Monkeying Around

So today was Emilia's final birthday party in which she got to invite her friends to go visit Savanahland. Besides her cousins, she chose to invite her friends Catherine and Myles. Today was actually Catherine's birthday also, so we had two birthday girls blowing out candles, and Emilia was happy to share. I was a little nervous about finding the place, but I did a virtual "dry run" on google maps and thought I was good to go, but about 3 minutes into the gravel road and a missing Saxton's truck, I turned around and went a different way. Turns out I was only about 2 blocks away from the place when I turned around... oh, and we found Saxton! Ten minutes later we arrived and the fun began...

Hannah and the baby chimp

Saxton

Myles was not sure what to think at first!

Lily and Heather

it's our turn!

I am talking, the chimp is imitating me and Emilia is not listening...

why do I feel like nobody takes me seriously? :)

At least the baby kangaroo liked me...

or maybe just my coffee breath!

And no Caryn, that is not a deer... it is a kangaroo! :)

Nathan

The 5 minutes the kids were actually listening during the tour...

it was very interesting, but not really geared towards 2 & 3 year olds.

Ironically enough, though, I think the little ones listened more than the older ones!

Emilia and baby Bella

One of the biggest highlights for the kids was feeding the deer...

I am sure it was a highlight for her too!

This look says it all!

I didn't think Emilia was going to leave her side!

Can't wait until she tries this with the deer that mingle

in our back yard! :)

Not sure what Garrett was saying, but Saxton seemed amused.

Knowing Garrett, I am not sure I want to ask!

The birthday girls blowing out their candles.

and making wishes!

Hannah and Hudson

best buds

birthday treats

Hudson always loves my cooking... good for my ego!

happy boy!

Emilia, on the other hand, did not seem to impressed!

her new watering can

Claffie opening her gift from Emilia

Looks like Lilybug enjoyed the treats!

showing off the paint

Emilia actually read her cards and let me tell you, according

to her they said some interesting things!

new chalk paint and chalk accessories!

Emilia was so excited about her new dino book and light bright!

Heather applying "attachment parenting" style "baby wearing"

with her new baby roo! Awe, such a good mama! :)

Just about the size of our bigger babies at work!

I thought he was so cute sucking his thumb until he stuck his slobbery

thumb in my mouth! I almost vomited... awesome. I will probably be

the first diagnosed with some new chimp flu!

At least Roo had no opposable thumbs to do this with!

Although a bit hot and smelly at times (both the animals and us by the end of it), everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. I thought I was bad getting us turned around on the way there, so my self confidence regarding my lack of directional skills was at an all time low... until we followed Heather home! Thank you, Heather, for getting us lost twice on the way home just to make me feel better... you are such a great sis to do this! Emilia slept through the drive home until the minute we pulled in the driveway. I pulled in the garage and turned the car off. One little eye popped open and I here,"can I play with my new birthday toys?" So it was back outside for chalk fun and then back into the AC (ahhh!) for some light bright action and book reading! Busy but fun day! Happy birthday Emilia (again)!

Busy day

This morning I met my niece, Erika, for an early morning Starbucks run for our caffeine fix before we headed to Lowe's to look at paint for her new house. She is officially moving back after living too far away for too long due to her husbands job. We are so excited to have then living 5 minutes away, and to make the moving less stressful we are trying to help her get everything painted how she wants before they move furniture this weekend. I love the colors she has picked so far, but now she is trying to decide on the colors for the master bedroom. Emilia was quite the little helper picking out paint samples and then we headed to hang out with her brother for a bit before she had to work. Emilia had a little cat nap in the car before meeting Heather and Hannah at the pool. I think Emilia and Heather went down the huge slide 50 times! Emilia was so exhausted when we headed home at 5pm and tried to sleep in the 5 minute ride home! We did a quick bath and dinner when we got home and she was asleep in bed at 7:30pm... which is super early for my usually late night owl! Here's a pic of getting ready for the pool..

Late night summer fun

Tonight my brother in law, Markus, and his kiddos came over for a gourmet cookout... hot dogs, BBQ beans, and chips... hey at least they were the cheese filled hot dogs! It was such a nice evening that we spent most the evening playing outside with her new swing set and play house. Garrett also taught the girls how to play freeze tag and let me tell you that is the fastest running 5 year old I have ever seen! Needless to say I got my exercise during that game. When it was finally to dark to play outside we sat out on the deck for some messy but yummy watermelon and then headed in for baths for the girls. Melissa had to work late so I didn't think it would be nice to send Markus home with such a sticky mess. I had fun playing with the kids and I think the guys had fun catching up on "guy talk!"

