After Mike’s interview with Annie revealed her dream birthday, Mike and I did our best to make it happen.
First, we crept into her room while she slept and put balloons on the floor.
Not as many as last year, but she still loved it. Also yes, she’s sleeping sideways.
We met my parents and aunt for breakfast, then we all came back to our house for presents.
The most exciting person to watch open presents, hands down.
LITERALLY hugging a dress. We are so screwed when she gets older.
Then we loaded her into the car and she fell asleep.
When she woke up she discovered we were at…
Disneyland! Since Mike and I got annual passes after our last visit there in December, we thought a few hours at the park would be the perfect way to spend her birthday. And it was!
She got her favorite meal of mac & cheese:
She got to “play the games” and win prizes (via mama’s skillz):
She got lots of attention thanks to her birthday button:
She got to “ride the horses” (and mama officially retired from riding the horses until she is no longer pregnant):
She got to ride the teacups with Daddy:
Then we met a whole bunch of her favorite people:
And if that wasn’t enough, she got more cake and candles:
The table behind her is sooooo jealous.
When she was eating her cake she said, “Mama, I love ice cream and I like you, too!” I think she meant that as a compliment, so I took it. On the car ride home, we asked her if there was anything else she wished she’d done on her birthday. “Um…no!” A job well done by mama and daddy, then.
Happy birthday to my lovely three year old. I hope your crash back to reality isn’t too brutal.
Abigail says:
Wow, you guys are truly amazing for making her every birthday wish come true. Looks like a magical birthday.
Nadinsche says:
Happy Birthday, sweet little girl! The last picture of the two of you is soooooooo beautiful!
Mar says:
That’s so freaking cool! You two are amazing parents! Happy birthday lucky girl, your best gift will always be these awesome parents you were born to.
Jenn says:
The PERFECT day for the PERFECT little girl!!! Happy Birthday Annie….You are going to have the BEST yr EVER!!!! xoxo
Tammy C. says:
You are making wonderful memories with/for Annie that she will never, ever forget. If only more parents in the world were like you & Mike ?
Oh, & the table behind you is not only jealous, that girl in the striped shirt looks like she’s going to seriously hurt someone, yikes!
Expat Mom says:
You guys are such awesome parents! We do a similar thing with the balloons and it’s tradition now.
Jackie says:
ok, that picture of you on the horse with her, best pregnancy picture ever! If I would have let a camera near me when I was pregnant, I’m sure every photo would have looked like that!
Heather says:
Oh that’s nice of you! It was taken right at the beginning of the ride. By the end, I was VERY green.
Liz says:
Best. Parents. Ever.
Hilarious photo of the table behind you. They are SEETHING with jealousy.
Tara says:
You guys are the BEST parents!! What a wonderful birthday Annie!
Rebecca says:
Happy Birthday
alimartell says:
…so I’m totally cool with you planning my birthday this year too, mmmkay?
Hugging the dress, omg, I love her.
Carolyn says:
What an awesome birthday! Lucky girl! Happy Birthday Annie!
That striped dress with the heart is so cute! Where is it from??
Heather says:
Old Navy!
Donna P says:
OMG, you are the best parents, ever!! The presents and then waking up to…Disney and, and princesses?? Are you kidding me? Please adopt me. LOL How are you going to top this? It doesn’t get any better than this one! You are so amazing.
Heather says:
HA, we will never top it! We can only hope to equal it…and I doubt we’ll ever be able to! Poor Annie, peaking at age 3.
Jelena says:
Happy Birthday Annie!! We share the same birthday, but I turned 24! I’ve been following your blog for years now and still come to check on how your family is doing. I love seeing all of you happy and doing well. Annie is a beautiful girl.
Heather says:
Happy (day after your) birthday! I hope you had a great day, Jelena!
Jana Frerichs says:
Happy Birthday Annie! It has been a real pleasure and joy watching you grow up. You have great parents! Thanks for sharing your precious girl with all of us.
Glenda says:
Perfection….
Thanks for sharing with all of us!
It’s been fun watching Annie grow up
xo
Liz says:
What an awesome day! Happy Birthday to your special Annie. She is too adorable and I love her expressions while opening presents! Best laugh of my day so far. The dude’s face with Rapunzel (is that Rapunzel with all the hair? I’m dusty on my princesses) is priceless.
Her little Toms are so cute! I love the way kids look in them. I wish my feet looked that cute in Toms.
Amy says:
WOW! Can I come to your house on my birthday?!
Andrea says:
What a great birthday!
And you look FANASTIC! Just glowing and lovely!
Tami says:
Happy belated birthday Annie. She is so adorable Heather.Im so far behind on your post and I missed out on you being pregnant.Congrats, my prayers are with you.
Mari says:
I am totally jealous of the oversized sweater that can possibly be worn with leggings in that one picture – I think I need to plan to buy a bunch for myself next winter.
Also – totally jealous of a three year old’s birthday.
Heather says:
OMG. I love this sweater. I have been constantly freezing this pregnancy and the sweater almost never leaves my body.
I might have worn it with leggings today!
Mari says:
I saw massive amounts of leggings and over-sized sweaters today – and wanted to go shopping right after. *sighs*
Greis says:
Heather should plan all the birthdays!! Mine’s in November…I’ll be waiting to see what you plan and surprise me with!!
Jen says:
I am speechless. You guys are such amazing parents!! Happy birthday to your beautiful Annie! And, that last picture of you and Annie is just stunning!
Dianne says:
What a wonderful birthday! Annie is a very lucky little girl and hugging that dress – that is hilarious.
Colleen says:
Annie’s dream birthday is my dream birthday too!
Auntie_M says:
WOWZA!!!!! I want a do-over with you guys as my birthday parents! LOL So glad Annie had such a dreamy happy day!!
Meg says:
Just wanted to chime in that annual passes to local . . . things (museums? zoos? parks? amusement parks? etc) are AWESOME. My parents lived in Cincinnati for a few years and bought a pass to the local zoo (unlike DC, where I lived, where everything is FREE, how I love the Smithsonian). Every time I visited them I went to the zoo, often on weekdays, which was the best.
Now I’m remembering how I used to live within walking distance of the National Zoo and missing DC so much . . .
I hope y’all continue to go often!