Dell Day at the Perot Museum

We were so fortunate to be able to go to Dell Day at the Perot Museum - Thanks Dell! 

We pretty much just spent a couple hours in the Children's area.  The girls loved it!  We also went upstairs and checked out the earthquake simulator.  We left Olivia in a stroller just off the platform, but right next to us.  BUT, Naomi went on it with us.  After each quake of increasing intensity, Naomi would say, "Again!"  She was a little bummed that our turn was over after the 9.6er.  

Here are some pics:

Naomi's 3rd Birthday Party - Part 2 - Cute Pictures :)

Here are just a bunch of cute pics from Naomi's party!  

We had so much fun and are so glad that so many friends and family were able to celebrate with us!  

Naomi's 3rd Birthday Party - Part 1 - Octonauts Party Details

When I asked Naomi what kind of birthday party she wanted, she said "An Octonauts party".  Octonauts is a show on Disney Jr that is more popular in the UK than it is here, so there isn't a lot of pre-done party stuff.  I actually really enjoyed scouring the internet and Pinterest to find cute ideas for her party.  I snagged an invite from someone on Etsy and just emailed/Facebook-ed it to family and friends.  If I had been more on the ball (it's hard with her birthday on the heels of Christmas), I would have printed and mailed them. 

So here are some pictures of what all we did (in case you arrived on my blog post in search of ideas):

 This was the "Make Your Own Aquarium Station".  I had construction paper set out for the aquarium itself, cut up green construction paper for seaweed, sea life stickers, and printouts of various sea creatures with a glue stick to attach them.  

Also pictured on the right are the Peso Medic Bags for the party favors (Octonauts stickers, Octonauts coloring pages from the official site, a little fishy water game, and a package of Swedish fish candy).

 Kwazi's Sand-dollar cookies

 Marshmallows dipped in blue candy coating and crushed graham crackers with goldfish and 3 little pearl sprinkle bubbles. 

 Tweak's Buncha Muncha Crunchy Carrots and Tunip's Fish Biscuits

 Professor Inklings Octodip (hummus and bell pepper)

 Shark Melon!  My husband scoffed a bit when I asked him to do this and showed him the picture.  BUT, being the awesome daddy that he is, he hopped on YouTube, found an instructional video and did an awesome job!

 I got the cupcake wrappers, along with some other party supplies, online.  I made the cupcakes and butter cream frosting using a recipe from a friend.  They turned out pretty well for my first attempt at completely from scratch cupcakes, icing, and decorating. 

I didn't get pictures of all the little signs that I made (there was also a cute sign on the front door, a sign for Captain Barnacles' Coffee Bar and Drink Station, and a sign for the "Gup-cakes").  Also, I completely forgot to make Professor Inklings Octodogs, so that never made it out (and we ate a fair number of hot dogs the following week). 

Naomi's First Visit to the Dentist

We took Naomi for her first visit to the dentist and she did great!  We'd been brushing with an electric toothbrush and she has gone with me to several of my dentists appointments so she was familiar with everything and everyone.  We prepared her by telling her exactly where we were going, who would be there, what they would be doing (counting her teeth and brushing with a special electric toothbrush kinda like hers only better) and that she would get a sticker and a new toothbrush at the end.  She was excited.  We got there and she went back with Mrs Patti all on her own and we just came back at the end to chat with Dr. Goad.  She was sitting in the chair with her cool sunglasses on and asking for her sticker.  And, best of all, she got a good report.  Gotta admit, I was kinda sweating that one.  Had we done a good enough job, etc?  Whew!  

Here are a couple of little pics of her at the dentist and with the Mrs Patti, the hygienist:

Aquarium and Butterfly Garden

Since we scheduled Naomi's birthday party for a couple of weeks after her actual birthday, we decided to take her to the Aquarium on the Saturday after her birthday.  We decided to go to the Children's Aquarium in Fair Park.  With our zoo membership we get a discount and everything is pretty low to the ground for little kids.  We loved petting the stingrays and Naomi wanted to camp-out next to the jellyfish tank.  While we were down there, we also had time to check out the Butterfly Exhibit at the Discovery Gardens which was also enjoyable.

Naomi - 3 Years Old!

I can't believe Naomi is already 3!  Above is her eating her special waffle breakfast on her birthday morning.  Below is her wearing a crown that came in her card from Emi (what Naomi calls Brian's mom).  

Some basic stats - about 29 lbs, around 3 feet (I forgot to write it down at the doctor's office), and wears some 2T and some 3T. 

Favorite Shows - Octonauts, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Doc McStuffins.  She also likes Mickey Mouse, Princess Sofia and Little Einsteins, but not as much as the others. 

Favorite Thing to Do - Run around in circles, playing chase and tickle tag. 

Favorite Foods - Anything sweet - cake, cookies, lollipops (no clue where she got that from *chuckle*).  We are having to make a very purposeful effort to teach good nutrition and keep junk food out of the house. 

Highlights of the Last Year - the Zoo, Disneyland, the Beach, and the Arboretum's Children's Garden. 

Biggest Accomplishment - Potty Trained!

My Favorite Things about Naomi (buckle down, I may not be able to stop once I get going) -
 - Listening to her sing songs from MDO, church, and tv
 - Listening to her (and Olivia) laugh as they tickle tag each other
 - Watching her imaginitive play explode this year
 - Her silliness
 - Listening to her pray
 - Her eagerness to help out with cooking and cleaning
 - Her cuddles, snuggles, hugs (especially the bowl you over kind), kisses, laughter
 - Her vocabulary and nonstop commentary / chatter about everything and anything
 - That she is both a princess and a pirate!  Let's put on some makeup and play with an RC car! 
 - When she says that Mommy, Daddy and Olivia are her best friends.  I know someday she won't say that, so I'm soaking it up.  :)