Lainey's Birthday

 Lainey turned 3 yesterday!  Her Grandma Lee threw a party for the 5 cousins who have their birthday in the next couple weeks.  I don't throw "friend-parties" for the kids until they turn 4 so I volunteered Lainey's birthday for it, being a Saturday.  It was much more fun for her going there than what I would have brainstormed up.  Lainey was still recognized for it actually being her birthday,

and she felt special all day. 

Brielle and Makya were two of the other March/April birthdays celebrated.  

We parents were shewed away to take a few hours off and we went to lunch while Grandma threw a great party for them.

 

The oldest cousin, Jordan was gone to a basketball game while the next oldest cousin, Jayden spent most of the time out playing ball in the driveway.  When we came back, the uncles helped entertain him on the court for a good while.

The little kids played off their sugar highs outside for about an hour before we all left.

These two boys heard talk of a worm and rushed to see it.  :)

Checking out the worm...

"Eeeewww!"

The big girls.

Grandma's new hair-do.  I loved it!

Getting smacked up side the head with that ball...

He took it well.

Looks like a body slam, but he jumped over her.  Still, though, way to much trust there.

After the birthday party, we came home.  Lainey was pretty tuckered, so we gave her a nap.  When she woke up, we did things a little backwards.  We had cake, then dinner, THEN opened presents.

We took the family to Carl's Junior for dinner.  I didn't get pictures of the jungle gym, but they have a ginormous indoor play area there- so kids LOVE to eat there.

Back at home, she opened her presents.

She got some sandals for summer and a set of dress-up shoes from Grandma Foster.

A Rapunzel doll and a new dress-up dress to match.

Then Brielle and Ashton came from the back bedroom carrying her last gift, which we knew she'd go crazy about.  Lainey loves adores stuffed animals.  They had this guy at Costco for $29.00.

She just hugged it and kissed its nose and hugged it again and again.  She loves it.  Today, Bear has been sitting at the dining table with us, sitting in the living room when watching cartoons...  But it's supposed to stay safely upstairs adorning the playroom.  He's a "bear" of a load to haul upstairs, but not hard for a 3 year-old to tumble down them :)

Oh how we love our Lainey Bug!  She is so bright, happy, sweet, and fun.  She dances and dances.  She squawks around the house like a noisy bird.  She has such a great giggle.  She loves to color and draw- usually circles strewn all across a page.  She's our best snuggler still.  Yes, she still sucks her two middle fingers making an "I love you" sign.  She loves to play outside.  She likes to ride her tricycle around the driveway- it's on a bit of a slope so she coasts down, pedals around, and pumps those little legs as hard as she can to get back up the other side of the circle drive.  And repeats for the longest time.  She loves her cat, Max to bit and bits.  Really, I'm surprised he's not worn to bits by her mauling him by now :)  Despite that, for some reason he really loves her back.  Lainey loves to keep up with her brother and sister.  She's more than a ray of light in our home, we cherish her little smile and eagerness to make others smile too.  Happy Birthday, little Lainey!