My Curl-less Boy

The day finally came.

We've been putting it off.

Till he was 2.

Then ... till Auntie Joy came to visit. She gave Renatah her first hair cut ... so ... we thought we'd ask her to do the honours with Tait too.

Once again - frozen blueberries did the trick to keep him happy. He was so 'un-phased' by the whole process. Glanced over his shoulder once to have a look at the thing that was buzzing around his head ... but other than that ... just sat there. "Happy as Larry".
Here he is the next day. My little man.

It has been 4 days since his 'big chop'. I'm still getting used to it. I feel like it has 'changed him'. Not just his looks, but he seems to be 'acting' older?!?!?! Just my imagination maybe?! His eyes pop all the more without the shag. His cheeks are even more kissable, not hidden by the curls.

I love my boy ... I miss his longer curlier baby hair ... but I love his new look!

Renatah's Fairy Tea Party (part 1 - Our Fairy Land)

The fairies at Renatah's house (my dear neighbour and some good friends) learned that it was her birthday and put a lot of time and effort into making a beautiful setting for a celebration of Renatah's 4th birthday. It was a delightful afternoon for the little girls in her life, their muma's and some other special ladies in Renatah's life. It is a delight to share the pictures of her afternoon of 'girls only fairy fun'.

You are about to enter our Fairy Land

Fairy lights, tissue paper pompoms decorated our space.
The wings and wreaths prepared for each little girl hung waiting for their arrival.

After getting 'dressed up' the first activity the girls got to do

was decorate their very own little fairy house.

Pompoms decorated this space too.

Once the fairy houses were complete we headed outside for "Musical Logs". We 'played games' with the weather that afternoon. I had the logs outside, ready, then it rained so I scurried to get them all inside. Then the rain cleared up and the sun came out ... so out went the logs again ... the rain held off long enough to play the game! I couldn't have asked for better cooperation!

After our musical logs the girls 'flitted' in to play "Pin the Wings on the Fairy" using wings they decorated themselves ... the whole activity was prepared by our gorgeous 'artist' and dear friend Auntie Kerri!

The Muma Fairy food table. (before the food arrived!)

The little fairies buffet (the whole effect, before food)

The buffet table filled and awaiting the hungry fairies.

Fairy 'tea' ... lemon'laid, as per the birthday fairy's request.

The eating table for the girls.

The cake!

Take home bags, waiting in Renatah's fairy cradle
(had to use it some how, since it went so well with the theme!)

Colouring books I made to go in the take home bags.
They also got little fairy 'snow globes' that they had to find around 'fairy land' before the left. (didn't get a picture of that though!)

Renatah's Fairy Tea Party (part 2 - Party Time)

Our birthday Fairy

sister fairiesmaking fairy houses

our little fairies ready for musical logs

it's my party and I'll pout if I want to!
Renatah got 'out' ... no log for her to sit on ... "I'm very dissapointed Muma" she said!decorating her fairy wings for the next activity
one fairy being assisted by the 'party fairies'
for her turn to pin her wings on the fairy!

enjoying the snack feast

cake time

to enable the Muma's a little more party time of their own,
we put on a Tinkerbell movie!

The Muma Fairies!
we had just as much fun as the little girls!

Choo Choo ... Tait is Two (part 1)

On the weekend before his birthday we threw him a little party to a theme inspired by his constant exclamation "choo choo Muma!!! choo choo!!!" whenever he sees a train, or a railroad crossing sign, or railroad tracks or even the lines above the 'MAX' track that runs down the freeway we drive along most often.

Because I know some of you are interested in all the little details ... here are the pictures I got of the activities for the kids.

Our 're-use-able' birthday banner!

Train attire: engineer caps, whistles and bandannas

the Tait Express, the party train
our mode of 'transportation' between activities

the front view

Activity #1

Activity #2

Activity #3

Activity #4

Our Birthday Boy!!

Choo Choo ... Tait is Two (part 2)

To keep on with the detailed photo-mentary ... here is a picture by picture walk through of the morning.

Our boy in his birthday outfit
(showing off the curls which won't be there much longer!)

ALL ABOARD!!

off we go

... through the gate and around the back yard ...

... and in through the back door.

train stamping

magnet making

lunch arranged in trains

the cake

bloooooooow

Present time!

Snuggles with Papa after waking from his 'after party nap'.

Cherished Friends

It is a wonderful thing to have a friendship that has stood the test of time and is still flourishing. Sarah as been an important part of my life since our freshman year of high school (in the Philippines). We are kindred souls and I'm so thankful for her.

I'm truly amazed at how often we have been able to see each other over the years since we parted ways at the end of our senior year. At the beginning of August I was able to make a trip to visit the Bergstrand family with my two kiddos.
It was such a blessed time. It was actually my third time to visit Bluffton ... the first, for their wedding, the second was when Renatah was 6 months old and now with two kids in tow.













We loved walking everywhere, meeting new friends, visiting the farm, eating fruit, getting little 'holiday treats' and just 'doing life' with our kids together.