Look at me - I'm 3!

Well, we have all officially survived Hadley's terrible twos as she turned three yesterday. It's actually hard to believe that she is that grown up (just ask her - she'll tell you that she is a big girl now). She has moved up to a big girl car seat & we have taken the side off of her crib so that it is now a toddler day bed. Todd & I were looking at pictures of her when she was a newborn last night & it all seems so long ago & just yesterday at the same time.

Her birthday festivities started with a family party on Saturday, the 17th. I figured it was our last chance to do a basic family party since she starts preschool in the fall & will probably want to have friends parties from here on out, but I still kind of went overboard anyway. The theme was Tinkerbell because that is what Hadley picked as we were reading her "Birthday Express" catalog (as we do most nights). If you've never received one, let me tell you that these things are a total racket. It is a catalog of only birthday party supplies & she just loves it. It is ridiculous what all you can get & the fact that you can spend hundreds on just the party supplies without even getting into food or presents. We had the plates, cups, napkins, party boxes (with favors), the Tinkerbell happy birthday banner & the Tinkerbell cake with topper.

Anyway, though, it was a great day & a nice party. Both sides of the family were there & Uncle Chuck & Aunt Kris were even able to make it down from Chicago. We grilled out and were able to eat on the porch & the kids played outside. It was just a perfect day & a fun time. The only time I cringed as mom was when Hadley was opening the presents... I'm afraid that she has turned a little materialistic. She would tear open the present, look at it, toss it aside & start digging into the next one. Cards were not even read - all that mattered was the goodies. Actually, it was kind of funny in a 3 year old kind of way. However, if she is still acting that way as she gets older, we will have issues!