Happy 2nd Birthday Stella!

I happen to love birthdays and birthday parties so we've been waiting with great anticipation for Stella's 2nd birthday. About a week ago I was working on some birthday party ideas before bed and Abram came downstairs after being in his room for only 15 minutes and said, "I can't sleep mama - I've got all these parties in my head." Me too, baby, me too!

Needless to say this post will contain a ton of pictures because the only thing better than planning a fun party is looking at the pictures afterward.

The partying started a few days early because we couldn't wait to open Liz and Peter's package from Denver, and by we, I mean me.

Fun pjs!

There's nothing to do now but throw a dance party.

On Stella's actual birthday she got her present from us. What does the 2 year old who has everything need? A motorized wrecking ball - I mean cute 4 wheeler.

Josh hadn't even let go and she was off and running - right into the sandbox.

That is one determined girl.

Stelly (which is what she calls herself) loves opening cards. She has the deep chuckle that she lets out whenever she accomplishes something awesome, like opening the card all by herself.

 Ahhhhhhh - the softest, most cuddly, blankie from Grandma and Grandpa Livermore.

Grandma went crazy with pink - we love it!

Abram was very patient with Stella while she opened all her gifts. He has a new occupation that he wants to be when he grows up and it changes each day. That day in particular he wanted to send people parties in a box. The day before it was a spaceman - until he remembered that aliens like to tickle and he doesn't care to be tickled so he went back to being Spiderman.

Her actual party was the day after her birthday and what is a party without a pinata?

The pinata was a huge hit!   That never gets old :)

The moment everyone had been waiting for.

I realized as Josh was walking out that we never prepped Stella for what to do about the candles. With Abram I had him practicing for days before - well maybe not days and maybe not practicing but I distinctly remember at least telling him that he should blow on the candles.

So Stella kind of looked at us like we were all crazy but that's nothing new so she just went with it and did a great job blowing her candles out with help from papa.

Something she did not need help with was eating all that sugary goodness.

This should have been the 'before' picture but I'm kind of lazy tonight.

Here is Miss Isabel - you can tell she is super excited about the party.

Even more excited about pictures - aren't you baby!

She has the best - "seriously people - I just got up from a nap- give me a minute" face I've ever seen.

I love family pictures - we bribed Abram with everything under the moon and he refused to change into 'party clothes.' Go Hawks!

I feel like I never get pictures with just the kids and I so I'm posting one of the few we got. At least Isabel doesn't look like she's got better things to do in this picture.

My big girl swings in the big swing now.

Down the slide and 

onto presents.

And boy did she have presents!

Can you see the cute fairy wings she has on? And the sugar coma she's about to fall into.

A Hello Kitty chair!

Thank you Amanda for coming to my party! 

Abram and Oliver

Two goofy boys.

And that wraps up her 2nd birthday bash. 

Life's A Beach

Today Josh, Grandpa Terry, Abram and Stella did not let cool weather and a cloudy day stop them from having a great time at the beach. They headed to Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan intending to stay only an hour or so since the weather wasn't that great and that turned into a four hour trip. 

Stella's Story:

Stop reading now if you are eating or squeamish :)

Picture this...Josh was down by the shore with Stella letting her play in the sand and water. Stella has had a runny nose the past few days so the cold weather was making it worse and Josh isn't necessarily as vigilant at blowing her nose as say, her mother is. So anyway, she has snot running down all over her face, and then she's playing in the sand so the snot is now covered in sand, and then more snot is coming out, her hair is all over the place and matted down in the...you get the picture. She is extremely intent in her play and determined to build/destroy whatever it is she is working on at the moment. An English man and his wife come walking by (I swear this happened and is not a dirty joke - okay it's dirty but really more snotty than dirty). They stop and starting chatting up Josh. The man watches Stella for awhile then turns to Josh (imagine the English accent - it's really adds to the story) and says, "I believe your daughter will one day rule the world, that is, unless she turns feral first." Josh stands there mouth agape - how did he know her parents worst fears?

Abram's Story:

My dad has been visiting for the past few weeks so it has been a regular pun-fest at the Comstock-Livermore household. Josh has threatened to leave more than once - which is why I could not have been prouder of Abram yesterday. We were playing out in the backyard when he came running over to us and explained that he thought the bees were waking up for summer and he really doesn't like bees and didn't want to swing anymore. Fearless Papa Josh walked over to the swingset and determined that the bees were in fact flies and that Abram had nothing to be afraid of. Abram's response (straight-faced and with a slight southern accent - we really have no idea were he picked up the accent) "But the flies BUG me." His first pun! I couldn't have been more proud, I wish I had my camera with me - Josh looked like he was going to vomit. Abram looked very confused at our reactions.

3 Months Old

I will probably say this each month Isabel grows older, but I really cannot believe how fast she's growing.

Here is a picture of her the day she actually turned 3 months old. The rest of the pictures are a catch up from the past month.

Isabel and Soren are getting serious - this is like their 3rd play date.

Isabel is still getting the hang of sleeping at night - poor papa.

Easter Egg dying - come on Nana - work faster!

I am waiting...

I am so excited!

At last :)

 This is pretty fun

 Not too bad

More waiting...

 still being patient...

 done being patient...

I love this picture!

Lounging around.

 I still can't believe I have two sweet little girls.

I just love Isabel's cheeks.

While grandpa Terry is in town he challenged us to a 'Chopped' showdown - dessert edition.

Once the votes were tallied he was named Champion - which in our house led to the grand prize of 10,000...dishes to be cleaned.  While the final product looked great our kitchen ended up a disaster.

Abram and grandpa checking out the sand conditions after a long winter covered up.

Abram loves hanging out with Isabel. He is so sweet to her.

This was Isabel's first trip outside. She's been out in her carseat all covered up but this is her first outing where she could actually see anything.

 So cute!

While grandpa T is here we are taking advantage of his years of pinata making knowledge and put him to work making one for Abram and Stella's upcoming birthdays.

At first glance you may have thought this was a picture of Abram, but no, look again it is Stella. She loves to put on his clothes and shed her pink socks and shoes. 

 Easter morning started off with finding hidden presents.

 New books.

 Of course an Easter hat.

 And the best Easter smile from little Isabel.

 Just hanging out on the gator.

Sisters rule!

So do brothers.

 We're having fun now.

Grandpa had to get in on the action.

Isabel loves all the action.

 We attempted a few family photos today. There was only a few tears and a little blood shed in the process - you may think I am kidding but I am not.

Happy Easter!