FIRST EARLY B'DAY GIFTS

"Miss" Tanya has sort of adoped Natalie has her little granddaughter or niece." We think we should start teaching Natalie "Aunt" Tanya. I have been trying it with her and Cari said that she heard her at the party call Tanya, "Aunt Tanya".

She brought her one package to Jonah's party. As you can see from the first photo, she got a Diego puzzle. She loved it and has played with it numerous times already. And from the next image you can see she also got her a dress...a dress that matched the wedding colors. We really like the pink/brown combo colors for clothes.

Miss Tanya...oops I mean Aunt Tanya, Stewart (her son aka Alexa's brother), Natalie and of course, the Diego puzzle

Tanya and Natalie with her gifts Over the last few years Cari and Alexa have grown really close. They are so much alike that they blend into each others families very well. They have become best friends. I am so pleased with that because I had a very good best friend when I was her age and I think girls really need a friend through the teenage years with the same values that will hold them accountable for the choices that they will have to make the next few years. And since they have become close our whole families have been drawn to each other. We have found that we have a lot in common. Tanya, I thank God for sending Alexa into Cari's life thus He lead you and your family into our lives too. Thanks for being our special friends...thanks to you too, Stewart.

Isn't it neat how God even provides the right kind of friend for us. He thinks of everything.

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

NATALIE AT JONAH'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

THE ABOVE IMAGE: Natalie loves baby toys. I don't know why, but she does.

Jonah's Party theme was Mickey Clubhouse. So he had a clubhouse full of toys for the little ones to play with. It was a great success. I think the children loved it!.

THE ABOVE IMAGE: Natalie liked opening and closing the entrance to the jumping thing. I think she liked playing with the velcro.

The below image: Jonah and his parents blowing out his candles.

Notice Natalie...a fork, but no cake. She loves cake. So I took care of the no cake problem for her. Well, she normally loves cake. I ended up eating it for her since she was more interested in playing.

Natalie really didn't understand why Jonah and his mommy and daddy didn't need her to help him open all those presents. After all her mommy needed her help at the bridal showers.

I am not so sure what Natalie thought was so funny, so as I am posting this I asked Cari and she basicly said she was just acting silly. It was quite funny.

I did a few of Jonah with his parents for Nicki. I am sure she will be posting her favorite. But I love this one. I think Natalie was trying to make Jonah laugh.

Okay, for the Mimi who used to never be photographed with her little sweetheart, here are several of the two of us.

This is just before we left Marie and Natalie were playing with bubbles. Marlie's mommy is entertaining them with these bubbles. If you remember from previous posts, Natalie loves bubbles.

Okay, I am still out of order, but for now I am posting these from Jonah's party. I am going to to another special post all about Natalie at Jonah's party and then a few from Natalie's. Since this is our first year to be blogging and have a birthday, I plan to post more images from Natalie's previous birthday parties, but also this year too. I have so many to go through and I don't know when I will get thru all of them, but I have picked out a general variety from the party to post soon.

Later, I will post more. I have a crazy week ahead of me and it already almost over. I have a lot on my "to do" list to do before Saturday. I am leaving on another cruise Sat. I would have liked to take Natalie on this one, but I felt like Aunt Cari deserved a special treat. She has been a very special aunt to Natalie for 3 years now...she was only 12 years old when she was born. Never has she been jealous of this new little one who stole my heart. I am so proud of the young lady she has become and the special aunt that she is to Natalie.

Soon after my trip Natalie will be moving to Baton Rouge with her parents. I am sure then I will find to the time to catch up on some blog stuff and maybe some work too.

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARTY DAY

"We did it!"...as Dora would say it! We made it through our 3rd birthday party for Natalie. I haven't even looked at the memory card of over 300 images on it yet. It is 9:30 p.m. and the last guests/family have left. Natalie and her parents have left too. We are all exhausted. Even Natalie told us before she left she was ready for bed. I love that trait about her. I love that she will admit that she is tired and ask to go to bed.

We had a great fiesta. It turned out so beautiful. It was hot...which may have added to the stress some. No wonder Natalie didn't want to leave all the water fun to open her gifts. She was have "too much fun" as the country song goes. I will post images from previous birthday parties and this one later on, but for now I leave you images from a pre-birthday session. I usually do a photo invitation, but it all really slipped upon this year. So I just did something to give out at her party...it is at the botttom of this. I picked a few of them to post.

