They Just Play, Play, Play!

Here's a sample of the adorable pictures Jen sends to me while I'm at work.  I love that my girls get to have so much fun all day long!  A million thanks would never be enough - you're the best, Jen!

 Libby in Barbie heaven!

 Play-doh pumpkins on our one day of fall-like weather all year!

 Lexi loves to swing!

 And swing some more!

 What cute sisters!

 One of Libby's new favorite things is painting, and boy does Aunt Jen provide!  Look at all those colors! ;)

And Libby even convinced Ty that a Sofia-the-First tea party was JUST what he wanted to do when he got home from school one day.  What a good sport!

Disneyland with the Openshaws

Amy and Mark decided to surprise their youngest two, Ellie and Max with a trip to Disneyland towards the end of September.  We, of course, were thrilled to be able to tag along for the fun.  Libby had a blast showing her cousin Max the ropes at her favorite place on earth! :)

 Max's first must-see was Cars Land and it lived up to the hype - he loved it!

 Libby and Max climbing on the tractor after Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.

 And Disneyland didn't disappoint either....because right after we took this picture....

 look who showed up!

 Followed by all of the girls' favorite, Minnie!

 We sang along on Small World,

 sailed through the sky on Dumbo,

and enjoyed all the fun fall decorations.  Yep, we love Disneyland!

Whale-a-palooza!

The last week of summer, we really tried to do it all!  We got to go whale watching with my parents and the Stewarts.  We don't exactly have the greatest of track records when it comes to whale watching, but this time really made up for all the rest - it was AWESOME!

 Syd and Libby ready to head out to the big blue!

 Jen and diva-Lexi

 The happy whale-viewing family.  Well, mostly happy.  Turns out Brad gets seasick and was somewhat less than thrilled over the whole experience. :(

 But the rest of us LOVED it!  It was a whale-a-palooza!

Libby was totally convinced that her Shamu chant and whale wave were the ticket!  She was so good, we ended up seeing not one, but FOUR blue whales - we were surrounded!  What a great day of whale watching!

The First Day of School

It just so happened this year that Libby and I had the same first day of school - September 10th.  She started pre-school and I started my 9th year teaching at LHHS.

 Silly smile, but darling girl!

 

 The first-day girls!

 I can't believe I have to leave these two cuties everyday now - Booooo!

 What goof-balls!

Since I was busy greeting my own students, Brad got to take Libby to her first day of school.  It was a shortened day and the parents got to do a little scavenger hunt and lesson with the kids.  So glad that Brad got to be there for her - how fun!

Libby is 3!

Libby's third birthday fell on Sunday this year and she maximized every second of it! 

 It started with our Sunday morning tradition of Sticky Buns for breakfast.

 She got to make a wish on her Sticky Buns, and...

 it came true!  Turns out no matter how many times you tell her, she still says her birthday wish out loud - "that I'll get to fly-high-in-the-sky with Daddy!"

 After church (where she brought cupcakes to share with both her new and old nurseries), we headed to Grammy and Pops' for dinner.  She was eager to open all her presents from us - she opened the rest at her party the day before.

 My little angels in white!

 That Lexi is pretty hilarious!

 Swinging in the hammock with Ty.

 Donning her birthday crown for a dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers.

 Present time!  These new Minnie Mouse high heels light up and are a new favorite!

 And, a bike!  We'll see how long it takes for her to grow into it - hopefully not too long.

 I just couldn't resist this awesome picture of Lexi's post-ponytail hair.  I LOVE it!

 And possibly the biggest hit of the night - her new Minnie Mouse PJs.  The smile says it all.

Present opening didn't end there.  We headed home to Skype with Grandma and Grandpa and Libby got to open this absolutely gorgeous princess dress that Grandma made for her.  Wow - what a birthday!

Libby's Luau

For Libby's 3rd birthday we threw a luau at the beach.  It was quite the party with over 40 guests and she was definitely the star of the show.  Yeah, I'd say she loves birthdays!

Our little hula princess!

 The food table had quite the spread!

 The guests all had their pictures taken with the guest of honor and then worked on a luau picture frame to remember the big event.

 

 She greeted each guest with a lei and a big "ALOHA!" (and, some extra special guests like Grammy got a little sumthin, sumthin extra).

 Posing with her biggest spoilers.

 There was hula-hooping...

 a fun game of hot "pescado"...

 (which Libby won! - no cheating, I swear!)...

our own rendition of musical chairs - musical leis...

 

 plenty of pink and green cupcakes...

 and, Libby's favorite part - the presents!

Lexi seemed to think her big sister's party was a hit, too!

 We were super excited that one of Libby's older friends dressed up, too!  I love the way this picture captures Libby's awe of Andi - she thought the pink was pretty fabulous!

 The dads even got in on the hula-hoop action!

Kids awaiting cupcakes...mmmm, mmmm!

And just one more shot of the birthday girl!  What a fun way to celebrate one of the cutest girls I know!  We love you, Libby!  Happy 3rd Birthday!