Happy Birthday, Maryn!!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY, MARYN!!!

Yesterday was Maryn's third birthday. We love her so much, and I can't believe it's already been three years since she came in to our lives.

We had a little birthday party for her with some of her friends out at the park yesterday. I must admit, I do enjoy spoiling and indulging her a little bit. I tried to do a little bit of a theme for her party. It was a park because I didn't feel like cleaning my house, then cleaning again after all the kiddos left. So, it was pretty low key. Maryn has an obsession with two things in life: The Cars movie and Monkeys. I didn't want to do the Cars thing...that would cost a lot of money, though I did put McQueen paper cups on her cupcakes, so I went with the monkey bit. It turned out pretty cute. I surfed the net and found someone who'd made really cute monkey cupcakes. I copied their idea and they turned out pretty fun.

They took a little bit more time than a cupcake should, but it was totally worth it. For the mussel, I used a cut vanilla wafer and the smile was drawn on with icing writers. The Ears were cut mini nutter butters and the eyes were mini m 'n m's. Then I just put some extra frosting into an icing tube and made dots for the nose and eyes. I was pleasantly surprised at how they turned out.
Going along with the whole monkey theme, we played a game called "Pin the Monkey on the Tree." Everyone got their own monkey to tape on the tree blindfolded. It wasn't a huge hit because it turned out that 3 year olds don't like to be blindfolded and forced to walk, hence the video below. But Maryn did like that she had a tree full of monkeys, and now it is adorning our refrigerator. Like we need one more thing on the fridge.

After some fun, we sang, opened presents, and ate monkeys. I had put together a big box of dress up clothes for her (I'll have to pull out the capes I made and take a picture...I even impressed myself with how well they turned out from freehand.) with all sorts of fun things I'd found at consignment shops, around the house, and some I made. From Kade's parents she had gotten some great lightening McQueen dishes that have already gotten plenty of use. Going with the dressup thing, my mom found her a cute princess dress with hat, gloves and necklaces. I think she will really impress the boys with this one! Kade got her some of the Cars cars that she didn't have yet. Yippee!! more cars to pick up!
Over all, it was a very successful birthday. I think she got lots that she can have fun with and will enjoy.
Now, here comes the cheesy part: I truly believe Maryn was meant for our family. She is such a special girl and has a great personality. She is so good and I wouldn't trade her for the world. I'm amazed, even now, how much I can love someone.
Here's Maryn in a nutshell.
Her Favorite things are: Anything Monkey and the Cars movie
Her fears are: automatic toilets and sometimes root canals
Favorite foods: Spaghetti and cucumbers with dressing
Foods she won't touch: Bananas and watermelon
I'm amazed by her: compassion for others
My favorite feature of hers: her beautiful hair and her blue eyes
Her first word was: Tickle
Music that she loves to listen to: Johnny Cash (Fulsom Prison Blues, Ring of Fire), Best of Queen, Jenny/867-5309, Oklahoma, I am a Child of God, and Mormon Tabernacle Choir.