Liesl turns two!

Our girl had her second birthday. All of the usual cliches about how fast the time has gone apply. She's incredibly talkative and she understands so much, and she's so mischievous and cunning and manipulative, and so sweet and charming and compassionate. If one of us gets hurt she comes to kiss it better; if she does something wrong she immediately says "sorry mama!"  She sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star at every opportunity. She runs, jumps, swings on, and climbs everything and everywhere. She's a doer, a joiner. Even if we're just taking the garbage down, Liesl says, "I come!".  A new food? "I try!"  She smiles and waves and says hello to everyone - last weekend we were biking on the trail together and she waved and chirped "hello" at these three tough-looking teenage boys, and instinctively they all grinned and chorused "hello!!" back at her. I cracked up.

Her birthday was delightful and full of activity. Steve made french toast for breakfast and we let her open a few presents. Then she and I went to an Elmo musical show with her friend Alex and mom Sinde.  Liesl  was enraptured and sat very still for nearly the whole performance, watching as full size Elmo, Abby, Bert and Ernie, Big Bird and the rest of the characters danced and sang on stage. After nap, the Raab family came over to celebrate - mom and dad, Trish, Jeff, and Hana, Mary and George. We had presents, we had chocolate cupcakes from Lulu's and singing, we had playground playtime, and we had dinner - chicken, pasta, brussels sprouts with pecans, roasted butternut squash and cauliflower, and a spinach apple salad with goat cheese. And a bath with cousin Hana.  She was so delighted with her party.  Everything was perfect - her party dress (from Sonya), her presents, the company, the cake.  Pics below.