Potato Cake Blues

There is nothing worse than slaving over baking in the kitchen

only to underwhelm 'people' with your creation.

Piper knows all about it. 

Sigh!

(From Piper!)

xo

Look Blue!
I made you a potato cake with my new little mixer from Aunt Cindy and Uncle Phil!

Go ahead Blue.
Eat!
Eat!
Eat!

Why aren't you eating?
How long do I have to wait?
I slaved over that cake ALL morning! 

It's okay Blue.
I understand.
Perhaps I'll try using chocolate or peanut butter next time!

Cooking Cousins

I'm using up the last of the photos that we took 

during Jack's visit.

He enjoyed playing in Piper's kitchen 

just as much as she does!

I think Uncle Harold did too!!!

As for Jovi... well he made himself quite at home elsewhere.

xo

Sharing the bbq!

Jack making breakfast for the birthday girl!

Who's having more fun here??? 

And Jovi making himself comfy on Piper's new Minnie Mouse couch!

Two Little Bears

On Jack's last day visiting with us

we took advantage of him and Piper watching Dora

to take a couple of photos of them together.

They didn't stay still long enough 

in any other situation to ever get a decent shot!

xo

The cutest cousins ever, wearing their matching bear hats!

What ever Dora is doing on the TV must be very interesting!

Happy 2nd Birthday Piper

Today is the big day!

Piper turned TWO.

She was quite intent on having her "Happy Birthday"

all over again today,

which she did.

Just minus the friends and presents.

She still had decorations, cake and Jack,

so she was MORE than happy!

Throw in all the extra birthday love 

from phone calls from friends and family

and what more could a little girl ask for?

It was a lovely day.

I didn't blog about this yesterday,

but would like to include it in today's post.

It's about Piper trying to skip her nap yesterday.

I NEEDED her to take her nap 

in order to get all of the decorations up

and to get myself and our house ready for the party.

Piper had a bad belly and tried to get away

without even a 5 minute snooze in the afternoon.

After we knew she was feeling better,

I was rocking her in the rocking chair 

when Mark came in and offered to switch places

so that I could get everything ready.

I agreed and it wasn't long before our birthday princess

was sound asleep in her daddy's arms.

Such a rare treat.

It was then that I got sentimental 

and reminded Mark that it was two years ago

that he was sharing a very similar special quiet time with Miss P

as they were both left alone in my hospital room

while I was rushed off for emergency surgery.

For a few sweet quiet hours,

it was just Piper in her daddy's arms...

just like yesterday.

I was a little envious that I didn't get that cuddle time,

but must remind myself to share!

Happy Birthday beautiful girl.

Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back!

xo

Daddy getting to know his baby girl
on that very first day!

Sweet quiet cuddles... two years later.

Birthday breakfast with Uncle Harold!!!

Jack belting out the Happy Birthday song... AGAIN!

Aunt Krista celebrating with our birthday breakfast.

Who says you can't blow out a candle stuck in a batch of warm cinnamon buns?

Someone felt pretty happy to have a turn too!!

Last Day of Fun Being One!

I can't believe that as of tomorrow morning

I will be the mother of a 2 year old. 

Where has time gone??

My sweet baby girl is so grown up!

We celebrated her birthday today instead of tomorrow,

so that Jack would be able to take part in the celebration.

All the kids had a wonderful time

and Piper was beyond excited that it was all about her!

I'm not sure that she realizes 

that in this house, 

it's all about her EVERY day!

She may only realize this once her little brother/sister arrives,

and then it will only be about her AND him/her!

Even then,

there is plenty of love to go around!

xo

Thank you to Aunt Susan for creating the PERFECT invitations
to Piper's Ernie and Bert birthday party!!!

Piper and her party guests all colouring at her new little table!

All guests except for one, who preferred to bounce instead!

Jack enjoying his Happy Meal
and most likely singing Happy Birthday! 

Sylvie exclaimed half way through supper that this was
"the best party ever"!!

Sylvie's little sister Caitlin was quieter,
but seemed to have fun all the same!

She was so happy when she saw the cake.
In a little bit of shock that it was for her
and became too shy to blow out the candle,
but I'll bet with the crowd gone tomorrow
she will be happy to blow it out all by herself!

We tried to find ANY decorations with Bert and Ernie on them,
but couldn't find any anywhere.
So I improvised.
We bought this cake with just the Abby and Elmo figurines on top
and added Piper's very own Ernie and 'Dip'
to give her an Ernie and Bert birthday cake!

What else did I do?
I found wrapping paper with Ernie and Bert's picture on it.
I cut out the little squares and glued them to different coloured party hats
and paper plates to make decorations.

Piper thought it was the best thing ever!!!
Aunt Krista even wrapped the table in the wrapping paper
to add to the theme!

Feeding some cake to 'Dip'. 

Asking me to clean Ernie because he was dirty!

Me teaching her how to properly clean a cake figurine!

Of course my slow poke eater is the last to finish,
even though she got the first piece of cake!
It didn't matter.
She was busting a gut laughing at Sylvie and Jack
playing with balloons!

Joining in the fun!

Piper showing us that she is TWO!

Two kisses for the two year old.

And the closest we got to a normal nice photo of the 3...
well, 4 of us really!

Opening presents.

She received a little Dora and Boots.
What did she think of them?

She couldn't have been happier.
(Yes, she took them to bed with her tonight!) 

And trying out the new bed that she received for her Dolly.

The Rabbit and the Polar Bear

Have you heard the story about the rabbit and the polar bear?

Me neither,

but as soon as Piper put on her rabbit robe

Jack decided that he wanted to be an animal as well.

After trying out being a monkey

by putting a monkey toy on his head,

he changed his mind and just declared that he was a polar bear.

PERFECT,

since Piper has a polar bear blanket 

that she was more than happy to share.

xo

Looks like the growling polar bear is scaring the little pink bunny rabbit....

but it turned out to have a happy ending!!
(Until an hour later when the rabbit had the polar bear in tears...  AGAIN!)

Double Fisted

Piper always has a water cup with her 

throughout the day.

She usually brings it from room to room as she plays,

so we rarely have any difficulty finding it.

That was a different story yesterday.

Mark and I were both on the hunt and couldn't find it anywhere.

After a thorough search of the house

I finally found it.

In a very reasonable place.

I don't give my daughter enough credit. 

I should have looked there first!

xo

Piper's kitchen that Santa brought to her. 

And yes... I found a water cup and her morning milk cup in her little refrigerator!!

I guess she was thirsty??
I hope this isn't foreshadowing of her future on George Street! ;-)