Ryan's Birthday Weekend!

It's safe to say this guy got spoiled for his 33rd birthday!  His parents came into town for the weekend so I took advantage of the extra help and planned a surprise birthday party for him, and a night out in the city the following night!  It was a busy weekend, but so much fun! 

It's always so nice to get a night away from the kids occasionally.  We talked about how great it is that his parents take the kids so often and really give us a chance to still focus on us as a married couple.  It's so important to keep that focus, and so much harder to do after kids.  But it sure does a marriage good!

We also talked about how amazing it is that you can miss them so much in so little time!  We all met up again at brunch on Sunday and those sweet little faces were a sight for sore eyes!  Love those little stinkers.

Thanks to all that made it to the surprise party!  And thanks to Grandma and Pop for being brave enough to take on two little crazies.  But just think - next time it'll be three!!  Ha ;)

XOXOXO

- K

Birthday Dinner!

As we approached Evie's 3rd birthday I kept asking her where she wanted to go to dinner to celebrate.  Every single time she'd quickly reply "McDonald's!", and every single time I'd try to talk her into something a little fancier - Rainforest Café or Cheesecake Factory or the hibachi place we went to for Lyla's birthday.  After probably the 10th time with the same response I finally realized how silly I was to push some "fancy" idea on her.  McDonald's?  What baby wants, baby gets!

Before we headed to McDonald's I found Lyla and Evie in Lyla's closet getting all dressed up and applying makeup.  They were the perfect combination of Fancy Nancy and Jem and the Holograms.  They were the fanciest girls at the restaurant, and they had the best time I think they've ever had at any dinner.  Evie ran around the Play Place with her gigantic ice cream cone like she owned it, and told me it was the "best party ever!" over and over.

It was the cutest birthday dinner for the cutest 3 year old.  :)  Happy birthday, Evie Sis!  We love you so!!

- mama

A Birthday Party!

I think laziness has to be the key word for this third pregnancy.  I just cannot bring myself to do almost anything, so when it came time for birthday parties it was an easy decision to skip the whole fancy customized party I usually love for a joint birthday party for both girls.  I did next to no planning, ordered pizzas and the décor included Cinderella and Bubble Guppies, with a splash of Princess Elena.  But I'm willing to bet Lyla and Evie will remember this party as their favorite since they were completely in control of those details.  :)

They had the best time playing and running around with friends.  And Evie only managed to eat about half the icing of her ice cream cake before we served it.  So much fun!

Here are some pics!

- K

Five!

Our Lyla Rose is 5! The tiny baby with the perfectly round head that pooped all over me as soon as she came out (probably her favorite story of all times), screamed for her first bath and took to eating like a champ from the start.  The chubby legged baby that refused to grow hair and preferred 5 headbands at a time to just one.  The little pig tailed girl that waddled around in her diaper, yelling gibberish to anyone that would listen.  The one that had every word to every Frozen song memorized and refused to take off her Princess Anna dress.  Ever.  That girl is five!  And she's pretty quick to remind me that she's not a baby anymore! 

Each year gets a little easier to accept because I can see the fun that's ahead instead of simply mourning the baby I'm losing. But oh man, do I cherish those baby years.  Every once in a while I get these sweet flash backs and I can remember just what it was like to have my little 8lb baby laying in my arms, asleep.  Like today when we took a nap together and she wrapped my arm underneath her and snuggled her head into my chest.  I might as well have swaddled her right then and there, because there she was, my little newborn Lyla.

I don't know what we did to deserve a girl like Lyla.  She's not very gentle, or careful, or quiet, and more often than not I'm cleaning up some mess that's been left in her wake.  But she's also good and pure and kind.  She is the definition of beauty on the inside and out, and we couldn't be more proud of the little lady she is becoming.

Lyla, you are perfection.  We love you so!

XO
Mama 

She woke up like this.  Literally.  We had one of those "too excited to sleep" nights, and I think I got woken up hourly to see if it was time to open presents yet.  When we finally came in with her donut breakfast she was sleeping, fully dressed, with the lights on.

She's been begging for breakfast in bed for months, so she was pretty excited!

We woke Evie up to partake in the fun, which is always a dangerous sport.  A powdered sugar donut helped coax her out of her hibernation semi successfully.

This balloon was one of the biggest hits of the day!

Cutie little 5 year old!  Is it just me or does she actually look a little older?!

We met Dad for dinner at a hibachi restaurant.  She's wearing her new nightgown tucked into a skirt (#pickyourbattles) and had to get "their daughter", Samantha for the picture.  At home I've suddenly become the grandma while Lyla runs around calling her dad "Boo", and making him help take care of her doll.  :)

Eating some shrimp sushi!

She proclaimed this to be the best birthday and birthday dinner ever!  Breakfast in bed, cupcakes at school, presents and a fancy dinner.  What more could a girl want??  ;)

Everly's Birthday Party!

I think if I could add a sixth love language it would have to be throwing birthday parties.  I told myself going into this year that I wouldn't do the whole big birthday party thing for the girls this year.  But then their birthdays approached and I just couldn't help myself.  And it doesn't stop with the party, it's the actual birthday too.  I can't resist the balloons and the banners and the sparkle in their eyes when they see it all.  On the one hand I tell myself that it doesn't matter, they won't remember, it's unnecessary.  But on the other hand their birthdays are kind of the biggest deal in my world and I can't stop expressing my excitement in these silly little parties.

Everly spends about half her time crawling on the ground, meowing and demanding belly rubs.  The other half is spent chasing her kitty or giving him treats.  She loves all things kitty so much I decided on a kitty theme for her birthday.  She threw in a little wrench when the night before her birthday I was talking excitedly about her turning two and out of nowhere she says "Go cake?  On cake?"  Go is what she calls Elsa since she sings Let It Go, and On is obviously Anna.  :)  Which meant she was asking for a Frozen cake, which was not on my radar at all.  I think she was just remembering Lyla's Elsa cake I had made, and relating that to birthdays but over here on their birthday it's kind of like what baby wants, baby gets.  ;)  I made sure we had a Go cake, On cake for her party and it paid off.  When she woke up from her nap right before the party she asked about it again and was so excited when I showed it to her.  She's still talking about the party, randomly listing everyone that was there then the kitty pops then the Go cake, On cake.  It's pretty darn cute.  :)

I did a little kitty dress up station for the girls and settled on swords and fart themed prizes for the boys.  Because all boys like swords and farts, right?  I really have no clue.  ;)  Amazingly it was a beautiful high 60's kind of day, so we were able to bust out the jump house too.  It was a fun day, and one Evie is not bound to forget for a long time.  Thanks to our friends that came to celebrate our little miss!

- K

Disclaimer: I didn't make a SINGLE thing myself, and it was glorious.

All I wanted was a picture with the birthday girl.  All she wanted was Goan Goan.  :)

The girls with Joan and Dave - their forever guests of honor.

This sweet hug inspired me to try for more "posed" pictures...

...it didn't work out.

They love me so much.

Ryan drew this cute "pin the tail on the kitty" game!

It took a whoopee cushion to get this smiling pic.  :)

This is the exact baby that Sis found at Target and wanted SO BAD.  I had already gotten her presents so did not get it for her.  A friend happened to pick out the absolute perfect thing.  She was beyond thrilled!

All she really cares about is the frosting.  :)