rainbows

What do you think of when you see a rainbow?

God's promises, hope, beauty...

The same things i think of when I look at our sweet Suzy.

In light of that, we had a rainbow themed party for Suzy's upcoming 4 year old birthday party yesterday!

Even though it was a super busy weekend with our Bible study thanksgiving dinner, family coming in from El salvador and the wedding, the party topped off the fun weekend. I may have gotten into the theme a little too much...a little more than i actually had time for at least, but it turned out so much fun =)

First, I made rainbow cupcakes by separating the batter into 5 different bowls and dying the batter then layering it into the cupcake tins. It was easy but time consuming. I loved the result though:

Here are some more pictures from the fun day of all things rainbow: 

rainbow sandwiches (i colored cream cheese)

face painting

craft table: fruit loop necklace making and watercolor painting

the spread

suzy's artwork for decoration

this was supposed to represent the gold at the end of the rainbow but maybe it looks a bit pirate-ish...oh well...

snacks in the teepee

singing happy birthday

gotta have a pinata! 

flower girl

Yesterday, Suzy was the flower girl for Elvis cousin's wedding. I think being in a Salvadoran wedding was the best way for her to get her feet wet at a wedding....you can show up an hour late (which we did) and still be early, you don't have to go to any rehearsals, you can have 18 people helping you go down the aisle and instructing you on how to throw the flowers, and the paparazzi can be out in the aisle taking pictures. Then you can spend the rest of the wedding just running around and throwing flowers in the fountain. I don't think we're really cut out for the whole formal, start on time, stand still American wedding tradition yet.

Anyway, she was the cutest thing ever (in my humble opinion) in her flower girl dress we found at a yard sale (score!). And she has had the best time playing with her cousins Cami and Dani from El Salvador who have come with Elvis' brother for the wedding. I love hearing her play in spanish.

Here are some pictures from the big day:

cousin love!

with the groom, Tio Oto

Happy 4 months little man!

birthday month

We went ahead and got a head start on celebrating Suzy's birthday month with a little snacktime celebration at her school...krispy kreme style of course! 

I asked Suzy what she is going to want to eat for her real birthday dinner coming up in a couple of weeks (confident she would say pizza or pupusas...her favorites), and it went like this:

S: "I want green beans, cupcakes, and chocolate for my birthday."
Me: "Chocolate for dinner??!"
S: "It's ok mom, we'll have green beans too!"

I think she may have a thing for sweets....today's conversation went like this:
me: "You can have one treat today, so decide if you want it now or later."
S: "Ok i'll have some cake later. But instead of putting ice cream on top, let's put a donut on top."


That's my girl! =)

Fall in So Cal??

Today we took our first family road trip since Emory's arrival to a cute little town in the middle of nowhere that just happens to  be at the perfect elevation that the leaves actually change colors. I've missed fall so much since living in El Salvador and California! The whole town is full of apple orchards so we went up there today with some close friends to pick apples, learn how to press ciders, eat apple donuts, and enjoy the fallish atmosphere. Loved it!!

Halloween fun

I entitle Suzy's costume this year "Variations on a fancy princess"... (thanks Nana for the bling)

 Pumpkin parade at school....

serious about jumping during their song performance at school

her class

 Harvest Festival at Fuller...

Trick or treating with community kids