Apple picking

We went apple picking yesterday for the first time and it was so much fun! Sasha enjoyed riding in the little wagon and eating (who know how many) apples more than actually picking them... but let me tell you she enjoyed apple pie we baked last night very very much! We got so many apples that I was literally forced to make a pie (two actually), apple jam, and there's still a ton left.

Totally age appropriate, right?

So here's the deal: when it's too quiet in our house for a while (and it's not after 9pm or naptime), that means trouble. I'm pretty sure that's true for any house with young kids really, and there are very few exceptions here. Today, I heard Sasha running suspiciously fast into her room after being awfully quiet for a while and that's when I found her like this:

She apparently found my eye shadow pencil and used it on her lips. Her reasoning? So that the mosquitoes won't bite her. Love that kid!

Sasha's super fun birthday party

We had a really fun birthday party for our special birthday girl. Buzz and Woody and Jessie and all of her Toy Story friends were there and she was so excited! She also had her special "birthday princess tiara" (because honestly, one minute she wants nothing but her cars and the next she's dancing around in a tutu).

Sasha had such a wonderful time with her family and got so many presents, this little girl is truly lucky!! I think so far, her favorites are a little piano book and a doll carrier (presents from us), hopscotch (from grandma and grandpa L.), and a book in which she can write and then erase numbers (from my aunt and uncle). But we honestly haven't even opened all her presents yet, so ask me again in a few weeks ;)

Three

Today, Sasha turns three years old. Today, we're celebrating our big little girl. Today, we're singing "happy birthday" very loudly to very enthusiastic clapping from our daughter. Today, we're excited and thrilled about the fabulous independent (yet very attached) young girl she's turning into. Today, we reminisce about the tiny little bundle she was just 3 short years ago. And today, we look forward to the person she's going to become, the person we're responsible for shaping.

Our funny and loud, yet sometimes shy and quiet, girl, who said to me the other day "Oh, I talk so much!" Our little joy, who sometimes shows her rebellious side with her tantrums and fits, who will pick up the thrown toy or apologize for not listening or hurting someone's feelings. Our little singer and dancer. Our sweet Sasha. We're so lucky to have you as our daughter, to teach us to look at things through naive and curious eyes, to show us perspective on what's really important, to make us laugh even after a very long hard day, to teach you all that we know, and to go through this wonderful journey with. We are the luckiest people in the entire world because of you. We love you so very much!
Your mama and papa.

P.S. How did you go from this...

... to this....

... to this...

 

... to this?

My sister gets married

Yesterday, my little sister got married. To this awesome guy she's been dating since junior high. They're a perfect couple and they had a perfect wedding. I have over 600 pictures (since I like to run around with my camera and pretend I'm a photographer, you know) and that's after sifting through all the pictures I took and throwing out the really bad ones. So here are just a few, I'm sure I'll add some more later.

My parents, sister and I - I am a bit of a giant in our family

World's cutest flower girls - Sasha and her cousin Emily

Happy newlyweds :)

 

Father-daughter dance

The theme of the wedding was obviously "silly faces" ;)

Anna and Andrey are off to their honeymoon in Greece and Turkey (and we're all super jealous!). May you guys have a long and happy life ahead of you, with nothing but good memories, wonderful family, and loyal friends; a life filled with love, cheer, laughter, and above all togetherness. We love you!!

September is here!

I can't believe September is here already! When did that happen? Where I come from, fall starts promptly on September 1st - first day of school, chilly fall-y weather (although it starts getting chilly a good couple of weeks before that). Here in the states, summer lasts a few more weeks and I like it that way.
This month is going to be absolutely nuts for our family and I'm sure it'll fly by. In just two days, my "little" sister is getting married!!

Then two days after that, kiddo turns three whole years old (although I'm quite alright with that and really excited about her party... and hey, this year, I even remembered to make an appointment to get her pictures taken!)

Our family is sticking around for another week or so, which means more playing tourist in NY - and I just love that.

 And then to cap off this fabulously exciting month, we're heading to Ireland, just hubby and me!!

That's Cliffs of Moher right there and we're going. We're also staying in various castles the entire time... I'm not bragging or anything (we did get a killer deal on this trip though)

So yeah, I think I'm excited about this September. Really excited. Let the fun month begin!