are the best.

 Delicious.

Party Central.

Yes, she has a chocolate cupcake mustache, but the pretty bokeh in this shot makes me swoon.

Sarah Beth had the time of her life today.  (Yes, I am paraphrasing a song from Dirty Dancing.  Which I'll now have in my head the rest of the evening.   That's ok, I think I'll fall asleep tonight even faster than SB did.  And perhaps dream of Patrick Swayze.)  Happy Birthday Sarah Beth!  We love you party girl!

Get on the Floor {365 - Day-195}

Happy Friday the 13th everyone.  Are you superstitious?  I'm generally not, but I seriously tempted fate today by visiting the DMV on this notoriously unlucky day.  Turns out, the odds were in my favor...after 2 prior visits and multiple phone calls to straighten out a title and registration fiasco, I finally achieved success.  Major victory.  Here's a little advice, if you ever add someone to your title, make sure the DMV doesn't randomly cancel your registration for no apparent reason.  No one knows how to fix it; it was a total shot in the dark that I walked out with a legal plate.  Rant over.

After that fun way to start the day,  I went to 2 grocery stores in preparation for SB's birthday extravaganza tomorrow.  Which is why I ended up sitting on the floor of the kitchen in exhaustion this afternoon.  Kurt mulched the bejesus out of our yard today and we still have some cleaning to do to make our house presentable.  But 3rd birthdays only come once in a lifetime, right?  Besides, Sarah Beth doesn't care if the floors are a little dirty (which, from this vantage point, I can assure you, they are.)  It just adds traction for her awesome dance moves.

Day 195 {iPhone + Hipstamatic}

Hair do. {365 - Day 194}

Got my hair did today.  I always liked the peace and quiet of the salon, but now as a mom, 90 minutes of doing absolutely nothing but sitting still, gossiping and reading trashy magazines is like a full week's vacation.
If I'm feeling really decadent I'll pick up some Starbucks on the way in.  Crazy.  I wish I had someone to blow dry my hair every morning.  They always do such a better job than I do.  Let's see how long I can stretch this blow out before I have to wash it.  Sunday, maybe?

Day 194 {iPhone + Photoshop}

She is Three. {365 - Day 193}

Sarah Beth turned 3 today.  I am awestruck watching this little baby we created become her own person.  I marvel at her independence as she runs off to play with kids at the park, jumps in the pool for swim lessons, and waves goodbye happily as we leave her with a babysitter.  I savor the moments when she needs me, Even better, when she just wants me to snuggle with as we watch a favorite movie or to play a made-up game or to read storybooks.
 
Every day she grows and learns and becomes who she is going to be.  I am so honored (and a little terrified) that so much of her will come from me and how I teach her, how I show her to be a happy, strong, smart, kind, compassionate person.  So far, so good I think.  We've definitely got the happy part down for now.

Day 193 {Canon 5D Mark III}

We decorated the living room as a surprise for her birthday, so when she woke up and scampered down the hallway, we heard her say "Oh my goodness!  My party's here!  My party is here!  Come look!  Oh presents!  Oh my goodness!"  Cutest thing ever.  Totally worth nearly breaking our necks taping crepe paper streamers to the ceiling last night.

  In addition to her fabulous tiara and feather boa, we gave her a cool dump truck...

 and a Dinosaur flashlight from Toy Story 3 (her latest movie obsession.)

 

We had some serious rain this afternoon, but it cleared up so after lunch at her favorite restaurant, Showmars, we headed to the playground.  She found some new friends to play with and had a great time, playing for almost 2 hours before heading to dinner. 

We love you sweet girl.  Happy Birthday!

Mylar-ia. {365 - Day 192}

Tomorrow is a big day. Sarah Beth turns 3!  I don't know how this is possible.  But according to the calendar and the 1268 iPhone photos that have chronicled her life since day one, she is most certainly a three year old.

Ever the procrastinator, I waited until today to start running birthday errands.  Balloons, decorations, presents, tiara with matching feather boa...ready to go for tomorrow.  After I finish writing this I am going to decorate the living room in pink and green streamers so she has a big surprise when she wakes up.  All this festivity required a trip to Party City.

Talk about overload.  I got a little disoriented amongst the selection of thousands of plates, cups, pinatas, balloons and other assorted party goods.  I think they pump a little helium into the air to make you light-headed and think you need to buy EVERYTHING to make your preschool party a success.  I'm lucky I made it out of there alive with money still in my bank account.  We had one casualty, a silver balloon kamikazeed into the trunk of my car, but I was too tired to go back in for another.  We'll have to get by somehow with just 2 balloons, 10 paper lanterns and 200 yards of crepe streamers.  Better get to work!