Josie's Birthday Bash-Final Episode

Hi Everyone,


I believe this will be the final installment of Josie Dong Dong's Birthday Week and she really went out with a big BANG!



Fresh from her nap, hair primped and primed, getting Ready for the Guests to arrive.

"WOW! There are more balloons than there is me!"

The arrival of the royal guests kicked of with cousins Prima Dancer Abbie her brother Ethan who tries to keep up.

Josie was a very gracious hostess and showed her cousins how to play with her new cash register.

Next to arrive was more of Josie's cousins the Royal Emily and Nate.

Josie's next guests are the lovely Angeline who enjoyed playing with all the kids, followed by Baby Grace, who didn't quite know what to think about everything but enjoyed herself all the same.






















With all of her guests accounted for, it was time for a round of good play. I think all the mommies and daddies were truly surprised at how well the play time went, with no fighting.

Josie continued to be a gracious Birthday Girl and Hostess freely sharing all her toys with her guests.




















Next it was time for the Birthday Girl to open her presents. Josie was feeling pretty overwhelmed with all her guests and so many presents to open. She was very happy that her Big Cousin Abbie was nearby to lend her a hand.

"Thanks for Helping me Abbie."

"Oh Boy! Look at all this stuff I got!"

After all the presents were open, Mommy began serving the pigs in a blanket and there was lots of more play time with even more toys than before.

Ethan and even Josie's big Sis got in on some of the play action with the Elmo giggles doctor kit.

Nate was still happy playing with Josie's Little People Farm close to his Grandma Ava.

Before we knew it, everyone-- young and old, big and small, was on the floor playing with all of Josie's new toys. And the birthday girl? She was right in the middle of all the fun!

"Is everyone having a good time at my party?"

Next it was time for Josie's cake-- and Mommy went a little overboard with the cake. My plan was to do a semi-farm theme for Josie's birthday and she has a pink pig that she likes a lot. We have a very good Italian bakery in our town that we typically order from for special occasions. I have never ordered something quite so "out of the ordinary" for them-- I didn't even know that a pig face was considered "out of the ordinary."

So, I had NO IDEA the bakery was going to go to town like they did decorating the cake. That is why the blog opens with a picture of the cake and I am posting it again here.

What can I say, we all thought it was tops and I want to be sure it gets proper billing.

"What the heck ISSSS that?"

Everybody was very anxious to have some of Josie's cake. The kids quickly called out which parts of the face they would like to have.

Big Cousin Abbie asked for the nose!













Camera man Daddy made sure he got his order in for a good piece of cake while it was being cut.










Mmmm, it was a yummy cake that everyone enjoyed.













































After the cake was eaten and some packed-up to go home with our guests, Josie said good-bye and seemed a little bummed when all her guests were gone.


She soon realized that she still had Big Sis, Daddy and Mommy to play with her and all her new toys.

It was soon time for some quiet time before settling down for bed. Josie enjoyed reading her "first 100 words in Chinese" book with Daddy and Big Sis.








The next morning, Josie was up and ready to PARTY some more.

"Hey! Where is everybody?"

Big Sis Gabrielle and Phoebe were both happy to play with Josie Dong Dong, who was (and is) still very excited about all her new playthings.

Josie is looking forward to fun times ahead with the holidays. We can't wait to see everyone again!

"Josie's Kitchen is Open whenever you want to stop by!"

Playing with Josie's B-Day toys

Josie's Birthday Week Installment #3

Hi Everyone,

Last night was another action-packed evening in the world of Josie Dong Dong's Birthday Week.

We started off the festivities with Daddy and Big Sis Gabrielle helping Josie put her new barrettes in her hair. Josie loves the sparkly flower shaped barrettes that Mommy got for her and she wanted a bunch of them in her hair.

She kept asking for "mo" (more barrettes in her hair).

"Mo. Mo. Mo."

After dinner it was time for more presents and I think Josie Dong Dong was a little overwhelmed by all the loot we laid out before her.

"Wow! Are these all for me?"Time to get busy!

Josie had big fun with her Elmo themed remote control.

Josie enjoyed looking through the very pretty alphabet book from Auntie Gisele. It has all kinds of cool and silly animal drawings in it, plus some animals NONE of us have heard of.

Josie also received a special package in the mail from her friend Ela and Ela's mommy, Andrada. Inside was a pretty Hello Kitty house and figurines. Josie had more big fun playing with the house and spent much of the night holding her three Hello Kitty figurines tightly in her hand.

