Her palace

The birthday party day had finally arrived, and I don't know who was more excited - Peyton or her mommy.

You see, I had been thinking about Peyton's birthday present for months and had scoured the Internet, toy stores, and other moms in search of the world's most perfect gift for a two year old.

Besides a pony.

Well, because a pony would just be audacious. Not to mention, where would we keep it, and who would feed it, and who would pooper scoop after that large of an animal?

A pony was clearly out of the question. So we opted for the next best thing....


We bought Peyton her own little playhouse - equipped with a stove, sink, washer, dryer, cradle, changing table, and dining room set.

Seriously, where was this thing when I was a kid?

When Ellie Kate turned two, we bought her a wooden play kitchen, and the girls spend countless hours in there making "dinner" and bossing each other around. It provides them entertainment, and gives their overworked mommy a nice break.

Until the screaming sets in, of course.

When Peyton woke up that morning, came flying around the corner, and laid eyes on that house for the first time, she threw her arms in the air and with the biggest smile said, "For Me?"

"Yes, honey, its all for you." And we never saw her again the rest of the morning. Except from this angle...


She did do quite a nice job sharing. We put the house in her room and when people come to visit, she promptly asks, like any good hostess would, if they would like to join her in her house. Of course, she has no idea what kind of contorted shape we adults have to put ourselves in to fit into that house - but I am amazed at how many people have obliged.

The things we do to make our kiddos smile.

I found this on Craigslist, for all you inquiring minds, and paid about 1/8 of what a normal one would cost. And trust me, worth every penny.