The ocean swallowed our camera. Boring story but basically its my fault that the ocean has my most prized possession, the recorder of our most precious memories. Luckily, since I'm caught up blogging, almost no pictures were lost. Sad news is that the blog will be lacking until further notice.

Finally here are the party details! The week prior to Rio's birthday Belize and I had some serious illness so we decided (I decided) to postpone the party. So on Thursday we had our Californian friends over- the Harmons (church), the Schwars (neighbors), the Jagers (church) and the Lowes (internet friends). There were 8 kids!! They almost out numbered adults, this is a big contrast to Belize's 1st birthday where there were only 2 kids and probably 20 adults. Kidless friends are dropping like flies (and having kids I mean). I had an easy time coming up with a theme because two of Rio's favorite things are balloons and balls. I wish I had captured his face when he woke up Thursday morning and saw the decorations- priceless! We still have them up. Here are the invitations:
The decor, plus 12 beach balls i picked up on sale all over the floor.
The party started at 6:00 and as if on cue the boy got tired (it WAS his party and he can cry if he wants to).
Earlier in the day we went to the hospital to pick up THIS!!!!
Holy smokes it was the biggest pinata I've ever seen. One of Brannon's patients got it for him in Tijuana because he found out it was his son's birthday. I didn't think I would be very enthused about a piñata at a one year olds birthday party. But then I shut my mouth as soon as I saw the kid's faces light up!
Rio was soooo tired, he kept cuddling his head into my lap- I didn't mind- who wouldn't?
My SON- my SON!!!! eating a grape.
"Mom! I wasn't going to tell you but someone put this marvelous messy piece of heaven on my tray and well, I was HAD to eat it. Wait! You knew this was going to happen? and didn't tell me?"
Wah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Best day EVER!!!!!
They are red velvet balloons- okay? It was hard! And next to them are these cute little brie and jam pastries, haven't I mentioned how much I am in LOVE with brie- I can't imagine a bad day if brie was involved somehow!
Rio's eye on the prize.
Belize's eye on the prize. She did succeed in blowing out the candle but in a big sister helping sort of way. Brannon wants to entitle this picture Arian nation. ("2 of these kids is not like the other, 2 of these kids just isn't the same")
I also made a bombe for the adults, chocolate mousse filled you can't be wrong!
Brannon INSISTED that he buy candy and stuff the piñata. The kids sure did enjoy getting some good old fashioned aggression out. The only one who did not participate was Rio, he was getting a bath and then went to sleep.
12 hours later, Rio pooped the most bright red poop I've ever seen, it even dyed his uh- well, you can imagine- cherry apple red!!! (from the cupcakes).

This is her "castle", note one arm is out of her dress, that's because its a "dancing" dress. Belize is a month shy of three years old. She is a kick in the pants. She is always making us laugh with the funny little things she says and her sweetness. She still likes Peter and the wolf, classical music, and any song by Taylor Swift (Fearless is on constant play in our car) and is obsessed with dancing.
Her dexterity is improving and she started drawing faces the other day. She is getting really good at making up songs about whatever she's doing and she's getting very curious and asks lots of questions.
This is one of her favorite things to do with her Dad. LOOK at that FACE!! (heart melting)
Yesterday morning she crawled in my bed at 6AM-I feigned sleeping. She whispers, one inch from my face, "Mom? I love you. I love you soooooo much." I keep "sleeping" to see where this is headed. "Are you alive?" I keep still. "Ah, man!" At this point, my laughing in my head travels to my mouth. Who says, "Ah man!" after they just discover that their mom is not alive- apparently my Belize does. I love that girl!
She is excellent at waiting, especially for a two year old, the other day she waited 3 hours to eat a peep on the table (she did ask me 5 times but she waited til I gave the okay). She and Rio are finally starting to really play together, as in they ENTERTAIN EACH OTHER!!!!! She really likes making him crack up (which truth be told, isn't that difficult :)) And I guess I forget to mention everyday things like she talks A LOT, she is still the most active little girl I've ever met, and she doesn't walk- she runs! We also started reading the scriptures at night, I was skeptical because its hard to maintain her attention span but she listens the whole time, even though I'm sure she doesn't understand half the words. Just goes to show you, children really can teach you eternal principles.

Michelle deserves a post all to herself because she is so very wonderful. Michelle is one of my dearest friends from Seattle, we worked at Children's hospital together and I can't sing her praise enough- she's awesome! She covered my butt whilst I threw up in bathrooms and took naps in patient's rooms while I was pregnant with Belize- need I say more? But I will- she's just one of those friends you can call when you are having a bad day and she'll come over and just being with her makes you feel instantly better. Or if you ever need a shopping buddy- she is always game! I love this girl!
Michelle only got to come for a few days and so what did we do? Belize and I got sick- good timing huh? Michelle was a trooper and puttered around our house with us, helping me with the kids - see I told you she was a good friend, and NO you can't have her, I WON'T share, I WON'T. The picture above is the only night I was feeling decent, we haphazardly made our way up to Santa Monica to the 3rd Street promenade for window shopping and scrumptious crepes. Below are pictures from King harbor, the pier in Redondo beach.

Belize was yelling, "CHEESE!"



Michelle, please come again! And we promise this time we'll try not to be sick.