Elin is 4!

Elin's birthday happened this summer and now we have a four-year-old!
Elin wanted cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
As you wish!

 Then we opened a few select presents before heading out for a day of fun.

A stuffed unicorn.  Shaped like a ball.
As you can see, Elin was totally delighted.
I think we could have stopped the birthday right there.  She was that happy with the unicorn.

 And she opened her huge card from Grandma and Grandpa Zeke (:

Then we went to the zoo.
There's a new gorilla exhibit which is really, really nice.
We were really impressed.

And the ostrich kept throwing its head back and opening its mouth.
It was just being really, really weird.

And the sloth was really, really not moving at all.
Really.
I'm convinced this sloth is a fake.  Because I don't think it has ever moved in the past 3 years.

 Viggo, Svea and Elin checked out the koi in the gardens at Como.

Adorable Bonsai trees.
These were much, much older than the birthday girl - by about 80 years or so.

But the big birthday highlight was the train ride at the zoo, something that our children have always wanted to do, and because Nate and I are no fun at all, we always say no.
But not on a birthday!
Viggo, Svea, Elin and I all piled into the train.
Nate didn't fit.

 Elin waved like the birthday princess that she was.

Then after a quick stop at Hub Hobby, we came home and opened the rest of the birthday gifts!
New boots!

"Peter and the Wolf" - from Nate and I.
The kids and I went to a Peter and the Wolf production this spring.  And it has made a life-long impression on Elin.  She acts out the entire ballet and does all the characters - every day.
Now we get treated to shows all the time and I no longer have to whistle the music because now she's got the real deal.
Elin, you do the best job of performing Peter and the Wolf!

 A pink tackle box.

And the world's biggest Playmobil set.
When I bid on this thing on eBay, I wasn't quite aware of how big it actually was.
Well.
It's kind of gigantic, but for the hours of entertainment Playmobil provides for our children, I'll deal with the bulkiness.

Hours were spent just assembling the forest lodge and the 3,000 or so accessories that came with it.  Viggo, our resident Playmobil contractor, was a huge help in getting it all together.
Big brothers are the best.

Time for dinner.
Elin wanted mac and cheese, pretzel Jell-O, and carrots.
As you wish, baby girl.

 Elin's pink butterfly cake.
It had chocolate-raspberry mousse filling.
And raspberry icing.
I mean when a birthday cake is made around here, we don't mess around.

Elin's pink butterfly birthday shirt.

 

Happy birthday, sweet Elin.

 



Oh Elin.  We love you so much.  You are such a crazy, funny little gal.  God has truly blessed our family with you!