Caroline REALLY turned 3 two days after her party (that's quite confusing for a 3 year old :-) last Monday, 4/4/11. Caroline had school that day, but I selfishly kept her home. I just couldn't stand not to be with her on her birthday. Plus, we had lots of surprises in store for her. I apologize in advance for all of the pictures. It's all for the love of the blog book.
The first surprise of the day didn't go quite as I pictured it in my head (does it ever??). We filled Caroline's room with balloons the night before (pink, green, and purple...her three favorite colors at the moment). I imagined hearing her wake up and yelling with excitement when she saw all of the balloons. What REALLY ended up happening was not so much fun. Matt had to leave for work at 8:00 and Caroline was still sleeping. So we woke her up so Matt could watch her open her gift from us (she had to open it in the morning because of one of our surprises later in the day). She was so mad at us for waking her up she could have cared less about the balloons right when she woke up. Bummer.
See, not too excited:
But that soon changed once Matthew joined in the fun: 
Birthday kisses with brother: 
Opening her present from Mommy, Daddy and Matthew...excuse the flash in the background and might I just add that my daughter has the best bedhead: 
An American Girl Bitty Baby!! 
Caroline has been SO into babies and dolls lately that we thought a Bitty Baby was the perfect gift. And we were right! She grabbed her other baby, Ally, and yelled "Yay, I have twins now!!" :-) She named her new baby, Kelly. She thought Ally and Kelly sounded good together, ha. 
It was time to get ready for the next birthday surprise after Caroline opened up her present. I got her dressed and ready to go and told her that Aunt Jean (my aunt) was coming to pick her up for a surprise. She is CRAZY about Jean and was super excited.Here they are (with baby Kelly of course) ready to head out. Jean took her to eat donuts and play at a park. Such fun!!
Soon after the birthday excursion with Jean, it was time for a wardrobe change and a surprise from Matt and me...we planned for just the three of us (four, if you count Kelly) to have lunch at the American Girl Bistro (thanks to Jean for watching Matthew for us).
Soon after the birthday excursion with Jean, it was time for a wardrobe change and a surprise from Matt and me...we planned for just the three of us (four, if you count Kelly) to have lunch at the American Girl Bistro (thanks to Jean for watching Matthew for us).Oh how I wish we had video of Caroline walking into the American Girl Store. Her eyes were so wide and she was saying "Look at that doll, look at that doll" over and over and over while running to all of the displays. It was so fun to watch her. I've never seen her so excited. She was in her element!
She found this double jogger (I mean, really?!? A double jogger?!?) to push Kelly around in:
However, she fell in love with this pink stroller and played with it the entire time we were there:
Pure happiness:
After playing in the store for a little while, it was time to go upstairs to eat.
However, she fell in love with this pink stroller and played with it the entire time we were there: 
Pure happiness: 
After playing in the store for a little while, it was time to go upstairs to eat. Caroline enjoyed "reading" the menu:
Matt was the ONLY guy in the whole place and wasn't embarrassed one bit. He was just having fun watching Caroline's excitement. He's such a great daddy...Caroline is a lucky gal. Love this pic of the two of them:
Love the highchair for baby Kelly...Caroline couldn't believe they got to "sit together":
Feeding Kelly her "pink lemonade":
The girls:
Yummo...a hot dog and fruit:
Then came the fun part...the waitresses sang "Happy Birthday" to Caroline and brought her a scoop of ice cream (she picked vanilla) with a candle in it:
Pretending to be embarrassed but secretly loving the singing:
Blowing out the candle:
Deeeelish!
Time to go. Sweet pic:
Matt had to go back to work, but Caroline and I stayed to play in the store.
And then a certain somebody talked me into buying Caroline that pink stroller she fell in love with. I'm a sucker on a birthday! Plus, that's what happens when Daddy leaves :-)
Matt was the ONLY guy in the whole place and wasn't embarrassed one bit. He was just having fun watching Caroline's excitement. He's such a great daddy...Caroline is a lucky gal. Love this pic of the two of them: 
Love the highchair for baby Kelly...Caroline couldn't believe they got to "sit together": 
Feeding Kelly her "pink lemonade": 
The girls: 
Yummo...a hot dog and fruit: 
Then came the fun part...the waitresses sang "Happy Birthday" to Caroline and brought her a scoop of ice cream (she picked vanilla) with a candle in it: 
Pretending to be embarrassed but secretly loving the singing: 
Blowing out the candle: 
Deeeelish! 
Time to go. Sweet pic: 
Matt had to go back to work, but Caroline and I stayed to play in the store. 
And then a certain somebody talked me into buying Caroline that pink stroller she fell in love with. I'm a sucker on a birthday! Plus, that's what happens when Daddy leaves :-)Playing in front of the store:
Caroline took a looooong nap and after she woke up and had dinner, it was time to celebrate her birthday with our family. Everyone came over for cake and presents.
Caroline took a looooong nap and after she woke up and had dinner, it was time to celebrate her birthday with our family. Everyone came over for cake and presents.Matt and Matthew hanging out while waiting for our fam to arrive:
Present time!
She got her own real camera. She LOVES it and walks around taking pictures all the time. Then she looks at the pictures on the screen and says "awwwww, so cute" :-)
Caroline was excited about her purple kitty:
This is what happens when you try to convert a Baylor girl into a Dukie:
On that note, Matt and I laugh because Caroline thinks "only girls" go to Baylor and "only boys" go to Duke since that's where mommy and daddy went. So she says she wants to go to Baylor since there are girls there. Whatever works.
Present time! 
She got her own real camera. She LOVES it and walks around taking pictures all the time. Then she looks at the pictures on the screen and says "awwwww, so cute" :-) 
Caroline was excited about her purple kitty: 
This is what happens when you try to convert a Baylor girl into a Dukie: 
On that note, Matt and I laugh because Caroline thinks "only girls" go to Baylor and "only boys" go to Duke since that's where mommy and daddy went. So she says she wants to go to Baylor since there are girls there. Whatever works.A new Miss Patty Cake movie...Caroline's fav!
Pulling out...
...the biggest (and might I add, scariest) Minnie Mouse we've ever seen. Mimi took "Caroline would like a big Minnie" literally. We all busted out laughing:
My mom with the scary Minnie:
Uncle John and Caroline playing with the soccer goal my mom gave her. Caroline really likes it...it says "GOAL" when she kicks the ball in the net. Very cute!
It sure is fun having a big 3 year old in our house!!
Pulling out... 
...the biggest (and might I add, scariest) Minnie Mouse we've ever seen. Mimi took "Caroline would like a big Minnie" literally. We all busted out laughing: 
My mom with the scary Minnie: 
Uncle John and Caroline playing with the soccer goal my mom gave her. Caroline really likes it...it says "GOAL" when she kicks the ball in the net. Very cute! 
It sure is fun having a big 3 year old in our house!!
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