"I need to keep these kitties somewhere safe."

After presents it was time for some yummy dessert. Josie's big party isn't until this weekend, but we wanted to have something a little special with just Mommy, Daddy, Gabrielle, and Xavier.

We managed to cover this desire with some cream filled chocolate coated cupcakes topped with mini balloons. It was a big hit!

"Mo. Mo. MO. MO! MO! MO!"

Did I mention that I gave her an early bath so she would have lots of time for her presents and playing with her big sister and brother?

Even Gabrielle and Xavier were taken away with all the fun of the evening. Gabrielle almost got whisked away by the cupcake balloons.

Off to a quick fun video . . . in the next post

Two-Years and a Day

Hi Everyone and welcome to blogging installment #2 of Josie Dong Dong's Birthday Week!

Yesterday was Josie's actual birthday and we kicked it off right with her eating a banana like a big girl. Mommy usually cuts up most of her food to eat, but now that she is a big girl, she can eat some foods without me cutting it first.

Josie really enjoyed eating her banana.

"Mommy gave me a whole banana with the peal and EVERYTHING!"

"Look at me eat this banana!"

After breakfast and the big birthday banana adventure, Josie dived into opening her birthday presents.

Josie wasn't quite sure what to do at first, but with a little coaching from Daddy, she soon figured it out and was full steam ahead.

After opening her presents, Josie was quick to try out some of the animal markers she got. Good thing for Mommy they now make washable markers!

After we played for a little while, we got dressed and went to visit Josie's friend, Baby Grace and her Mommy Michelle. Josie was in for another treat-- another present!

Josie had the present thing down pat this time, but she took a little time to explain to Baby Grace and her mommy all about opening presents.

Baby Grace's puppy-dog, Abbie, also wanted to join in the fun and trotted through the living room to show all of us her pretty pink frisbee.

Not to be deterred, Josie Dong Dong continued unwrapping her present, now with some help from Baby Grace.

"Oh boy! A cash register with money! How much Fun!"

We managed to get a couple shots of the girls sitting on the couch before everyone got too cranky for nap time.


Josie Dong Dong loves her cash register. She played with it most of the afternoon after her nap and well into the evening.

She is very excited that her big Sis and Bro will be home this afternoon and she can open more presents with them.

Stayed tuned for blog installment #3 of Josie Dong Dong's Birthday Week!

Josie's Birthday Week

Hi Everyone,

Little Josie Dong Dong turns 2 years old on Monday, November 10th. I am taking the day off from work to spend with her.

I am teaching Josie an old favorite saying of mine about birthdays-- it goes like this . . .

It's my birthday-week!

Emphasis on the week!

In keeping with this, we are having a fun filled week.

To kick it off, Saturday we had big fun with the China Care play group at Brown University. Josie has big baby fun playing with the other kids and especially the University kids. This month's theme was cooking and we made scallion pancakes.

"Mommy, can you help me flatten the pancake dough?"

After cooking it was fun games of Simon says and Red light Green light.

Daddy gave Josie a big lift across campus back to our van after the festivities.

Josie always naps before the big China Care play date, and while she was napping, Mommy and Daddy seized the opportunity to prep Josie our living-room/Josie's playroom for her big birthday toy--- a Step 2 play Kitchen!

It was ready and waiting for her when we got home from the China Care playdate and I have to say, it was an excellent choice.

Josie absolutely loves it!

Her whole face lit up when she saw it and she spent most of the next 2 hours playing with it-- she only took a few intermittent seconds out while playing to run and give mommy hugs and kisses for her new toy.

She was all laughs and giggles as played with the microwave and discovered the turkey roasting in the oven.

"Hi Everybody! Welcome to Josie's kitchen."

"I'm frying a fish for dinner."

"What is in here?"

"It's a turkey!"

Today after church we had big fun at the City Park on the Bay playing with Josie's friend Angeline and her mommy. They started off having fun on the swings.

"Weeeeeee!"

Next they moved on to the slides and had fun taking turns sliding down.

To end, here is a cute little video of Gabrielle trying to get Josie to dance.



Stay Tuned-- More of Josie's Birthday Week events are to follow. Her big party is next weekend!

Reena

Quick Video Fix Times 2

Hi Everyone,

I tried to get Josie on film dancing, but as soon as I get the camera she becomes much less cooperative.



Here is another video of me trying to get her playing with her purple Llama.

She can be such a stinker!

And--- She loves and I mean LOVES watching her videos.

Enjoy!

Reena