July 19

Happy 4th birthday, Lily!

This girl is so sunny and sweet. She woke up giggling about it being her birthday, with four pink balloons in her door.

Chris even made her pancakes shaped like the number four! (And yes, that is her kickboard trophy next to her breakfast plate. She's really proud of it.)

When I got dressed this morning, Lily asked if she could choose my lipstick color. Since it was her birthday, I said yes.

She chose the brightest pinkish-red I own.

Then I wrapped her up.

On her fourth birthday.

(This LipSense is amazing. It stayed on and didn't smear on my wrap at all.)

(The wrap is also amazing. Perfect for wrapping a newly four year old!)

The lipstick is bright, but the girl is happy!

This girl will probably let me keep wrapping her until she's sixteen.

Later, while Lily napped, Caleb and Daisy worked on a birthday surprise for her. She has been riding a beat-up, plastic tricycle that I bought at a yard sale for $2 when Caleb was a baby. She's ready for a big bike, so we bought Caleb a bigger, secondhand bike, and prepared to pass on Caleb's bike to her. Funnily enough, it was his birthday gift on his fourth birthday, too!

First, Caleb and Daisy gave the bike a good washing. Then they got to work decorating it. 

Lily's favorite colors are pink and purple, and she loves everything that is girly and feminine. The bike is bright red, and pretty boy-ish.

But I found a basket and streamers and spoke decorations on Amazon, and in 15 minutes and $24, the bike was perfect for Lily.

Eli supervised the work. He doesn't nap for as long as Lily does.

He's really into popping bubbles.

When Lily saw her bike, she squealed, "IT'S BEE-YOU-TI-FUWW!"

She loved it.

In the evening, we had all of the family and Lily's favorite friend, Naomi, to the neighborhood pool for a party.

She requested blueberry cupcakes, so I figured out a way to make them using yellow cake mix and frozen blueberries. (Note to self: for fruit cupcakes, freeze dried fruit from Trader Joe's is the way to go. Plan ahead next time.)

Eli was seriously impressed with Lily's new Wonder Woman doll.

Daisy was so excited about the gift she chose for Lily. Since February, she has been planning to get Lily a My Generation doll for her birthday. Daisy specifically chose this one for Lily, because she has red hair and freckles like Lily's swim team helper friend Emma.

Lily loved her new friend Arlee.

(She can't say the name right, so she calls her "Ar-wee". It's adorable.)

I wanted a picture of Lily and Naomi together, and of course the girls' sisters photo bombed it. Lydia stepped right up, and check out Daisy in the background.

Daisy is such a stinker - she knew exactly what she was doing. Still, it's an adorable picture. I love these girls!

This is one happy birthday girl! Eating a blueberry cupcake, with her two new dolls, sitting on a soft, fuzzy beach towel from Grandma. Not pictured is Aunt Maggie, who happened to be in town for our celebration. Lily was so happy to have everyone she loved at her party!

Including these silly cousins of hers.

My lovies!

Happy birthday, Lily!