Mary Ella's 3rd Birthday

 Monday night after Mary Ella went to bed, Brad and I started blowing up balloons.  Actually, I brought the bag over to the couch and told Brad to start blowing.  I had the idea to fill the floor of her room with balloons and put streamers on her door, so she would be surprised when she woke up on her birthday.  As we watched the Olympics, we blew and blew.  We threw the balloons in the floor, and watched them accumulate.  And then we almost passed out.  Ha!  It was going to be tough to get the effect I was going for (think Patch Adams, in my head ha!) because she actually has alot of floor space in her room.  We didn't think we could make it, and a few measly balloons in the floor wasn't going to cut it for our princess.  So, Brad suggested stuffing them in her closet, and having her open the door.  And then, he really got into it and decided he wanted them to fall from the ceiling.  So, he got a trash bag, cut it, taped it to the walls and ceiling in front of her door, grabbed the ladder, and started stuffing balloons on top of the draped trash bag.  Then he was tired and went to bed.  When I asked how he was going to get them to fall, he said he would come up with something.  So, of course after all of our hard work, we didn't beat her up the morning of her birthday.  She came out of her room on her own (which she almost never does), and THEN Brad pulled them down.  I was in the process of getting cameras ready, but it was still fun and she was still really surprised.  Who knows what we'll do when she turns 4?  Maybe try it again...or pay for someone else to blow them up.  Ha!

My camera was going crazy at first, but you can still see her sweet excitement and crazy hair!

 It was a really fun morning even though our plan was botched.  And she has had a blast playing with her balloons.  We had breakfast and got ready to meet the Carters at the zoo!

"Happy birthday to you" and chocolate chip pancakes

 It was an overcast day and we got there early, so it wasn't too hot.  Plus, we were prepared to cool off at the new splash park!

Lillie, Emma, Jack, and ME

Sweet girls!

I was totally impressed with the splash park.  It was cool!

Lillie came with us too!

Butterfly on her tutu

Snacking on mum mums while the big kids play

Riding the train...we did the carousel too!

Choo choo

 After the zoo we had lunch at Newks and grabbed some Gigi's cupcakes.  Yum!  The day was going great until I went to get Rhett up from his nap, and he had thrown up everywhere!  He threw up 4 more times after that.  Poor baby!  Needless to say, the rest of our day did not go as planned.  But, thankfully I got some pedialyte and meds in him before he went to bed in the pack n play in our room.  He slept great and has been fine today except for 2 naaasty diapers.  Let's keep our fingers crossed it is OVER...we have a big weekend planned with more party time to celebrate our girl.  I'd say she has enjoyed the birthday festivities so far!