Happy, Happy 4th Birthday Mia!

Really concentrating on opening her gifts (which she has absolutely loved, by the way!)

A Verse For the Night Before The Birthday

When I have said my evening prayer,

And my clothes are folded on the chair,

And mother switches off the light

I'll still be 3 years old tonight.

But from the very break of day,

Before the children rise and play,

Before the darkness turns to gold,

Tomorrow, I'll be 4 years old.

4 kisses when I wake.

4 candles on my cake!

M. Meyerkort

From Jane Dyer's Animal Crackers

I have to tell you, I almost started crying as I read this poem to Mia the night before her birthday. It hit me she was really turning 4 years old - how did this happen?? We, however did hit the jackpot on her birthday. She had so much fun!!!! We started out giving Mia 4 kisses and having cupcakes for breakfast. Mia and I baked the cupcakes the day before. She is really getting into cooking and does a wonderful job of icing cupcakes! She had told me she wanted chocolate cupcakes with pink icing to look like a cake. So after our cupcake breakfast, we headed to our favorite restaurant here in town to eat Mia's favorite pizza. The owners and staff all love her and even though they don't normally sing happy birthday there, they treated her with ice cream, a lit candle, and singing. She was thrilled! The Disney movie Princess and the Frog and popcorn were next on the agenda. What an awesome, fun day!! When we got up the next morning, Mia asked if we could do it all again!:) I told her we still had Build A Bear coming up . . .

Happy Birthday, our dear Mia. You are the light of our lives. We love you very much!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

A Whole Lot of Fun on Christmas Day!

Here's the evidence . . .

Here's even more evidence - look at that smile!

Is anyone surprised she went straight for the firemen fun?

Mia had two stockings this year and loved the contents of both:)

Can you hear her - she's saying Arrrrggghhhh!:)

There's plenty more, but this is the highlights:) It's difficult to choose - there are so many good pictures of Mia having SO much fun with her new toys!!!  Our hearts (and stomachs) are full - full of love, blessings from God, and lots and lots of good food!  We are so thankful for Jesus and also for you - Merry Christmas and enjoy the pictures (I've got to go play, of course):)  By the way, we decided to stay in our Christmas pajamas today, and Mia was thrilled to get to do such a funny thing!

Ready for Santa and Santa's Eight Reindeer!

Cookies and Milk for Santa.

Ready to go out in the rain to feed the reindeer.

Now, we are ready for Mia to wake 

up and see what Santa brought for her!

Mia was so excited tonight at dinner she could barely eat!  However, we didn't forget to feed Santa.  Here's a picture of Mia with Santa's cookies and milk.  We didn't forget the baby carrots for the reindeer or reindeer food on the lawn while they wait for Santa.  After Mia had gone to bed, Santa came and put out all her toys.  Early tomorrow morning, the fun and excitement will begin!!!   Mia has been singing to us and now I'll sing it to you, "Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart!"

But to each one of you grace was given according to the 

measure of Christ's gift. Ephesians 4:7

Goodbye Bijou and Reindeer!

Well, it's hard to believe it's already Christmas Eve. This has to be the best December ever! Mia is now almost four and just fun ALL THE TIME!  We have enjoyed the parties, the friends, the decorating, the shopping, the baking, the eating, visiting Santa (twice!) but most of all learning about Baby Jesus and why He came to us.  Such a joyous time! We now need to say goodbye once more to Bijou and Reindeer (that's all we know - Bijou has still not revealed Reindeer's name to us - maybe next year?).  Mia is sending a lollipop with them for the journey. She said she is sending a red one because they love the color red:)  Thank you, Bijou for staying with us and all the special gifts you have brought from Santa.  Can't wait to see you next year!

Cookies and More Cookies

Most importantly, they passed the Mia test!

Mia and I made the absolute best chocolate cookies yesterday. They were made out of a "doctored" cake mix - delicious!  I tried them out on our next door neighbor's daughter Erin and her cousin, Kathleen and they passed the tween test:)  Today, we made Orange Balls - yummy!  Mia loved the mound of coconut we rolled them in right before we ate them.  Can't wait until our next cookie cooking day!

Christmas Cookie Marathon

Ready to cook!

Mommy, how about this one?

Our Taste Tester:)

Look at all the cookies!!

Mia and I decided to cook lots of cookies today. I was amazed at how fast she is at an assembly line!  I had to hurry to keep up with her.  We had such a fun day cooking, playing, giggling, and most important eating!  It was a great girl's day!

Gotcha Day - 3rd Anniversary!

Our Sweet Angel and Her New Necklace

Gotcha Day December 17, 2009

December 17, 2006 - Gotcha Day

December 17 is Gotcha Day for us.  It's so hard to believe Mia has been with us three years - it has gone by fast!  Here she is with her new necklace - a gift from Mommy and Daddy.

Congratulations Angie!

Think Angie was surprised?

Mia LOVES Mary Katherine

Adorable best of friends, Mia and Lacey

This was such an exciting surprise party!  Does Angie look surprised??  Angie graduated and we are so proud of her!  Mia and Lacey, of course had a great time.  We were late getting home.  I talked to Mia in the car all the way to keep her from sleeping in the car. When we got home, she announced that she wanted her pajamas and then she went straight to bed!

Christmas Program

Our beautiful girl all dressed up and ready to go!

Here comes Mia ready to sing.

Can you find Mia?

The best part - cookies!

Yesterday was Mia's last day for Christmas break. Her preschool performs an adorable Christmas Program.  Mia can now sing Jingle Bells in Spanish!  Mia was singing so loud and so well, Tim and I could hear her in the audience!:)

Breakfast with Santa!! How Fun!

Tim and I have concluded Mia loves the Grinch more than Santa! She searched him out at the church several times!  We've read the book over and over and she follows along with her book when she watches the movie:)

Mia talking very intently to Santa about what she wants for Christmas. 
Santa was listening because she's been such a good, good girl!

Once again, we had breakfast with Santa at our local Methodist church where Mia attends preschool.  The church does the most beautiful job of feeding, decorating, and providing real life Santas. This church is so full of love for children.  We look forward to this every year. It has to be our favorite Christmas tradition!

Our Christmas Angel

On the first Sunday of December, Mia was all dressed up and ready to go to church in her Christmas dress.  She looked like a very happy Christmas angel!

Visiting Santa at the Mall

Our mall here always has a really neat Santa to visit.  This man was exceptionally "Santa like".  Of course, Mia wasn't scared at all.  Here's a couple of pictures of before and after sitting on Santa's lap.

The Decorating Event

We spent the day decorating the house for Christmas.  Mia could not wait to put every ornament on the tree.  It really now feels like Christmas!

Bijou and Reindeer Are Here!

On Thanksgiving night, Bijou and his reindeer came to stay with us until Christmas Eve.  Bijou came from Santa at the North Pole with a letter from Santa in his special red ink and a gorgeously illustrated The Night Before Christmas book.  Mia was so excited to see Bijou and hear from Santa.  The blessed, wonderful season has begun!  We love and cherish every moment with Mia and her love for Christmas.