How Eva Spent Her Birthday...

Our little China doll celebrated her 3rd birthday American style!  We woke her with all of us singing "Happy Birthday"...which I'm sure sounded like a pretty rude awakening!! 

The boys each had picked out cards for her.  After she opened them, we noticed how she kept opening and closing them, going back and forth from card to card.  Finally, after doing this for a little while, she looks up at us and says "No Music"!  This girl doesn't miss anything!!  She remembered us looking at Father's Day cards and of course the boys had to listen to all of the ones that made music.

 

Fortunately, Tom & Sue saved the day later that afternoon when they showed up with a singing card!!

After getting her up, it was time to head outside and unveil her birthday gift from us!

At first she was a little hesitant to climb or slide on it by herself, but by the end of the day she was all over it!  She loves being outside so this should get lots of use!!

We had lunch with Nana & Paw-Paw, where she was so excited to eat pizza!

Driving home from my parents, I asked her what she wanted for her special birthday dinner.  She quickly replied "hot dog"!  This is a very strange request, because I never cook hot dogs.  We went to the grocery store and I showed her hot dogs to make sure that was what she wanted and it was...so hot dogs it was for dinner!

A surprise package from a friend was very exciting to find on our doorstep!  Oh how I wish I'd had my camera when I told Eva the package was for her.  Her eyes and mouth were as wide as saucers and she kept saying "Eva prize, Eva prize"!!  This special gift was from her friend Sophie, who is also from Suzhou and the same orphanage as Eva, along with her siblings Isaac, Avery and mom, Mrs. Kristen.  It's a really cute bracelet with heart charms!  Our girly-girl LOVES it!!  Thanks so much!

We ended her day at the park where my very talented neice Kristen took pics of the birthday girl!  They all came out so great that I had a very hard time choosing so I'm putting several here on the blog.  Thanks Kristen for these special treasures!!

After a little playtime with her cousin Brayden,

no birthday would be complete without cupcakes!!  Unfortunately it was so windy we couldn't get a picture of her blowing out the candles, but I think it's safe to say the cupcake was a hit!!

Before bed, she played with her magnetic paper dolls from MarMar that she loves!  So fun to watch how intense she is getting the clothes and shoes just right.  We might just have a little Fashionista on our hands!!

Her new book from Molly was the perfect bedtime story!!

Now we look forward to Saturday, when we will celebrate some more with family & friends.  I love planning birthday parties for the boys, but I have to admit that planning one for a little girl has been lots of fun!! 

All in all, I think it was a great day for a 3rd Birthday!!

We love you Eva!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Eva!!

Today our beautiful girl turns three,

and it's her first birthday with her forever family!!

What a precious day this is for our family!  We are so blessed that this year we have the privilege of being the ones chosen by God to celebrate this special day with her.

Last year we missed her birthday by three weeks, but we took some comfort in knowing that it would be her last one without her family.  We also knew she celebrated because we were able to get pictures of her having some of the cake we had sent.

Here she is about the time of her first birthday...

and here is the earliest known picture of her at about six days old.  Isn't she just an angel?!?!

Eva,

We are so proud of you and love you more than you can ever imagine.  It has been such an honor for us to watch you grow and mature over the past year into the amazing little girl that you are today. You have inspired us with your bravery and courage when faced with so many new situations in such a short period of time.  Your sense of humor and laughter truly do light up our lives.  You face each new day with a smile on your beautiful face.  You have completed us and our family and we pray for God's continued blessings upon you this upcoming year and throughout your life.

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Baby Girl!!

ELEVEN Months!

It's hard to believe that today our little ladybug has physically been a part of our family for eleven months...she's been a part of our hearts for much longer!!

The boys are now out of school for the summer and from their first night off they have wanted to "camp" out on the living room floor.  Eva has loved being able to sleep sandwiched between her big brothers!

Even though the calendar may not officially say it's summer, here with temps in the mid 90"s for the past few weeks, it can't be any more summertime!  With that comes the need for water...

Whether there is just a few inches of water in the pool, or...

a few feet of water, Eva LOVES it!!  Everyday she wants to be out there getting wet!! 

Another great way to beat the heat is with a snow cone and Eva loved her first one so much that everytime we pass the snow cone stand, she asks for an "ice cone"!



A necessity for the summer are pretty pink toes for sandals! 

After watching Mommy get a pedicure Eva wanted one too!!

When the heat brings us inside, Eva loves to help me with whatever I'm doing.  She especially loves to help me bake.  She's an expert at cleaning the spatula!!

And of course, the princess still loves to eat!

The boys recently had their Spring piano recital and Eva couldn't wait for her turn after the recital was over.  I doubt this will be the last time we see her at the piano!

We are really looking forward to many more fun events together this summer!