Happy 3rd Birthday McKayla!

Yesterday we were so fortunate to be able to gather with Justin's family to celebrate our niece McKayla's third birthday. Her actual birthday is Tuesday, but since she's not old enough yet to really realize that, yesterday was the big day and the big party. When we first got there, she had just woken up from her nap and decided she did not want to have a party. Her daddy (my BIL Kyle) then wondered who would have to open all the presents downstairs, since she didn't want a party. She mused over this for a moment and then decided maybe having a party was an okay idea, because she really needed to open those gifts =).
Upon arriving, I was also immediately given a baby to hold (that seems to be the pattern when I visit, and I'm quite happy with it). Kyle handed me one of the twins and I said, "Um, which one do I have?" He told me to guess. He stood there with the second baby and I looked back and forth and said, I must have Hailey. He said, Nope, you've got Abigail. They pulled their first switcheroo without even trying! Abigail has almost caught up to Hailey in weight (Abi is about 9lbs and Hailey is about 9.5), so with both of them having more pudgy baby faces they look a LOT alike, even though they aren't identical twins. Anyhow, I proceeded to hold Abigail all through helping McKayla get into her party clothes (an adorable outfit that my mom had gotten for her this past summer), watching the gift opening, and preparing the dinner. It was pretty great. The gift opening was fun and interesting, as it usually is with a toddler. Just like last year, the first gift she opened had her obsessed and fascinated and she really didn't care about the remainder of the gifts. (Grandma has a bad habit of giving her this gift first, instead of last!). Anyhow, she opened a set of all the Aladdin characters and couldn't wait to open them and play with them...but she still had a pile of other presents. So, we remedied this (much like last year with the infamous Cinderella set of characters) by opening the box and letting her pick one character to "help" her open the rest of her gifts. She chose Jasmine and she and Jasmine proceeded to open the rest of the gifts. It was pretty cute. She would look at Jasmine and say "I wonder what's inside this one??" and then open it up. Of course, clothes are totally boring, but she was intrigued by the bike and leapfrog book thing that we gave her. However, in the end, the Aladdin figurines, and some new Polly Pockets from her baby sisters won out and they got all the attention for the rest of the evening. She continues to amaze me with her incredible vocabulary and by how incredibly smart she is. She was walking around for awhile saying things like, "What does Pie start with?...Puh, Puh, Puh, P!!!!" and singing Happy Birthday to herself (she really, really, really likes that song!). In addition, grandma has begun teaching her about finances (and I wonder why my husband is such a finance wizard!). She bought McKayla a purse and has been giving her money for various things like helping her sweep their porch (or by sweet-talking grandpa). At the store the other day she saw a farm set of animals she wanted, but it was $10 and she only had $3. Grandma told her she could buy some other cheaper things, but she said, "No, want the farm set." Grandma said ok, but you will have to wait and save your money until you have $10. McKayla said OK, and has since been saving her dollars. That afternoon she called Grandpa at work and asked him for $1 so she could buy a farm set. He asked how much it cost and she told him $10. He wanted to know how much she had and she replied, "Well, actually, right now, I have $3.00." What a grown up little girl! Well, through her birthday festivities, she was given some more $1 bills and at the end of the night she counted up (too cute to watch a three year old counting $1 bills) and had $10. She was SO excited and made a date with grandma to go to the store on Tuesday and buy her farm animals. Grandma also makes her take her purse every time they go to the store together and will now make her buy things she wants for herself (apparently this was the case with Justin when he was little as well (except he had a wallet, not a purse-of course)...one time he wanted a pop but had forgotten his wallet and they wouldn't buy him the pop--poor kid...).
Anyhow, it is crazy to think that this little wonder-kid is three already. She has grown and changed so much, and learns something new everyday. You really do have to be careful what you say because she remembers EVERYTHING! We sure look forward to watching her grow and learn more, as well as watching the miracle twins continue to grow.
That's about it for now, look soon for more doggie tales...we seem to have a major destructo-dog on our hands...crazy dogs!
Here are some pics from the party...


Me with sleepy Abigail...it's so fun to hold a sleeping, quiet baby!


McKayla with the bike we gave her...we only got her to stand by it...when asked to try it out she responded, "No! Don't want to!" Yet, whenever we looked away, she tried to get on it, but she couldn't quite get up on it without help. So, when we offered to help she backed away and said, "No! Don't want to!" We couldn't win...



Justin and I in our snazzy birthday hats. McKayla insisted that we all wear them, but then didn't want to wear hers for very long...



McKayla with Aunt Michelle (this was the only time I could get her to sit still for a picture...and she couldn't bear to put down the cake to smile =) )




McKayla in her super-cute birthday outfit from "Mrs. Long"