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!!