Turning Three.

When your birthday is on a Wednesday, the celebration tends to go on and on, and such was the case for Boo's birthday. Yaya visited for the two weeks surrounding the birthday, and that's always a thrill, and the family party was on the Sunday after.

We took cupcakes to Boo's preschool. she had a fun time being the birthday girl. and the pink cupcakes were the perfect touch for the birthday dinner as well. Midweek birthdays are for "Birthday Soup"--taking a tip from Little Bear, but for her party we kicked it up, and had a huge lunch, followed by the most incredible (if I do say so myself) strawberry cake--Boo's request of the day. Unfortunately, due to some health issues, Nonnie and Papa were unable to join us, but we had the wonderful company of Uncle Joe, and of course Yaya, so party-time was assured.

drinking tea w/ new birthday jungle animals.

One of many Birthday Cupcakes.

licking the icing is almost as fun as eating the cupcake!

New train table of fabulousness. (Thanks to Daddy!)

Sitting down to enjoy our lunch.

"Happy Birthday, Dear Booboo..."

This cake has 2 sticks of butter, 7 eggs, 1 package of cream cheese, and whipped cream. Oh, and loads of strawberries.

Need I say more??

Telling Yaya a secret.

Giving Uncle Joe The Eye.

New party dress from C.

The sugar is kicking in!

Uncle Joe, The Birthday Girl, and Pink Dolphin.

Uncle Joe and His New Toy, Henrietta.

One satisfied Birthday Boo.

Family portrait attempt.

One last Birthday Swing.

The Orchard

One of our favorite places to go in the fall is the Solebury Orchard, a wonderful little spot right out side of New Hope, that has an apple orchard, as well as the best cider donuts I have ever tasted. (That's really why we go!) For that and the Honeycrisp apples, the best apples on the planet.

The last time we went was a couple years ago, when Boo was a lot less mobile. It's much better this time around, but she was a bit peaked anyway, because it still is a bit of a drive, and by the time we got there, it was pretty much naptime. But nevertheless, we perservered, and got our fill of donuts, applesauce, and enough apples for a dozen pies. Yum! Pie!

Le Bateau!

We got a wonderful surprise visit from F and his famille. An old friend of mine from Paris, I've been to see him once since his emigration to Montreal, but he's never had the opportunity to visit us in Philly. Well, F is in the process of searching for a sailboat for his family, to sail on Lake Champlain near where he lives, and it just so happened that one of the boats that he was interested in lives here on the Delaware River, right over in Jersey. (What are the odds??) So we got a wonderful couple days, catching up, speaking French, (Booboo was absolutely fascinated..."where did the french people go?" She asked, more than once!) and reminiscing about old times in Gay Paree. Paradise is Tea Time, anyone?

F, M and L at Brunch.

Saying Hi to Elmo at the Chestnut Hill Street Fair.

L Reads to Boo.