Celebrating 3...3 times.

Virginia Ann Elizabeth Bruce turned 3 on Sunday, December 20! And to remind her that the Earth revolves around her, we threw three parties in her honor.

Party One: Gymboree
On a cold and rainy Saturday, 13 children and 20+ adults gathered in a padded, colorful room to reenact Goldilocks and the Three Bears in honor of V's 3rd birthday. Does that sound weird?

Despite my initial terror when presented with clown-festooned invitations, the Gymboree party rocked. Between climbing,

jumping into a giant bowl of "porridge"

and running underneath a parachute,

it was right up V's alley. We had friends from the neighborhood, school and work and it was great. Here are a few pics:

Perhaps as fun as the actual party, we came home and opened all her gifts and had Chinese noodles with Grandma and Paw Paw to end the night. What a life!

Party Two: Birthday Morning
A Bruce family tradition is to wake up and eat cake on your birthday. So, at 6:15 a.m. V got cake #2 and another round of presents while the rest of us nursed cups of coffee.

Party Three: Birthday Evening
The Shackelfords get together just about every Sunday evening for supper thanks to Chef Queenie. Since V's birthday fell on a Sunday, I took the easy way out and ordered a bunch of pizza and had the other set of grandparents plus Uncle Charley and Aunt Chrissy over for V's final 3rd birthday party. More cake...

more presents...

more food.

Again, what a life! Happy Birthday Virginia.