Birthday Festivities

Okay, before I even begin Emilia's birthday post with this song playing I will explain that while a weird musical choice for my 3 year old's birthday posting... I grew up to my dad singing this song ("Betty Davis eyes" and "you are my sunshine")to me because I had big violet colored eyes (which did not stay that way)... and this weekend was his birthday also... 61 and counting! Happy birthday dad and I still have such fond memories of these songs! I sing them to Emilia and hope she will remember the same... love you dad! And on to the birthday girl.... As tradition in the Hensley family (that's my maiden name :) ) and now in the Jenkins family, Emilia's birthday festivities spanned multiple days. Turning 3 is quite the big deal and to celebrate her 3 years we opted for 3 parties... one at school, one at home with our family, and one with her friends. Thursday was her school party and she was so excited to decorate the cupcakes for it. As much as I wanted to make them a bit more "fancy," I handed the task over to Emilia and let her pick EVERYTHING... clear down to the color of sprinkles and toppings. She really enjoyed it and here are her masterpieces...

Her family party was Friday evening. It was so stinking hot, but we opted to grill out anyway, but kept the party mainly inside in the air conditioning this year! I let Emilia pick out what cake she wanted on the internet, and then tried to replicate it. To my rescue was my elementary school partner in crime, Aunt Jenny. Just as I put Emilia down for a nap on Friday, Jen called and said she was bringing Chipotle and coming to help me... I have the best friends! Jen has no kiddos of her own but does amazingly well with Emilia (and Emilia has been quite obsessed with Jen since we went to her house for dinner last week)! I gave Jen the messiest task... rolling the waffle cones in agave nectar and sprinkles... hey she offered! Her finished product was quite impressive. The recipe recommended using honey, but since Emilia is allergic to honey, we chose the agave nectar. It was a bit more difficult, though, since it is a lot more runny than honey... hey that rhymes! :) After all these years of knowing my germaphobic ways, I still caught her doing this... you gotta love her!

Our finished masterpiece....

Here was my other rescuing friend who showed up before the party to actually get Emilia ready for her party while I cooked dinner. Samantha and I have been friends since junior high and were college room mates. She spends quite a bit of time with us and Emilia claims her as "my Mantha!"

PS... does anybody see a growing tummy on this little mama??? 14 weeks and counting!

While I could go on and on with photos from the party ( I took around 200) I have chosen to just post the highlights and pics of some of the fam.... Uncle Danny Pam and Tom

my dad

Time for cake!

Isaac, Britney, Emilia, Lily, Hudson, and Ian Sweet boy waiting for his cake!

Singing Happy Birthday to Emilia Making wishes Sharing stolen candies Decorating... not an issue, but now how to cut the cake... a problem! Heather, Melissa and me

And now for presents...

her birthday card had a crown on it! Hudson taking an important phone call in the middle of the present unwrapping!

Hannah was Emilia's helper

The night ended with snuggles in mommy's bed...

and some silly faces

It was a great party and most of our family was able to come... along with a few friends that are considered family. It is hard to believe that she is already turning 3... today I had to work and just happened to be working on the same row as the nurse that cared for her exactly 3 years ago today. It was very surreal and even made me a bit sick to think of where we were 3 years ago today. Emilia was 2 days old and being placed on the ventilator. Her central lines were placed and she received her first blood transfusion as we patiently awaited for a cranial, abdominal, and sacral ultrasounds to check for bleeding or abnormalities. Something no parent should ever go through and yet I return to work to re-live this experience over and over again. Three years ago today she did not even have a name and I had yet to even hold her. My heart goes out to any family that is forced into the NICU experience, and I can only pray their outcomes are that of a happy and healthy child as Chris and I have been so lucky to have. Every child, while born sick or healthy, is such a miracle and we are so grateful to have our own 3 year old miracle to remind us daily of the blessings God holds for us!

Happy Birthday, Emilia!

Emilia is officially 3 years old! I have tons of party photos to post... later! I did, however find some postings that I left sitting in my "draft" box waiting to be posted from last month, so enjoy while waiting for the birthday girl photos! :)