Aspen is 3!

There are times when I can't believe Aspen is already 3, than at other times she seems so much older. Aspen seems really mature for her age to me. She communicates better than some 4-year-olds and she has really good control of her emotions. Yes she still can be whiny at times but she is a pretty mellow child. She isn't a roller coaster of emotions with lots of lows and highs. Another funny thing about Aspen is that she is not nostalgic at all. She will make a project at story time or nursery and as soon as she has shown both mommy and daddy what she has made she will throw it away! Its really funny. She is proud of what she made, but I guess she thinks what do I do with it now?

In the morning Aspen got to eat her yummy pancake breakfast on the your are special plate! Than she opened her present from Daddy, Mommy and Danny! If you can't tell she gets really excited about everything! We had already set up her pool outside since we needed it for her party and she even more excited to see that it was already up.

When I asked Aspen what kind of party she wanted she quickly said a barbie party. We had already wanted to do something outside with water since that is Aspen favorite thing in the world so we decided to do a mermaid barbie theme! Wow it couldn't have worked out better. The party started off with letting the girls color some barbie mermaids coloring pages. Than I read Aspen's new book about Merliah who is a barbie mermaid. In the book Merliah has to complete some tasks so she can save Oceana and get her mermaid tail. So I told the girls they were going to do the same thing. Outside we had lots of task for them and when they completed them they would get their very own mermaid tails! For the obstacle course we did: Ring around the girls legs as they hopped across the driveway, running through a slip n slide, saving the fish (we had a bunch of toy fish that we outside of this blow up pool and the girls had to find them and throw them back in, of course Tyler kept throwing them back out so the girls could keep doing it), finding a pearl under seashells on the water table, running through the pool sliding down the slide and putting a ring on a fish, and the grand finale; throwing water balloons at the pirate (Tyler)! Once the girls completed all their tasks they were given a special mermaid necklace and than their earned their real mermaid tails! My mom (and I helped a little) made these incredible mermaid towels as party favors. One of the girls even asked if she got to keep it! Thanks mom for the towels they turned out perfect and I know the girls loved them!

The obstacle course was just about the right amount of time and after we let the girls have free time in the pools! Than we let them dry off while eating otter pops. Than it was time for lunch, cake and presents. For lunch we kept the mermaid theme and had yummy flower pb&j's, gold fish and fruit flower bouquets. For the cake we had a mermaid barbie cake that my mom helped me with! It turned out perfect and I hope I can always make special cakes for my kids birthdays. Aspen was super excited for presents. My mom and Kathy were a huge help at the party. I was so thankful they were able to make it. Aspen was so happy to have both her Grandma's at her special party! Sarah even took a break at work to stop by and wish Aspen a happy birthday. Thanks to all her little friends that came to. We had Kaia Sperry, Kylee Sperry, Summer Sperry, Lola Fenn, Abby Southam, and Ella Pack!

Aspen really got spoiled this year and after her friends party we took her to Mcdonalds for dinner. Than we started a new tradition this year and let Aspen pick out a book from the bookstore for her birthday. She picked my name is not Isabella. And it is such a cute book.

Than it was time for more partying! The Mason's all came over to celebrate some more! We ate cupcakes and ice-cream. Than we let Aspen open her presents! Nick started a tradition of giving the kids sweet shoes and Aspen loved them. Sarah got Aspen some great pre-school books that

Aspen uses everyday. The grand finale of the night was when Aspen got her new bike! For about the last 2 months all she has asked for is a bike for her birthday. Well she got her wish and boy was she excited!

While we were busy helping Aspen learn to ride a bike my sweet tooth Danny man found his way into the house, climbed up a chair and helped himself to another cupcake! Man he is sure one you have to watch all the time :) Is that not a face of someone who has been caught. Gotta love the buddy man! Aspen I hope you know how much you are loved by so many people around you. Here are a few things about my sweet princess:

• She is the best sharer!
• She is quite the social butterfly and is always asking to go play with her friends. The great thing about this is everyone is her friend!
• Everyday she ask me when she gets to go to preschool.
• She runs to nursery and doesn't even look back to say goodbye to me.
• She is constantly thinking of things for Danny and doesn't like to leave him behind.
• She talks in complete full sentences and everyone can understand every word she says. Maybe that is because she is a parrot and always repeats everything!
• She is tough and when she falls down she rarely cries. Instead she gets back up and keeps doing whatever she was doing.
• She loves to be girly and dress-up, but she also loves to play with cars and balls!
• She can swim all by herself and swimming is still her favorite thing in the world to do.
• She still loves her 2-3 hour nap everyday!
• She loves to be active doing whatever everyone else is doing. She loves hiking, camping, playing at park or anything that is outdoor! She is sure her daddies little girl that way.