cinderella ball

 Afternoon Tea 

 hosted by Cinderella herself

and besides hogging all the strawberries, she was quite the perfect host.  Pouring everyone's tea for them when needed.  And the need arose often with such tiny cups. 

The Royal Ball

oh and ... announcing the lords and ladies in attendance...(trumpet)

Lady Emmeboo of Baba-lonia and Lady Maymay of Reading

Gus-Gus and Prince Charming of Fairy Taelia

     

Lord Joshua Hershel III and Lady Jane of fancypants shire

Sir Lukealot and Fairy Godmother of Bibbidy Bobbidy Booton

Lady Kate and Lord Caleb with Lady Olivia of Brownsville Castle

And Lady Sheri with Sir Alex Bate and Sir Graham the great of Bristol

(cinderella dancing with sir graham in the real ball from the movie was actually a thank you card to lucy from graham -- photoshopped by sheri.  so cute.)

  We played a freeze dance game and a few other games.  but mostly just danced and danced.

 And the last dance of the night was a special dance with prince charming.  This is the one thing she has talked about the most since her birthday. 

after the dance, the kids watched Cinderella upstairs while the adults had a nice curry dinner downstairs.  made by prince charming - so super yummy.

When you wish upon a star

I asked Lucy what kind of cake she wanted fully expecting to try to make some sort of princess cake - but she was very specific in wanting a pink star cake with sprinkles.  So, that's what she got.  Bless her little heart for going easy on me.

 

She got roller skates for her birthday and spent the rest of the night "skating" around the house grinning ear to ear.   

Very fun day.  

Thank you Kate for taking all these pictures!!!

Lucy - 3 years old

Lucy - your name means light and you are such a bright spot in our family.  We love your zany ways and your delightful comedy.  Keep on thinking everything in this world is funny.  "das funny!!"  It will do you good. 

 

 

 

 

Hey, remember the night a few months ago when you were carrying out an investigation?  It was my favorite. You found a big, long piece of pvc pipe and were going up to each of us with your tough-guy face on (it is a great face) pointing the pipe at our face and said in your gruff and grumbly voice "is it yo fault?"  and we'd say "no!" and then you'd go up to the next person "is it yo fault?"   Now, we quote you with our best Lucy accent.
And we also love your dainty soft punches when you want to be in on the parent vs. kids pretend fights.  You come up with your squnched face and say "punchya punchya!"  It's so nice to have get some adorable soft punches in the midst of all the violence.
 You always, always make us laugh.  We have loved these last 3 lucyful years.

cut to commercial...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND  we're back!  With another album Silly Songs with Lucy... volume 2!  If you liked Silly Songs with Lucy: volume 1 , you looooooooooooooove this.  (well, ya know...). 

this album's hits include:
1. thoughtful abc's
2. hello, hello
3. mommy in the sky with diamonds
4. when i grow up
5. gratitude attitude (with special guests luke and maryanne hale on piano)

And this album also includes not one, but two Lucy originals.
6. possible titles for this track: "a pink dress" or "a witch button" or "presents to every people"
7.  "it's my birthday already"


lucy sings part 2 from katiehale on Vimeo.

speaking of birthdays ---- stay tuned for a recap of afternoon tea and the magical night of dancing princesses as we celebrate 3 years of Lucy!

hello 2013, nice to see ya

how great is new year's eve?

a late night for small children

 with explosives and bubbly

and cousins lovingly participating in video games at 1:30 am

doesn't get much better.
 and notice the ripped up plastic bags all over the floor?

yet another one of Kate & Caleb's fun traditions.  They wrapped up and taped up candy bars in plastic bags and put them all in a huge garbage bag with tons of empty bags.  And you sit in a circle and roll the dice until someone gets doubles.  Whoever gets doubles then throws on a pair of winter gloves and starts digging through the huge bag in their hunt for a candy bar.  If you can get it untaped and out for the bag before someone else gets doubles, you can keep it.  It's a fun, fast paced, grabby, and screamy game.  Those are the best kind.

It was fun night.  And we're glad our kids are not broken from this night of sugar, stimulation and no sleep.  Perfect way to welcome in the new year.