Opening A Present

 
This kid kills me right now with her facial expressions.
She has been dying for it to be her birthday.
I love this picture series of her opening a present.

 What she REALLY REALLY wanted.
I can't believe I can't find a picture of her elbow and knee pads!
They are the shizzle!

Christmas is Happening, People!

But here is a synopsis of other things that have happened right here, and I just haven't told you about it all yet.

Trick or Treating:

The girls got to do the rounds with their best friends.
There was a lot of giggling, running and candy eating involved.
Now they want to do this ALL THE TIME.


My favorite Halloween picture. That's my own parked car - do not be afraid, she was never in harm's way.

I told them to stay at the door with their treats bags extended until someone shut the door on them. Madee clearly took me seriously.

We went to the ZOO!
The Sanford zoo is tiny.
But there are a lot of keepers holding animals to pet along the way.

And lots of other random fun things to do.


Sophia's growly face.


Madee's "RAWR".

Listening to keepers talk about macaws.


The littlest feeding some yak looking things.


The cuteness we truck around town most of the time.

The races. Madee is clearly a rocket.


Girls do lunch!

And then there is ballet.
Madee loves ballet class.
And talking about ballet.
She works really hard at it.



The littles want to go to ballet class too.
But they have a good time raising a stink in the waiting area.


And we had our first horse ride.
They LOVED it.
Clearly.


And as always my little helpers are at the ready to help with any muffin making I might have going on.

Even if Eden's idea of helping is helping herself to spoonfuls of muffin mix.

We hope you guys have great holidays and we can't wait to share our holiday pictures with you!
Merry Christmas!
The Dervs

Dad's Birthday

Here is everybody waiting for him to blow out his candles.
I LOVE how Zeus is watching too!


Madee is INTO making you a cake or pie or whatever you want for your birthday. She picked this one out, helped me make it and decorated it all by herself.

Literally, in this picture, Eden said, "Daddy I need a spoon."


I think Madee has her "ohnoyouditten" face on for fear of it being gobbled up in one munch.


I think everybody here has wishes on their faces. And at least 2 of those wishes include being left alone with this pie.

A Cupcake Story

I love to cook.
Like LOVE it.
I started when I was 11 and I never looked back.
I love food.
I love to smell it and combine it and dish it up and eat it.

So it is no wonder the girls drag their chairs into the kitchen every time I start to chef something up.

Like, EVERY time.
And I?
Am not the cornerstone of patience. Especially if one is not doing things the way I do them.
Yet I try to incorporate the toddlers into these activities at their own skills level.

They make pizza, crack eggs, stir stuff up, help with salad, and the other day they just HAD to make the cupcakes.

So I gathered all the ingredients in little bowls and supervised as they combined them and handed them utensils and before I even gave them any direction they were screaming at each other and pulling at the bowl and I ended up looking like this.


That face is my "I am already annoyed" face.
Yet I step back and let their magic happen.

Their way.


Eden's way is especially messy.


But since her smile is worth a herd of purple unicorns, her way is breathtakingly beautiful.


Hey, I told them not to eat it and they didn't get salmonella so it all worked out.


I actually cleaned E up in between the mixing and pouring sessions.


The concentration. Cupcakes are serious business.


Madee prefers to cook in the buff so she is wearing my vintage Starbucks apron.
Be jealous.
You DON'T have one.


Eden just kept filling the same cup with batter.
I bet you will never guess which one I mean.



Synchronized cupcakes.

All ready for the oven.
Well, almost ready for the oven.


Somebody's side needed a wipe.


It is hard to let the cupcakes go in AS IS, but dude, they are cupcakes. Any lost batter is minus the calories and any messed up cupcake is still a cupcake.

Anyhoo they all turned out perfect, so...


The End

Epilogue: The cupcakes lived happily ever after. In my tummy. YUM!
Also? Happy Birthday Matt!

Cupcake batter is Betty Crocker. I don't do from scratch, since Betty rocks it right!

1st Birthday: A Green Bay Party Part 1

Right after I downloaded these party pics to my laptop, it retired itself for a while. Technology. It is smarter than me. But after acclimating to our new weather here in the stinking hot south? It came out of retirement. Ha.

Anyhoo, I have been backed up on pictures lately from the summer months and thought as I backed into all these files I should start back in May.

Technically, last night is the first time I really saw these pictures, from a 1st birthday celebration for Eden in Green Bay.

I have been in shock ever since at how much she has grown - not just grown but grown up.

::sigh::

Everything happens so fast.

Let's start things off with our favorite little girl cousin.

Goodness Rachel. Turn down the cute!




Somebody gotta booboo.



I love the way Madee eats a cupcake.

So deliberate with the icing, licking it all off.

Then she shoves the whole cake part in her mouth all at once.

It is great to be a kid.

Kisses.

Hey guys! It's my birthday party!

WOAH! I am bowled over by all the FUN!

This is SO CRAZY!

Let's do it EVERYDAY!

Best Pwesent EVAR.
What's this delicious heaven?

High FIVE!

And I'm OUT!

Too precious, hunh? When she is sleeping? She is an ANGEL.

How anything turns from this:


To this in a matter of 4 months is BEYOND ME.


HAppy Birthday Eden! (Everyday!)