Three going on thirty...

Corrie is officially 3 years old. The strange thing is that she has seemed so much older than 2 for a long time...when I realized her birthday was coming up I kept thinking, "wait, isn't she already 3?"

I have been fighting a virus and was not well-prepared for her big day, but God granted Corrie a relaxed b-day with some special surprises. It's almost sweeter seeing how God provided so much in the absence of us having things all together. I do wish that I would have been able to keep her hair looking better for the video and pictures though! Maybe next year.

I tried all day long to get to the store to buy ingredients for a cake, but could not seem to get out the door. Finally, a little before lunch time I had the kids going out the door. Corrie saw the rain and was so happy. "May I play in the rain please mommy?!!" That's just about her favorite thing in the world. I knew it would soon be getting too cold for rainy playing. It was her birthday. How could I say no?

Both kids loved the mud (no surprise there) and Davey took a nap (another reason I caved and let the kids stay home and play).

 

 

I thought it was sweet that God even filled up our pool for one last "swim" on Corrie's special day. 

I said, "Corrie, do you want to play in the pool?" She said, pointing her little finger, "Mom, this is actually a mud pit." 

Her comment elicited a bitter-sweet response in me. I laughed, but I was also a bit sad as I realized how grown up she has already become. 

Not long later I had both kids in the tub for a warm bubble bath. Mac found a medicine cup and a tiny yellow spoon that was made for feeding sea monkeys (don't ask). He and Corrie pretended they were eating tiny "ice cream" bites. Reminded me so much of videos I have seen of me and Jeremy at those ages.

As I sat watching them play and reminisced, my friend Heidi called. Her kids wanted to wish Corrie a happy birthday. I wondered, "Would they like to come over tonight and have cake with us?" Yes! Heidi said they would. And Heidi said they would also bring a cake :). 

Heidi and I decided that they would come over after naps. Right before Heidi arrived, we had another special surprise. Daddy was able to come home for a short break! Corrie ended up having a special trip to WalMart...just her with Mommy and Daddy. She was over the moon to be treated so special, and so was I for her!

We got back just in time to throw some candles on the cake and sing happy birthday to Corrie before Ellis had to head back out the door. Corrie had picked out a pack of candles with little dinosaurs on them, and each kid took turns putting them on the cake. We discovered after blowing out the candles that most of the dinosaur's heads melted off.

The rest of the evening was a fun time of playing with friends, although I will admit that having all 6 kids together during the dinner-to-bedtime stretch can get a little on the crazy side. At one point I wondered where Corrie was. I found her in the corner of the kitchen, behind the wet boots and clothes from earlier that day and wedged under a fallen pack n' play.

I know I must seem like a terrible mom to take pictures of scenes like this one, but if you look close enough, you will see that she was actually laughing. We both were. What else can you do?!!!