Enjoy...

I love this next one and hate it. I love that it shows what a beautiful girl she has become and I hate it because she looks 6 years old rather than the almost 3 year old...almost because she still has two days before her real birthday. I hate that she looks so old because she is growing up soooo fast. I just want her to our little sweetheart forever...LITTLE. I guess if she must grow up...she will have be my sweetheart, if she can't be my little sweetheart. The little sweetheart title has really stuck with her now.

Sometimes I will call her another pet name. She will correct me and remind me that she is my little sweetheart...not whatever name I just came up with. I know I am her Mimi, but she really is a sweetheart...who could not fall in love with the little girl. Once you get to know her, you just can't resist her charm.

This was the photo collage that I designed as a keepsake for our party guests. I think it turned out nice.

We had a great day. Natalie had a ball. She was sweet and polite when she opened her gifts...even though she really wanted to be back on the water slide. We had to threaten her with that..."if you don't come open your gifts, we will deflate the slide." The last few gifts almost didn't get opened. LOL

"THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THIS LITTLE SWEETHEART THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED THROUGH UNDESIRABLE CIRCUMSTANCES TO COME INTO LIVES EXACTLY WHEN DID. SHE HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH JOY INTO EVERYONE'S LIFE THAT SHE TOUCHES. SHE MAKES ME REALIZE WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE. I PRAY THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND DIRECT US TO LEAD HER TO YOU." In Jesus' name I pray this to You.

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

REMEMBERING THE LAST TWO PARIES

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Since today is the day and I have lot to do as one of the party hostesses. The fiesta is Dora and Diego style and it is here outside at Mimi's house with Mexican food, a pinata and even Sombreros to wear. So I will add more images from the last 3 years later, but for now I must get busy. The party is scheduled to start at 3:00 and it is almost 10:30 now and I know many out-of-town guests will arrive sooner. Natalie has been so excited about her party this! It is such a fun age!

Second Party!

before I lost some of the weight I recently lost, but who can resist smiling when they are holding their little sweetheart...

Party Entertainment

Yes, I know she looks terrified. It was her first time down. She was the first one to go down since it was her special day. She loved it and went again and again until she wore completely out and fell asleep in my arms. The party went on while she napped in the house after rain and sunshine then again rain.

A collage for the first b'day party!

aw! how sweet!

Daddy and Mommy thought this was a great gift!

The Formal ONE-YEAR PORTRAIT..

My! Hasn't she changed a lot in two years!

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

Sunday (the after the flotilla)

THIS IS NEXT DAY AFTER THE FLOTILLA: 07.06.08

This is what Natalie was doing when I came to get her in the church nursery after the service.

Here we are the way to lunch.

I wanted a few of her at the new local mexican restaurant. We had went last week, but I did not have the camera. How do you like that cheese?

No one really wanted be photographed this day. I can't imagine why...

So again I asked to be photographed with my little sweet heart.

Natalie and Mimi
This was the first time we attended the church's annual picnic. I really wanted to attend, but I wasn't sure I would because of Natalie and her nap routine. Maybe she knew about this because she was having a difficult time falling asleep. So I told her to get on up and let's get ready to go. We had to stop my Wal-mart for a little food to take. I was so afraid that she would fall asleep before we got there, but she didn't and she had a ball.

Fair warning most these images are very incorrect technically because of the setting from the day before at the lake and by the time I really realized what the problem was my battery died. Before it did, I did manage to get some fun shots. I am not so good at inserting links, but as I finish this I will go to Jonah's blog and add the http address from Nicki's post. She is way ahead of me on posting...so it was a little while back by now.

Natalie playing ball with a "big" kid. Little ones always love big kids.

Jonah holding his box of trinkets.

Scott just being silly.
Jonah and Natalie was checking out Olivia Kate's walking. I guess they thought it was a new toy for them to play with.

Bro. Dan palying ball with Natalie. I didn't capture this, but he was throwing the ball to her and she was hitting it with the bat. It was really cute.

Natalie and Marlie...

http://theglenngang.blogspot.com/2008/07/annual-4th-of-july-picnic-at-church.html

The above link is to another blog. This Jonah's blog...well, actually it is called "THE GLENN GANG" now. If you would like to view more photos...even better photos from the indoor picnic part...check it out.

~~Natalie's Mimi~~