what a day!

Can you believe this big girl?? 2 years and so big! We just had her second birthday party yesterday and it was a blast. My mom and I just did a simple little party with about 4 other kids and some adults. Just a friend of ours and a couple family members. It was so fun to celebrate Allie. What was even better was that Allie did great all day! I was so ready for the crying and crankiness that normally occurs with a birthday girl but thankfully that girl was nowhere to be found. She woke up from her nap as happy as a clam and so excited to see the house all decorated for her birthday. After the kiddos arrived we enjoyed playing together, eating pizza, doing a pinata, opening presents and having cake. I officially made my first requested cake by Allie. She has been asking for a "clown" cake ever since we went to the circus over a month ago.. So I decided to make one hoping that I didn't make some creapy clown that would scare the kids :) So thankful it turned out ok! Allie loved it and said that was her favorite part of her birthday. So funny. Needless to say we had a great time. Such a blessing to celebrate with family since this may be the last one in the next three years we will celebrate in the states? Since we are in the celebration mode I thought I would add some of Allies funny isms that she has started that makes us laugh on a daily basis:

---- she is only allowed her blankey in her crib during "sleep" times and Allie LOVES her blankey so every night when we go into her room to go to bed she asks to pull her blankey out of her crib and after getting the yes she pulls it out with the biggest grin on her face and says "blankey sooooo soft. Allie love blankey all day long, allie soooo happy" and continues to get anyone and everyone to feel how soft her blankey is.

---- which brings me to the next one. Anytime allie is happy about something she says "Allie loves _____ all day long" Such as Allie love mommy All day long. Where she got this from I have NO idea but it makes me laugh cause she does it with everything and I mean everything that makes her happy!

---- Allie just learned to spell her name so whenever she is looking at letters she goes A L L I E is Allie! and then looks around all proud of knowing her letters.

---- It didn't take her long for her to learn about santa. She now, whenever she wants something, says "ask santa, santa bring it."

So as you can guess we are having a great time back in chicago. Loving being around family. Loving the snow. Allie had her first sledding experience and loved it. We got all bundled up and Rob, Allie, Baboo and I went in the woods across the street and sledded down a couple hills. So fun to watch Allie try something new.

So now onto christmas! We are headed downtown chicago to a tradition we used to do when us kids were young. We take the train downtown and go to what used to be Marshall Fields (now macys) and have lunch under the HUGE christmas tree and gett visited by the fairy that walks around to the tables, visit santa and look at all the christmas windows. So excited to have Allie experience it. We get to meet Nate, Dawn and Baby Zack down there so it should be fun!!

Allie with her new Dollhouse from Nonnie and Baboo!

The girlies at the table

Allie doing her cupcake pinata

candy!

Clown cake :)