Maya turns 4!

Here is an overdue assortment of pictures from Maya's 4th birthday party-the theme (if you interpret the word "theme" very loosely) was Alligators & School Buses, as those are her two favorite things in the whole world.

In the morning we all helped tp set up.  Here, Maya wrangled the alligator balloon . . .

 . . . while Parker made sure that this alligator wasn't going to cause any trouble.

Once Parker declared him safe, Maya needed to hug both alligators.

The scene was set . . .

 

. . . and the birthday girl was ready to party!

We gave Maya a sneak peak at her school bus/alligator cake:

 . . . and she liked it!

(It's a good thing that she gave it her seal of approval early on, because when it was time to sing Happy Birthday . . . well, you'll see)

Maya had a great time playing with her friends . . .

 . . . and celebrating :)

But when it was time to sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candle . . . well, she wasn't having any of it:

Dave: Birthday cake is the best!

Dana: Aren't you excited to sing and eat cake?

Maya: You're kidding, right?  I was extremely clear.  No singing. NO singing.

Oh well.

The guests were barely out the door before Maya realized that she could do some major decoration demolition:

Happy 4th birthday, Maya :)  We are eagerly looking forward to your next year, sure to be filled with giggles and good times!

Happy Birthday, Maya! (A primarily pictorial post)

Welcome to Maya's 3rd Birthday Party :)

It's not weird that these giant cardboard animals will possibly become permanent fixtures, right?

Maya emerges from naptime, all dolled up, to find both sets of grandparents here and balloons everywhere!

Daddy, did you see this tiger?!?  He's HUGE!!!

I think this party is going to be super fun!

This is her response to "How old are you, Maya?".  She tries to hold up 3 fingers (by making the "OK" sign with her hand).  And doesn't she look like a little doll?!  Everytime she sat the skirt poofed around her perfectly :)

Balloons are super fun---especially when an older friend will gather them for you!

It's a little scary when 30 people start singing . . .

Maya, you wish and we'll blow, ok?

:)

After most of the guests left, we were back to just us + the grandparents, and we opened some presents----she was a very lucky girl and got some great things . . .

 . . . like her very own umbrella!

All in all, a fabulous day!  Thanks to everyone who came, and to everyone who sent Miss Maya birthday wishes!

A little bit of birthday

I'm wiped out.  Maya is wiped out.  But it was a good day :)

We got shockingly few pictures, but here are a few tiny glimpses (more to come when I'm not as tired):

If you're just dying for more birthday, go check out last year's party, here and then here

Or take a look back at her first party ever :)

Twas the night before . . .

the birthday bash, and all through the apartment . . .
Every single thing was cleaned and in the appropriate compartment.

That's all the poetry you're getting.  Sorry to disappoint.

I've been cleaning and organizing all week.  All week!  And that's not an exaggeration.  It's like we've finally moved in to this apartment, for real.  The "garage" room has become a perfectly usable playroom/office/guest room.  Dave's office is functional.  It's really, really nice :)

Most of the cleaning was done as of yesterday so that today could be spent doing the shopping and as much  food prep as possible---I really want to be able to enjoy tomorrow, and not to feel so busy that I miss the day.   Although Maya's real birthday is Monday, she thinks tomorrow is the big day, and basically, it is.

Dave has been a big help---he's been taking Maya out to the playground so that I can work in peace.  Today he also tried to help by making a pot of coffee for me.  Despite explaining to him the new bean-grinding system (the grinder button bent and requires a special manuever) he thought he could figure out a "better way".

His "better way" caused a coffee explosion, which caused me (and every exposed surface) to get pelted with an onslaught of projectile beans.  I had put a cake into the oven mere seconds before----I would have flipped out if it had become coffee-bean-filled.

After Maya woke up we agreed that the best way to help would be to just leave and let me work :)

In other news, Maya received a totally sweet (and simultaneously totally creepy) gift from a lovely family who reads the blog, and who I then "met" on a message board.  Thanks to Laura & Harmony (from The Wagner Three) for the fabulous vulture puppet!

Yeah, a vulture puppet.

It's actually so weird looking that I thought Maya might not recognize it as a vulture . . . but oh no, she loves it!

I love this new vulture!

I push him in the stroller and read him this book.

 Vulture, you make me laugh!

A kiss for my new friend :)

I'm so excited for her birthday tomorrow!  We'll be up early to decorate :)