big day for the birthday girl

the night before her birthday, Mia helped me bake up some yummy vegan gluten free cupcakes....the eggs and gluten were missing, but not the moist chocolate flavor! we were going to take them to school the next day. Mia spent extra time making sure each friend had a cupcake, then she concentrated on licking the spatula and beaters...a HUGE plus for vegan baking...no salmonella ;)

i had fun covering her birthday breakfast cupcake with bananas, strawberries and a touch of whipped cream. Mia had fun eating it!

after school, we hit Snip-its. Mia was well over due for a haircut. her fave stylist, Britny, wasn't there, but her mama was! Ms. Lisa hooked Mia up with a super cute cute, birthday braids, ribbons, gems and glitter! then we hopped over to Dr. Harry's for her birthday adjustment. Mia had been falling a lot lately...a good adjustment always sets her straight ;)

then we met up with Daddy at Chuck E Cheese's for a birthday dinner. Mia wanted her friend, Izzy to join us. we had a wonderful time watching the girls run off with tokens...they were very into getting tickets. the carousel was a big hit, too. Courtney sweetly took our family photos while Mia blew out her candle. one of the funnies thing i've ever seen was how lil Emmy eats her pizza...she dips it in cupcake icing first. my point n shoot wasn't fast enough to capture her in action, though. Mia had the best time and even got a big birthday hug from Chuck E!

at home, once we put Lily down to bed...she was beyond done...Mia opened up a few little gift we gave her....Daryl built her 'big gift'...her own personal sand box. one night last week, Mia asked for a night light like Lilly the mouse for her birthday. i love how something so small makes her so happy. 'MAMAAAAA!!!! DADDYYYYYYY a NIGHTLIGHT!!! just like Lily the MOUUUUUUSE!!!!'

♥ Hope you had a wonderful birthday, sweet Snapper ♥

♥ we love you so very much ♥

Princess Isabelle's Princess Party

for more pretty wordless wednesday shots go here and here

O'Mama Love

I was just found this...I meant to post it over a YEAR ago, but for some reason it was still my my Drafts. What a blast from the past!

08.06.2008
The O'Mamas (Other Mothers) are a mother's group I've belonged to for about a year. Mia and I spend many mornings, afternoons and some evenings with this wonderful women and their children. We're a family. There's a little drama here and there, but we get through it all so gracefully and lovingly. There are many many many things why I'm so very much in love with these fab women, but today they moved me.


Sara hosted a playdate, there were mamas, toddlers and babies oh my! The beautiful thing was that whenever a child or mama needed something, there was a mama on the scene. Babies were passed around so their mamas could tend to their other kiddo or actually go pee by herself...in privacy with the door shut! Children were pushed on swings, read to, fed, comforted and tickled. Now, this is pretty much how it always is, but something about this playdate that struck me as super loving, super nurturing....super.

I'm diggin on Courtney's lil Emmy (photo taken by Anjalika)

Sara, lovin her turn with Emmy

Courtney helping Sara's Leilani with a snack

Anjalika cuddling and reading with Leilani

Courtney with her Emmy (right) and Sarah's Kristopher (left)

1, 2, 3, 4 Birthdays!

Lovely Courtney celebrated her birthday at Interstate Lanes...super cool bowling party! We had BLAST gutter balls and all! The cake I got at Russell's Bakery for the birthday girl was so dense it broke the plastic cutting knife...so, we all just dug in! Happy Happy Birthday, Dear Courtney :)

Andrea celebrated her big 35th with friends at Yvonne's pad...coloring mandalas, chatting...the evening was so very relaxing...very Zen. Oh and the red velvet cake was gorgeous and soooo tasty...another creation by Russell. Yvonne's pond out back was hoppin with frogs calling to each other....loudly! :) It was a lovely evening with some fabulous women. Feliz Cumpleaños, Comadre!

The following two shots were taken by Yvonne...thank YOU amiga!

Then Unca Joe had his big 30 blowout! Family all got together to celebrate his departure from his 20's. Melissa made a YUMMMY pineapple upside down cake. All Mia could say was 'Uncle Peeete...uncle Peeeete' She's a HUGE fan of Melissa's brother...he's beyond fab with kids. Everyone adored baby Lily, especially Gwen. Gwen pretty much took over the roll of Mama...such sweetness :)

Ahhhhh then there was lil Anika's third birthday at Acrotex. The kids...and parents...all had a super fun time running around, jumping on the trampolines, jumping into the huge foam pit and just being monkeys. It was INSANE! I must admit that I look forward to Anika's parties because her parents score some fab samosas...I had a hard time not eating more than one. I found out the Indian grocery/restaurant is about a mile from our house. Sorry, back to the party! LOVE LOVE LOVE Anika and her sweet smile...hope you had the best time sweetness!