Happy birthday, Maren!

I'm not sure how it happened, but Maren turned four on Monday. This picture was taken that morning after I braided her hair "like Rapunzel". It's one of her favorite hair styles lately. Doesn't she look old? And beautiful?

We celebrated Saturday at the lake with Kevin's parents and my parents. Maren requested a Hello Kitty cake.

She also chose the birthday meal: grilled cheese, broccoli, and tater tots. We all laughed at the dinner choice but I think everyone was secretly thrilled with the menu. Who doesn't love a grilled cheese?

I feel a bit bad about the party only because Maren was expecting (or maybe just wished for) a big party that included her friends. For instance, she insisted on us needing two cakes instead of one because of all of the guests. I told her she can have her first friend party when she turns 5 and she seemed okay with it. Lord help us next year I'm afraid she'll invite everyone she knows to her big celebration!

You know why I stink as a mother? I forgot to bring my new, amazingly wonderful camera to the lake. So these pictures stink. Ugh.

That camera was worth every penny.

On Maren's actual birthday, she chose to visit the Zoo. The entire weekend was hilarious because Maren would say something like: "Mom, can I please have chocolate milk instead of white milk today? For the birthday girl?". I must have heard for the birthday girl a dozen times. Scary how easily she picked that up.

 I even paid $2 for the kids to feed the giraffes. You know, for the birthday girl.

 

At four, Maren knows all of her letters, can count past twenty, can write her name and a few other names as well. She still rides her bike with training wheels but has no fear. She will zoom down our driveway on her ez-roller without thinking twice. Maren can swim in the shallow end of the pool without floats. She thinks she's as old as her brother (perhaps even older?). Maren still throws fits when she doesn't get her way, but she's getting better at controlling her emotions.

Maren loves to read - she can spend an hour in her room alone, flipping through books. She loves playing Barbies and can dress them without much assistance. She loves her baby dolls and especially loves Teddy and blanket. She loves to snuggle and loves to pretend she's a mommy - wear a dress, put on her plastic high heel shoes, grab a pretend phone and say she is going to work. There are so many wonderful and unique things about Maren I can't begin to capture them all in a few paragraphs.

Maren, you bring so much joy to our family. We love you! Happy 4th birthday sweet girl.