Valentine's Day

For Valentines Day we were invited over by the Parano-Stevens family to enjoy a homemade meal.

With Valentines Day falling on Sunday this year, sharing a meal with another family was really the most ideal, fun idea. Not only did we enjoy the Parano-Stevens company, but it looked like Marco really enjoyed sitting next to the adorable Aida. 

After dinner, the Parano-Stevens children were so sweet and took care of our kids so we could sit and chat with our friends. Just knowing that our kids were enjoying the attention that they were receiving made this Valentines treat extra special. It was also fun to see how decorated their house was. I told the Parano-Stevens family that I just must not have had enough energy to decorate the house because they did a superb job compared to my (lack) of decorations. Marcia informed me that it was all the children and that once kids got older the kids took care of decorating and parenting goes from doing everything, to merely supervising. It sure gave me something to look forward to!

We knew that it started to snow while we were enjoying our meal, but we didn't think much of it. Snow in North Carolina? Not only does it rarely happen, but when it does snow, it usually never sticks. But not tonight! The roads were slick coming home and it took us almost a half hour to return safely to our home. The kids were in awe and loved watching the snow come down. Lily kept on asking if we could build Olaf. 

This may not seem like the perfect Valentines Day... but it was one of my very, very favorite Valentines Days that I have celebrated with Michal. I don't know why, but all of the elements combined (food, company, childcare, relaxing, and the earth being dusted with snow) made it absolutely perfect, refreshing, and memorable!

Lily Turns 3

When this little girl turned three, I wanted to make it really extra special for her.

So... we started the day, by giving her a princess crown to wear around and let everyone know it was her birthday. 

As soon as we were up and going, Grammy was dying for presents to be opened so that Lily could immediately start playing with the toys she received. 

But, we let Marco open gifts first so that he could be a part of the festivities and feel included. But, also so that he would be preoccupied with his gifts. 

When it was Lily's turn to start unwrapping gifts, she dived right in and got more and more excited with each present that she opened.

Some of her favorite gifts included:

Tangled figurines

A tea set

Minnie Mouse Memory Cards

A Tangled Braid

...

And we concluded with the grand finale of:

(complete with Marco's help)

Anna and Else doll toys.

Once all the gifts were opened, we let the playing commence.

However, it seemed more like our job to open, set up, clean up, play with, read to, and interact with the gifts so that Lily had someone to enjoy her presents with.

The conclusion of Lily's Birthday was complete with candles, a birthday cake, and singing. While I felt that her birthday cake looked straight like a Pinterest Fail. She was in heaven and loved her fairy cake. 

(And I think that Marco loved it too).

Each year, I'm getting better and better at this 'Mom job' and figuring out how to make birthday's special. All it requires is effort. The more time and love I put into making things special, the more memorable they are. The happy faces and smiles are rewards for all my hard work. And hopefully next year, I'll get better and each birthday will be better than the one before!

Lily's first Dentist Visit

Apparently, once you turn two years old you are eligible for a teeth cleaning. I missed the two year-old boat, but made it in time for when Lily turned three! She had her very first dental appointment. While I was silently, internally freaking out about her being in the chair, Lily was a champ and took the whole thing with pride. The dental assistant just told her that she was polishing her princess teeth and making them sparkle. That did the trick because Lily sat as still as could be for her whole appointment. She was absolutely perfect and I couldn't have had a more "proud" Mommy moment. 

Cleaning

Flossing and Flouride

Scraping 

When all was said and done, Lily got a prize for being such a great sport. She was super happy and couldn't wait to come back to get her "princess teeth" all sparkly clean!

Now, only if I could learn from Lily's example and not freak out in the dentist's chair!