The birthday party

Lola loves pancakes.

So that's what we had!

The toppings: sliced bananas, peanut butter, blueberries, whipped cream and butter

The spread: breakfast casserole, three different quiches, mini ham and cheese quinoa bites (to die for - recipe coming soon), fruit cups and pancakes, of course!

Miss Sue and Mr. Gary - honorary grandparents :)

Sue kept Lola this summer while on break from teaching.

Lola loves them both!

The loot

Lola's cousin Maddox testing out the new playhouse.

(Thanks, Pop!)

Cupcakes: vanilla and strawberry with buttercream frosting

(made by yours truly)

Wade cousins: Madison, Lola, Jackson and Maddox

Lola and her best buddy Regan enjoying a cupcake!

There was homemade peach ice cream, too.

(Thanks, Gigi!)

Papa Dan

Just the three four of us :)

All the kiddos!

From left: Keaton, Chaney, Lola, Bodie, Maddox, Regan, Madison, Jackson

A BIG thank you to everyone who came to the party. Lola loves you all! Matt said it well: Lola is surrounded by a lot of wonderful people who love her very much. We feel so blessed!

Time flies when you're having fun

What a difference 2 years and 7 months makes...

January 2010, British Virgin Islands

August 2012, the Wade backyard

Pre-party celebration

Last weekend we celebrated Lola's birthday for THREE days in a row.

It started with dinner at our house on Thursday. The Blackburns, Burnetts and Werners (aka "the Lionheart crew" and their kids) came over for smoked chicken and pork and some yummy sides. The kids played in the backyard, and we all got to meet baby Bodie (all the way from California) for the first time.

He is such a happy baby!

Lola was pretty interested in Bodie...

hopefully this means she'll be interested in her brother, too.

On Friday we hit the lake with the same group.

There was a lot of squealing from all the little girls!

And we ended the evening with pizza on Jackie's deck.

(One of Lola's requests for her birthday was pizza, of course.)

And a popsicle for dessert.

(That's Miss Judy - one of Lola's favorite sitters.)

Homemade popcorn on the stove = scrumptious

Lola's "new" doggie

The elusive dog finally got close enough this morning for me to snap a quick picture. He's very skittish, but since we started feeding him a couple weeks ago he hasn't missed a meal. This morning he actually sort of chased my car as I drove away. Maybe he/she is coming around (still don't know for sure if it's a male or female, although we do call it a "he" most of the time). I've been calling it "pup pup," but I suppose he/she needs a real name. Lola suggested Birdie (which I like) or Pombone (which Matt likes). I don't know where the heck she came up with Pombone (??) - but did I mention she's been making up words lately? I think we need to keep thinking on this one... any suggestions?

Daddy's little helper

Playhouse progress!

Lola's playhouse is almost finished!

It's functional now - she can swing and go down (and up) the slide.

Pop plans to finish the hand rails and put the roof on this week...

She maneuvers up the ladder really well!

Loves to swing...

...and go down the slide, of course. 

We plan to stain the deck later in the year and paint the walls - inside and out. We're also on the hunt for shutters for the windows, a cute little outdoor table and chairs and curtains or shades for the front of the "house."

More pics to come later!