Birthday Girl! Clara turns three!

 Cary and I never really did much for Valentine's Day, but now that we've got a child with a birthday on that day, it really got put on the back burner for us! Between Valentine's for school, Clara's birthday, and then Britton's birthday 5 days later, my brain is maxed out. ☺

I didn't plan it this way, but having both of my "younger" kids birthday's 5 days apart is wreaking havoc on my emotional state. The fact that Clara turned 3 and Britton is turning 5 is killing me! They are my babies, how did they get to be so grown up?! 

Clara is still our sweet child, and she still likes to cuddle and give hugs. 

She is starting to let us know that she is becoming an independent 3 yr old and can do everything on her own. ;)

Clara likes everyone, but Uncle Kenneth is currently one of her favorite people right now, because he lets her go to his house and watch her shows for as long as she likes. ☺

Clara is showing some signs of being organized (OCD?) ;) She notices when things are different or out of place. It's quite hilarious, most of the time...

I'm glad this happened with my last child because I would have not liked to have expected this from my other kids, but once we transitioned Clara to her crib, she's been a really good sleeper and pretty much at 7:30 she was standing in front of her crib asking to go to bed. I was a little worried about transitioning her to her big bed a few months ago that we would then have to battle her to stay in bed (like we did all the other kids,  especially Ella!) but now Clara just climbs in her bed by herself at 7:30, asks that we tuck her in and turn off the light and she goes to sleep. It's awesome! ♥

Like I said, glad she's the last and I didn't have that expectation of the other 3, because I would have been sorely disappointed! ;)

Aidan, Ella, and Britton adore Clara, and Aidan and Ella insist on babying her, giving her whatever she wants, and talking baby talk to her, especially Aidan and I'm trying to discourage that. (I'm starting to see that the youngest is spoiled not only because of the parents!!!)  Britton is close enough in age that he's either loving on her or antagonizing her, unfortunately for him, he's taught her well on how to defend herself. 

Sharon took these two photos on the Saturday before Clara's birthday.

I try to keep the birthday parties simple for now, while I can, 

so we just had a pizza party for the immediate family but even then it's still close to 30 people. ☺

Thankfully, I had help with getting the party ready.

 Clara is really into Frozen (the movie)/ Elsa even though I don't think she's even ever seen it all the way through, but she wanted a purple Frozen party. Cary and the kids made the cupcakes, I made the frosting, and then Cary, Jenna, Kara, and Ella decorated them.

 Trying to blow out the candle with Ella's help...

with a lift from dad, she was able to get it done. 

The kids are incredibly blessed/ lucky to have such generous loving family and Clara made out on Elsa loot (how does everyone know she likes Elsa?!) ;) We're so thankful for everyone that was able to show up and celebrate this girl's day!