Today we celebrated Kayla's 2nd birthday, and we wanted to share some of the fun pictures with you.  We took Kayla and Isaiah to an indoor arboretum which was a tropical 80 degrees and was full of beautiful flowers, trees, fish and plants.  It was a nice break from the 20 degree weather and snow flurries that we'd been having outside.  Kayla loves the indoor garden.  She picked the  prettiest flowers (I'm sure the gardener's will be happy) and drenched herself while playing by the gold-fish pond.  We wanted to take pictures, so we posed Kayla holding Isaiah.  That wasn't a good idea.  Isaiah is not Kayla's "little" brother anymore.  He is almost her equal in size and strength.  So, after a few failed attempts at taking pictures, and one near "Humpty Dumpty" re-enactment,  we decided to scrap the pictures and go home for lunch, a nap and some cake.  We ate Spaghetti (Kayla's favorite), blew out candles, opened presents and had a party.  Heidi made a beautiful Levi and Hawaiian quilt for Kayla.  And I made a head-board and bed-frame.  After playing with blocks and animals, we spent the rest of the night crowded on Kayla's new bed, and we watched "Charlotte's Web."  Heidi and I kissed Kayla good-night and hoped the "crib to bed" transition would work.  Half an hour later, as we closed the house down, we heard little footsteps through Kayla's door, then a pause, then a "knock, knock, knock."  Kayla wanted to test her boundaries with the new bed "thing," but she wanted to be polite by inquiring with a knock if she could stay up.  I explained that the crib was still an option.   Kayla quickly changed her mind and got back in her new bed.  It's hard being a dad when your daughter's so cute.  Last I checked, about two hours into the night, Kayla is in the middle of her bed, fast asleep, not falling off, and playing the part of the sweetest little girl you ever saw.  It was a good day.

Sent with lots of love,

Joe, Heidi, Kayla and Isaiah