Ila turns three!

We decided not to have a birthday party for Ila this year.  In part because we don't know many people here with children her age yet, and in part because well, she's three.  In my experience parties for three year olds never end up being a ton of fun.  Of course three year olds don't get dropped off, so the party tends to end up being about  food and wine for the "grown ups", popcorn and cake everywhere, and over-stimulated, over-sugared kids who are unable to focus on a game or activity for more than two minutes!

So, we decided to have an Ila-led family day.  This entailed oatmeal for breakfast, outside playtime, puzzles, family swim at the Y, out for cupcakes, home for a nap, and pasta for dinner.  Both sets of grandparents as well as her great-grandmother came the next day for cake and gifts.


Ishaan made her an awesome wooden ship which he designed and made completely by himself.  Ulka gave her a wooden gingerbread man which Andy cut out and she sanded and painted like a flower.  I made her a floor length cloak with owls on it.  But of all the gifts she received and fun things we did, the one thing she remembers and talks about is going to the store with Andy and getting to choose a chocolate treat.  A reminder that it is the simple things they remember most.

It's hard to believe Ila is already three.  She is still petite and sweet and full of mischief.  When she does something naughty, she just looks at me with those big dark eyes and it's almost impossible to be angry.  She is becoming a puzzle master, is our most polite child, loves people dearly, and melts my heart everyday.  I love that girl.