if 4 year olds ruled the world...

If 4 year olds ruled the world...

Matching would be optional.

Treats would be mandatory.

The smallest things would become masterpieces.

We'd play ALL day.

And there would be NO end to the energy...

Well, maybe not.

my dad is great...

It's no secret that we've got a GREAT daddy in our family. But I bet ya didn't know a few of these facts... (straight from our 4 year old's mouth, of course)

He is "37" years old. (check- she knew that one!)

His hair is "brown." (check)

His eyes are "blue." (check)

He weighs "121" lbs. (um, he did lose a lot of weight going gluten free, but not quite that much) :)

He is "83" feet tall. (wow. he he!)

My dad likes to relax by "lays down." (check)

His favorite tv show is "Strawberry Shortcake." (wait a minute, I think that's someone else's favorite around here...)

He likes to cook "yummy meals." (in all honesty, he likes to eat the yummy meals more than he cooks them, sweetheart) :)

It makes me happy when he "laughs at me." (awwww...)

If I could take my dad on a trip, we'd go to "Chicago." (ha!)

And the BEST part...

The best thing about my dad is "he loves me."

Yes, he does indeed.

winter for a day...

Like many of you, winter has been SO mild this year! We've had a little girl in our house just itching to play in some snow.

And she finally got her chance.

Feels almost wrong to post these pictures when it's climbing up into the 60's today and almost all of this snow is now gone!, but here was the scene in our backyard just 2 days ago when we got our first snow of the season...

...and you better believe this little gal absolutely LOVED all 7 1/2 inches of it!

We ventured out to our nearby park for some sledding!

The beginning of this run was quite thrilling...

except that we got a face full of snow at the end. :(

Nevertheless, a quick brush off & some lovin' and we were off to find an even BIGGER hill!

This one looks good!

woohoo!

let them eat cake...

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Caroline.

And as a princess from the Commonwealth, she decided to travel South to the land of Carolina to make a royal declaration upon this, her 4th birthday.

(The voyage was made in high heels, of course...)

So Princess Caroline gathered all the princesses and princes in the land who were eager to hear her announcement.

Even the littlest princess in the land was all ears.

The Fairy Grandmother played host for this special day.

Upon her throne, Princess Caroline prepared herself for her upcoming speech.

"Dear princesses, princes, and all townspeople of the South,

Today, in the fair land of Carolina

Your royal highness, Princess Caroline of the Commonwealth, shall turn 4.

And I now declare that each of you shall be granted ONE opportunity to taste of cake and ice cream!"

(the people gasped)

"BUT, in order for this to happen, you must first sing to me with great joy.

If I am not pleased with your singing, I shall eat the cake all by myself.

But if I am entertained by your singing, I shall blow out a single candle, which shall be a sign to you that you shall eat cake!"

The townspeople were overjoyed with this news! They would get a chance to eat cake!

There was dancing in the streets!

And more dancing!

The littlest princess was delighted herself! (though she herself would not be a recipient of the cake and ice cream...)

There was great jubilation in the land. Everyone was eager for this chance to sing.

And then came the big moment.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Caroline, happy birthday to you!" they sang with great enthusiasm. The princess seemed delighted.

But was it enough? the townspeople wondered. Will she blow out the candle & let us eat cake?

YES!!!!! Let them eat cake!!!

And with that, the Fairy Grandmother quickly served all the princesses, princes, and townspeople cake and ice cream to their hearts' content.

They brought the Princess gifts to show their gratitude.

The littlest princess was so relieved and slept peacefully from then on, dreaming of the day when SHE, too, might get to sing for cake and ice cream.

And everyone lived happily ever after.

happy UN-birthday...

Yeah, someone (not naming any names here) was up at 2:30AM (AND STAYED UP!) because she was super excited about the beginning of the birthday celebrations...

...which kicked off with the annual UN-birthday tradition!

My best bud, Leah's birthday is on Feb. 16th.

Mine is on the 18th.

So what's the day in-between?

Well, naturally it's the UN-birthday. :)

As we're showing you guys here, Leah's 4 & it's my last day to be 3.

Leah & I opened our UN-birthday gifts with delight!

Here we are showing off our new shirts. Leah's totally into Dora, and I'm totally into Cinderella.

Every good UN-birthday party includes some dress-up dancing...

What a fun time we had, and how special is it that we gals have grown up together, just 5 houses away from each other?!

Now, off to South Carolina for the big birthday bash tomorrow!

So long, 3! It's been nice knowing you and we're thankful to usher in 4. (More than the "terrible 2's" were the "terrible 3's" for us, you understand...)

But first, that 2:30AM wake up time is starting to catch up with me...