Birthday Girl!

 Our little girl is one! I can't believe how fast the year has gone and how much she's grown! Saying that adding a third kid to our family has been hard is an understatement. But I wouldn't trade her chubby cheeks, blue eyes, and dark curls for anything. She is the light of my life!

 (Heather, thank you for working on your vacation and taking such cute pictures of Eliza!)

We celebrated Eliza's actual birthday by having a picnic lunch in the backyard and swimming in the little kiddie pool. Even though Eliza freaks out with water, Emily & Jacob enjoyed the fun and the cool down on such a hot day.

Once Jeff got home we had dinner and opened presents. I think Emily & Jacob were more excited about the little people princesses than Eliza was. Oh well, she'll grow into them and hopefully the other two will let her play with them at that point.

We wrapped up the night with a round of happy birthday and a candle in her first real treat - a strawberry shake!

The next day we had another picnic - this time at Jeff's work. Well, I guess technically it was at Wheeler Farm, but it's pretty much the same thing. It was too hot to play on the playground though. The kids tried the slide ... once. And then hung out in the little 'log' in the shade till it was time to go. 

Then that Saturday we had Eliza's party with cousins & grandparents. 

The kids (and Jeff) tried out Gma Newman's new water slide for the first time...

 ...while Eliza - still afraid of any kind of water - hung out with Grandpa on the grass. 

Maybe not the best thing to do at a party for her, but she really didn't care and everyone had been dying to play on grandma's slide since they 'got it' for Christmas. 

Then we had presents....

... and cake. 

 And of course ice cream.

 Happy Birthday Beautiful!! We love you so much and we're so grateful you're a part of our family!