announcement

 did i mention that minnie wanted a guitar and baby carrier for her birthday?

she told me this two weeks before her big day, after i had purchased all her presents.

nana came to the rescue with a ukelele.  

i decided to try and sew a baby carrier from on online tutorial...and it worked!

i couldn't be upset with her about it. 

because, the truth is, it gave us a great way to announce to our family that..

drumroll....

we have another little one joining our family in august. 

turns out it is a boy!  

minnie is really excited.  she pats and kisses my belly and talks in a baby voice to it.

hope likes to use my belly as a chair to sit on. 

christian is already planning fishing trips with the little guy. 

 we are all as pleased as can be for baby vance to join our family!

"green" birthday party

minnie told me she wanted a "green" birthday party. 

so, we got a little creative.  

she has been enjoying the lorax by dr. suess lately.  

we had a "green" (like, live green, reduce your carbon footprint, etc.) party. 

i didn't get a picture of all our lovely guests.  it was a small guest list with cousins 

and a couple of good friends. 

she loved celebrating her birthday, and we loved celebrating her. 

she is such an important, special part of our little family. 

as you can see below, she was pleased as punch about her special birthday flowers from daddy. 

and, nana gave her an elsa dress and crown that made her year.