Welcome to toddlerhood!

After a week-long celebration of Lily's birthday, Amalia's special day finally arrived.

Amalia knows it's polite to read the card first.

Lily "helped" open the gifts "for Amalia."

Open. Close. Open. Close. Ad nauseam...

More "help."

I love it!...What is it?

More bars in more places.

Let them wear cake

More photos of our combined birthday celebrations. I think I'll just let these pictures speak for themselves -- although a few of them might be caption-contest worthy.

The big 4.0

My mother sent the girls matching cupcake dresses for their birthdays, which they tried on Saturday night (the day before Lily's big day).

Here, Lily is waiting patiently as we *try* to get a picture of her and Amalia together.

Still waiting.

Good enough.

Sunday morning. Lily slept in her dress so she would be ready for her birthday as soon as she woke up. Definitely a planner, that girl.

Even her hair was ready to celebrate.

The much-anticipated silver shoes.

For those keeping score, Lily's immediate next question was, "Where's the turtle?" Delinquent on this item, Andy and I pointed out that turtles are very slow, so he might be late...

Daddy, can I have a pony?

Every girl should get a pony for her 4th birthday, right? Lily's is named Carousel (how fitting) and he was on loan to us just for the day.

And what was Amalia doing during all this? (Aside from calling the horses, "Bo!"?) Eating dirt, of course.

Of slobber and sprinkles...

...and giving Mom wrinkles; that's what the Pierce girls are made of.

Blue really has gotten much more patient. If we had a third child, he'd probably give her Dobie-back rides.

Blowing kisses.

Unrequited love.

I'm pretty sure this wasn't the recalled batch of cookie dough.

Concentration.

Of course, a soda still costs $4

For those who know Andy, it will come as no surprise that we're making the most of our season passes to Six Flags. (The more often we go, the less it costs. Pretty soon, they'll owe us money!).

Actually, the suggestion for today's outing came from Lily, for whom the cost-per-trip savings are quite irrelevant.

Lily ready to head out. I'm not sure if she's a sheriff or a cowgirl.

Amalia kissing the water. No fear.

You can't tell from this picture, but she's loudly announcing every step.

Lily with her best friend of the day, Bria (they met on the train ride and followed each other to the trucks).

Lily's favorite ride.

Not Amalia's favorite ride. (While she looks peaceful here, her position is actually part of her attempts to dismount mid-ride.)

The ball house. Unbeknownst to Amalia, a crate full of balls looms above her.

Amalia rubbing elbows with the big kids. (Yes, that's Lily and Bria together again. The separation was a tearful one.)

Amalia erectus