Lucia Jane turns THREE!

What joy to celebrate this precious little person!!  Lucy woke up to a new butterfly outfit from Mimi & Pa, decorations, gifts, and a family excited to celebrate with her!  

She had been so excited for the day she'd finally be three!!

After her favorite breakfast (oatmeal), we played a butterfly matching game. 

Mime & Pa have been at every one of her birthdays!  

Time for gifts!  Noelle's idea for Lucy's bday was to get her her own Legos.  This was well thought out in multiple ways.  Not only does Lucy get Legos she can manipulate with her own hands... she leaves Noelle's Legos alone!  

Luke's great gift idea was boots.  Lucy's been wearing a pair of Noelle's old ratty pink boots which are 3 sizes too big.  She was so happy to get her own pair of boots that fit!

Isaiah gave her a sleeping bag!

Once she was in it, she stayed put for the rest of her gift opening.

So glad I got at least one non-forced picture smile on her bday!  She's a happy kid - especially on her special day :)

... until trying on her boots.

We had some butterfly snacks before taking a party break to head over to Isaiah's last Upwards basketball game of the season.

We came home a lunch of pasta and cupcakes with strawberry icing, as requested by the birthday girl.

This girl.  My goodness.  She couldn't be any more sweet, fun, and precious.  She continues to be such a delight in our family.   I'm here blogging 2 months later, realizing that she's grown up even more since these pictures.  I wish we could freeze her just like she is now!
These days, Lucy:

- adores Noelle and wants to do almost everything just like Noelle does it.  

- loves being right in the middle of whatever we are doing for school and has learned a lot of CC memory work this year!  I love hearing her sing a song about "Manifest Destiny"

- is sleeping in her big girl bed

- is potty trained!

- remembers names of people exceptionally well.

- knows how to drive Noelle crazy.

- loves bandaids.

- says great stuff like - "Mom!  I figured out why Jesus had to come out of the cave.  So he could show his friends that he could fly!"
- loves to be held.

- has a goodnight routine that includes holding Soft Doggie, being snuggled under her "soft blanket" (fleece from xmas), and not getting kisses ("I don't like kisses, remember?"), and saying, "Goodnight, and goodbye, and I love you, and I love you, too."  Then as I'm half way down the hall, she yells "Sweet dreams!" repeatedly until I come back and tell her "sweet dreams".  Then she needs a drink.  Then she's ready to sleep.  

- loves playing games.

- is Daddy's coffee roasting helper

- laughs and smiles easily.

- gets a lot of "She's SO cute" comments from others.

- loves strawberries, watermelon, oatmeal, and pasta.

- really loves a Cracker Barrel meal of runny eggs, pancakes, and grits.

- loves babies.
- is often called Lucy-Lu or Lu-Lu

- is generally happy, easy going, funny, and SWEET.

Last night Luke came to bed a few hours after I did.  As he got in, he said he'd just heard one of the sweetest sounds he'd ever heard - Lucy laughing in her sleep.

We love you, Lucy!!