Amelia had a birthday

Amelia is taller than most kids her age, she has lost eight baby teeth since last July, she hates tags of any sort in clothes and on toys, and she turned 6 on June 30th.

Amelia awoke at her usual 7:15 a.m. and strolled into the great room, not quite remembering that it was her birthday. But one look at the presents sitting on the ottoman and she tried unsuccessfully to conceal a huge smile.

Then, she didn't try so much and let it loose.

Dylan gave her a Puppy in My Pocket circus play set and Amelia REALLY liked it.

We had a little party that day that began with a visit to the movie theatres to see Monsters vs. Aliens with a few friends and cousins. Then we met at our house for pizza, raspberries, green salad, lemonade, and an ice cream birthday cake.

(Amelia especially requested the raspberries as they are her all time favorite thing to eat at the moment.)

Here are some pizza-eatin' friends: Drew, Amelia and Seth.

Then Jacob, who cannot be anything but photogenic.

If you were wondering how many of Amelia's eight lost baby teeth have been replaced

take a good look at this shot. (The answer is four.)

Abby, plagued by the same photogenicness* as her brother.

*totally not a word.

Baby Alex, not eating pizza.

Davis, whose eyes couldn't be any bluer or any more beautiful. Sheesh!

Grandma Brenda and Dylan

Amelia, Seth, and the flamingo ice cream cake. Amelia chose the design.

And I paid way too much for it.

Then Amelia opened presents. The adults mostly talked and laughed at the table and didn't see many gifts opened. The kids swarmed Amelia and let out squeals of joy and delight and a few "Ahhhhhhh's" as she opened each package.

A Venetian cat mask, all the way from Venice and most likely a central part of Amelia's Halloween costume this year.

The biggest birthday present for both Amelia and Dylan this year was a trip to Disneyland, California. We embarked on this adventure in the weeks that followed Amelia's birthday.

That blog entry will follow...at some point.

(I'm about a month behind, apparently. But what's new?)

Ciao for now!