SOUL'S GINGERBREAD HOUSE BIRTHDAY

This gal is two, but she doesn't really talk all that much. She is just barely starting to put sentences together, so when it came to her birthday, we were kind of at a loss at what to do. Then it dawned on me, this girl loves sweets, so with Christmas around the corner, we thought it would be appropriate to have a gingerbread house birthday, where she could indulge her little tummy to her heart's content. And indulge she did...

We had the little celebration on Sunday afternoon and I used this recipe to make the gingerbread house pieces and icing instead of buying a kit, which I would have gladly done, but the ones I saw contained hydrogenation. My only change is that I added some pumpkin pie spice to the mix and lessened the ground ginger, other than that, it was absolutely delicious. Also, I doubled the recipe so we could make 4 houses, but we only ended up making three and the girls ate the remaining pieces. There were sweets galore strewn all over the table, so you can imagine my Soulie's sheer delight to be next to it all!

Ben and I helped put the frame of the house together, but the girls did everything else. Eventually though, Soul stopped building and just started eating.

Instead of a cake, we used the house that Soul was working on and put two candles coming out of the chimney. We thought it was kind of clever and when she blew them out after we sang Happy Birthday, it looked like smoke was coming out of the chimney!

Their little houses came out so cute! Sure, the roofs are put on exactly and you probably wouldn't want to live in them if you lived in a rainy area, but they are my girls' little works of art. And I think for Soulie, this was the absolute perfect way to celebrate the second year God gave her. She is God's little work of art to us. She is a little ball of feisty, who grunts and shreiks to communicate, but when she is sweet, she is oh so sweet! Just like these gingerbread houses. And I don't think anyone can resist her "big cheese". Our continuous prayer for her is that God would open her eyes to see His truth and that she would long to be a soul winner for Him.

Love you Soulie!!!

SOUL'S BREAKFAST IN BED

Our little big baby turned 2 on Saturday. Last year she had her breakfast birthday bash, but this year was more low key. She got our traditional breakfast in bed, but the rest of her day got upstaged by my sister's wedding shower, though we did give Soul her own celebration on Sunday.

Her breakfast in bed was simple... some cornflakes cereal (this is new to her, so she was all about it), a little gingerbread man (to elude to her little celebration coming the next day), and the traditional vegetable animal always made by her Papi, which was a mole from a sweet potato. The birthday girl was obviously quite happy with her little breakfast! And we love that smile of hers too too much! We call her smile the "big cheese".

p.s. don't forget my three giveaways below and enter this one by leaving a comment here to win a $250 gift certificate to any online retailer of your choice if my ideabook wins!

papi and soulie date

While I was occupied getting ready for the wedding and Ben was done with his drop off duties for the event, he took little Soulie on a date (the big girls were with their grandparents). They headed off to the flea market and visited a community garden together. It was a hot, hot day, but these pictures tell me they had a very good time.

I just a few short weeks our baby Soul will no longer seem like such a baby. It will be so strange!

while she is sleeping

She is so cute!

This space has been text heavy of late, so I thought I would break it up with some pretty things. And I think my sleeping Soulie is really pretty!!!

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soul and boogie

15 months. She calls me "mama", but sometimes "papa" too. She does the same thing to Ben. Last month she walked around saying "this" to everything, and now she walks around saying, "buta, buta, buta..." but we have no idea what it means, but it is cute nonetheless. She adores her big sisters and wants to be wherever they are or do whatever they are doing. She loves eating veggies, but she also likes sweets (I think she has a balance of True and Brave). The greatest milestone of all is that she finally started holding her own sippy cup... yay!!!

My poor baby is also sick right now. She has had a fever for 3 days now and I am praying today is the day it finally breaks.

See her at fourteen and thirteen months, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one month.

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last day to win this bag or this gift certificate.

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soul and boogie

13 months. Fresh out of the shower, you can really see her curly hair!

14 months.

I got pregnant, then got behind in sharing you the Soul and boogie pictures. I must take her 15 month picture before time escapes me as it seems to do that more these days!

See her at twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one month.

soul's breakfast birthday bash

I am just now getting around to sharing the little breakfast bash we had for Soul when she turned one about two months ago...

It was a chilly December morning, we had coffee and hot coco ready for those who would crawl out of bed early to help us celebrate. We had a cereal bar composed of colorful cereals of the sugary variety. Bacon, eggs, and potatoes were being cooked all morning long and were scooped up and eaten instantly. The best part of all was that guests could stuff their faces with fresh pancakes. They had three batters to choose from: red velvet, whole wheat, and buttermilk. There were toppings and syrups galore to add in or on their pancakes, which were made by the pancake making experts, my sisters (they actually had on the spot training). Everyone was cold at first, but all the yummy food and good company instantly warmed everyone up and it was the perfect way to celebrate our little Soul!

And who needs a cake, when you can enjoy your own little stack of pancakes as everyone around you sings you your birthday song?!! I will gladly take a stack of pancakes over cake, anyday!

Soulie was a happy little girl that morning. She had on her mama-made dress (yes, I did end up sewing one) and she ate loads of pancakes. That little cakies kept stuffing and stuffing her face, along with her other baby friend who was there stuffing her belly with potatoes! Most of all, she was doted, hugged, and kissed all morning long. She is blessed with so many people who love and adore her! All blessings from God!!!

To online friends (and online friend's mom) who sent vintage syrup jars my way... it added the sprinkles on the top for the party, thank you!!!

To BFF... haha, you said it! Love you!

To my mom who woke up at 4am with me to prepare and who slaved away in the kitchen all morning long... mom, you the best!!!

To my sisters who cooked... I got your back when you have kids (as long as you aren't late next time)!!!

To our friends and family who came... we were so blessed by your big hearts and love for our daughter!!!

To our sweet Soulie... we will love you forever!!!

All photos were taken by Christian Cruz. check him out... he does cool things with a camera!

p.s. this post has got a lot of pictures, but there are even more here (thanks jenny!) and here.