Her celebration really began on Friday. We hosted a Shabbat dinner for the special local adults in her life. Her favorite food is Matzoh Ball Soup, so we built the meal around that particular food and served other foods such as challah, chicken, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and of course cake. She was so excited as she helped me prepare dinner. In particular, she LOVED making her cake! At dinner, I asked everyone to go around the table and share a favorite Ayelet memory. It was fun to hear some of the special ways that she has touched others. One of Michaela's favorite memories was particularly touching - she remembered when the girls had an overnight at Paul's house, it was our first time leaving the girls for an overnight and at one point in the night, Ayelet only wanted Michaela. Hearing Michaela describe how special that made her feel was moving. Another memory that I loved was how one of our guests described the first time that Ayelet said her name. There are so many transformative moments like that and it is so special to be able to share those moments and to know that others have had them too.
On Sunday, we celebrated with a few of Ayelet's friends. Whew, what a lot of work to throw a party for 3-4 year olds, who knew! We chose Purim as the theme and asked each of the kids to come in costume. Ron, Michaela, Talya and I each did our part.
Ron made the beautiful cupcakes.
Our first activity was grogger making. Michaela was in charge of that highly successful art project. Here is Ayelet working hard on hers.
When the kids were done making groggers, they joined me to make hamentaschen. I had prepared the dough and I had the fillings ready to go. They assembled their hamentaschen and I baked them while they went on to their next activity.
Talya was in charge of their next activity (with some help from Michaela) - a costume parade around the house and then freeze dance. The kids had such a good time dancing and moving their bodies!
With all that dancing, the kids worked up an appetite, so we brought them into the dining room for snack and story time.
And then right after, we went into the next art project - decorating and assembling their mishloach manot buckets (these were also their goodie bags).
While I got things ready for cupcakes and ice cream, Ron took the kids to play. Then we organized them one last time to sing happy birthday to Ayelet. She loved every second of it!
After her guests left, Ayelet enjoyed some quiet time playing with her gifts and I put my feet up and played with her.Today was her actual birthday and she still had lots of celebrating to do! First on her agenda was a birthday celebration at her pre-school. Here she is leading the kids in one of their circle time activities.
And here she is sharing birthday treats with her friends.
Tonight, we went out to dinner and enjoyed time together.
Here she is right before going to sleep. Clearly, she had an amazing day.
I still can't believe that my girl is three. At her 3 year well check, she weighed in at 27.6 lbs and measured at 36 inches, she is still a petite girl. She has so many words and is very articulate when she doesn't have her bubbie in her mouth (more on that in a moment). She loves to play with her babies and her kitchen. She loves to read books and more importantly to be read to, especially by her big sisters. Mostly though, she loves to do everything that her sisters do and to be included in everything that they are involved in. She is always so joyful and happy and makes everyone around her smile, especially her Mom!Turning three is such a major milestone. She no longer needs to be carried. She can even walk to synagogue on Shabbat - though I think we will still use the stroller, knowing that she can is a big deal. She can get in and out of the car on her own. Since she is potty trained, we no longer have to change diapers. She climbs into her seat at the dinner table and eats with a fork and spoon (most of the time). She can tell us what she needs, and she does. She can also carry on a conversation, which is so lovely. Now that she is three, we are taking her bubbies away. She went to sleep with all of them either in her hands or in her mouth, she will wait up without them. It is time, all of us feel it. It is a bittersweet end to a very special milestone.
Happy birthday to my dear sweet baby girl. May you have many, many more joyous celebrations ahead and may you continue to bring smiles and happiness to those around you.
