Birthday Preparations

Stella loves to give things her own personal touch. So she made special birthday goody bags for her friends by finger painting on brown bags. Each one was a unique work of art.

And here´s the finished product!

Thank you Ms. Leslie for the finger paints which inspired the project!

Pre-birthday celebration!

Hey! Today officially begins my birthday weekend! Only 3 more days of being one!

Clapping along to the ´Happy Birthday´ and ´Lang zal ze leven´serenades.

Stella´s school pals. Evaluating their goody bags.

(This was a bit of a nerve wracking moment. Stella´s reputation was really on the line)

Peace out.

The loot!

Saturday morning before the big party we opened gifts from the family. As you can see, Stella enjoyed beginning her day this way.

After opening most of her gifts (including a package from Grandma with bathing suits, flip flops, and other beach gear, hence the ensemble) it was time for ´the biggie´...her pink purple bicycle!!! She´s been talking about getting ´pink purple bicycle´ for a month already.
She wasted no time learning how to ride it.

It takes Stella forever to unwrap things because she does it very carefully and gently...it´s a good thing all these gifts were worth waiting for!

That right there is one cute dress! Thanks oma!....a beautiful dress from Paris.

Ok, it´s a brand I approve of.

Hey! A Jip and Janneke back pack...to match my rain boots! Lisanne and Peter, this is such a cool gift!

And look what was inside!

Ta- dah!!!

Hold on...lets see if it fits!

Yay! Perfect! Thanks Lisanne and Peter...again.

Celebrate Stella!

Friday was Stella´s school birthday party, but that was just warming up for the big birthday celebration on Saturday. Nearly 40 of Stella´s closest friends and family (in Holland) showed up to celebrate with her. She had a great time working the crowd!

Wait, I forgot. Who´s birthday is it again?

This pic isn´t in order but I accidentally deleted it so just tacked it on. She insisted on blowing out the candles 3 times.

Ok, so maybe the party got off to kind of a slow start.

But all it took was for the guest of honor to wake up from her nap and join the crowd...

...and things really perked up!

As part of her big entrance she did a lap around the living room to show off her new bike.

A little bicycle talk with Luna (the previous owner)

Getting into party mode.

I didn´t do such a bad job making the cake, huh?

The sweet stuff.

The rest of the spread. (Did I make you proud Trish?)

Just some of the many presents Stella received. That´s baby Anneliese. Named after our friend Anneliese who suggested Stella name the baby after her. Stella went with it and has been calling her that ever since.

Only part of the crowd.

Stella flexing her muscles on Pipa´s neck. Lately she hasn´t been calling him Pipa though. She just calls him Aartjan.

Taking baby Anneliese for a stroll through the garden in her new baby buggy from Aartsebastiaan.

Time to say goodbye to her cousins Iris and Bente, but not before giving them one of the goody bags she made. What a good little hostess!

Kusje!

Having a ball with Aartsebastiaan. (Oh come on, I´m aloud a few puns here and there).

Apparently they´re discussing something pretty funny.

What? No my birthday isn´t over. We´re just getting started.

Happy Hour

After work last week I picked Stella up from day care and we met Lisanne, Peter and friends for a drink on a terrace.

Stella gives ´happy hour´a new meaning.

´Where can a girl get a drink around here?`

`Hey Peter, don´t you want to get your favorite niece a drink.`

`There´s a kiss in it for you if you do!`

`I was thinking more along the lines of a delicious cocktail´

`But this will do!´

Someone mentioned the ´B´words (birthday and bicycle).

Making herself at home at the cafè.

Groupies

Stella and I went with David when he gave a music workshop for a choir. I think that´s the last time we´re allowed to come with him to something like that since Stella distracted everyone by being so much fun!

Stella wasn´t the only cutie there. This is the choir director´s little girl.

`Hey little baby, what´s your name?`

`Everyone, I´d like to introduce you to my good friend Ikke´.

Proud of her papa.