Emmy's 3!!

It's birthday season in the Horn Household!  One of our Emmy's very favorite forms of imaginary play is "throwing birthday parties" for those who she loves the most; so one could understand how thrilled she was to celebrate her own big day!  The night before, we put to good use one of my favorite Pinterest pins and filled Emmy's room with balloons and strung crepe paper from the door frame.  There was a small part of me that wondered if Emmy would be a little freaked out by the balloons if she woke up in the middle of the night.  I later realized that was my intuition speaking to me.  It's usually spot-on.  Emmy woke up at around 5, and was screaming for me.  I ran upstairs to find her on her knees in the middle of the sea of balloons.  After rocking her for a few minutes, her disoriented haze turned into an inquisitive, wakeful state.  I realized as I was saying the words "today is your birthday" that I had just sabotaged my hope for returning to bed.  So, we started off the day with a pre-dawn frolic among the balloons.  Shortly after, our tea party breakfast commenced.  I found the most exquisite little tea set at a local flea market some months ago, and had been chomping at the bit to give it to our girl.  Just as I suspected, she was a fan (and has asked to have tea parties every day for snack since then.)  Emmy opened her presents instead of eating, and was overjoyed to unwrap the Cinderella movie.  As I was clearing dishes, she and Nick were already firing up the DVD player to watch, what I consider to be, the very best of the Disney movies!

Emmy's third birthday fell on a Sunday this year, which was incredibly fortuitous, being that it was an absolute certainty that she would get to see a majority of her friends at church and church group!  She practically skipped into the three year old classroom at Wonder Warehouse that day!  (She is far more brave in social situations than I ever was at her age, or even now.)  After church came lunch and nap, which gave me time to finish up preparations for our church group Christmas party/Birthday Celebration extravaganza!  I shamelessly capitalized on the wonderful fact that so many of our friends were committed to spending the night together for church group and insisted that we host the party!  I love watching the video of everyone singing Emmy Happy Birthday; because it reminds me how very blessed are we to have a choir of people who love our baby girl...

We arrived California just a couple of days later, and were so excited to get the opportunity to give Emmy a party with almost every member of her family!  We understand all too well what a big deal that is, and didn't take a moment for granted.  We did it up right at Emmy's very favorite food establishment, Chuck E. Cheese's. (Emmy believes that all currency was created for the sole purpose of playing games there.)  Everyone, young in age and or in heart, was found with big goofy grins on their faces throughout the soiree.  So fun!!
 

Emmy's birthday celebration at school just so happened to be the same day Santa's helpers visited!!

I adore how obedient my strong-willed 3 year old looks in this photo!. :-p

Chocolate marshmallow pops by Emmy request. She is a chocolate fiend like her mother.

December 16th, 2012, 5am:

The tea party "tablescape" (haha)

She adored acting so "fancy"!

Daddy was a rockstar!

Emmy carefully pouring my tea. :)

Emmy's buddies making silly faces! Annlee, Kelyn, Chloe, Kozbi, Emersen, Brody & Dane!

Emmy's latest fascination is Barbies, I've been dying to make a Barbie cake for years!

Another Pinterest gem, Chocolate Wasted Cake.  It is the definition of gluttony.

Wrapping presents for our "Christmas child," James.

The biggest person in the room (Mike is 6'7) and the littlest person in the room!

The Andrkeski women!  That includes Baby girl #3 in Mel's belly!!! :)

My little helper wrapping presents!

The incredible Head family!

I found all the men in the kitchen.

Jill and sweet Carter hard at work!

The crew!

Getting settled in!

Chuck E. Cheese himself!!

Emmy and her bestie! Auntie Eliana reunited!

Claire schools Papa at air hockey!

Kris, masterfully, keeps up with all three of her babies!

Grubs on!

Goofy smiles!

Andy showing off his stack of hard-earned tickets.  All of the kids used their tickets to buy eachother something in addition to their own prize. Love!

Cupcake time!

Our littlest party-goers might've had the most fun! :-P

After about 10 seconds in the ticket blower, Emmy stepped up to the glass, locked eyes with me, and mouthed "I want to get out." She was trying so hard to be discreet about her discomfort...My lovey.

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Jacob working on his dunk.

Uncle Grant's Tinkerbell Barbie gift slept with Emmy that night. :)

Jacob and Uncle Jamie meet for the first time. :)

Emmy and Greta embrace!

Too cute!

Hannah, in the car on the way home. :)