Ellie's 4th Birthday!

Dear Kate,

Ellie Bean celebrated her 4th birthday last weekend and what a fun party it was!  We helped her celebrate at Shipwreck Playhouse.  That place is AWESOME!  It was our first time there and it was perfect for a birthday party!  First off, it was just you and your friends, no sharing of a place.  AND,  it was the whole place, just for you and your friends, so no switching rooms or having a specific time to leave to eat cupcakes.  You can play, then eat, then play again, which is what parents prefer in order to burn off that sugar.  Awesome I tell you.  Not to mention the playhouse was pretty darn cool and had all kinds of different toys.  Oh, and it had a 'baby' section, for those little kiddos.  Not you, of course, you preferred the big kid section.  Oh, did I mention it has a place for parents to sit, as well as an outside area where you can watch through a glass.  Okay, so yeah, I'm sold on this place!!!

Anyway, you were too!!!  

 You found a baby doll and that was all you needed!

 Well, that and then eating cupcakes after singing to the birthday girl!!! (and yes, they even had little tables and chairs AND high chairs - for those little kids :)!)

  Kipper enjoyed his as well!

 Then back to playing!

 

 It was such a fun birthday party.  Afterwards, we headed to Ellie's house to have pizza and even more cupcakes.  You ventured off to bed after a little dancing on Ellie's new stage, but all in good time.  A fun day!
And the next morning we went out for a little stroll, that is you and your toothbrushes.  Still holding on tight to those...

Love You!

A Few Things

Dear Kate,

Here's a few things you have been up to...

Mimi came up for a visit and brought Emily with her.  We had a ton of fun, but I think the one thing you loved the most was Sunday morning breakfast at the doughnut shop!!!  We woke up and headed there in our pj's and all.  It was delicious, and while it's not normally a Sunday morning tradition, we may add it to our list, whether Emily is with us or not!

 You also relaxed a little while Mimi was here, or well, while Mimi's phone was here.   Mimi thinks it's hilarious that you already know how to work the Iphone.  I think it's scary!!

 You LOVE the Chipmunks movie on her phone and get a little frustrated when it disappears.
You also love you some watermelon!  Sister went with me to the grocery store the other evening and it was like taking a kid in a candy store, or well, a grocery store.  She wanted everything.  I caved and let her get watermelon, but apparently this needs to go on our weekly grocery list.  You LOVED it!  Ate it right down to the core!

.Mimi loves that picture of you!  

You also loved the oreo cookie popsicle we made in our fancy popsicle maker!!  I have to say, it was delicious... 

 We made a quick visit to Mimi's house last weekend and you discovered high heels and the way too early age of 16 months old, but man alive, you loved them!

 I took the cutest video of you trying to put the shoes on, but it lasted over 6 minutes, and you never were able to get them on, so Sister decided to help you, and then I took another video of you mastering the heels, again, and a way too young of an age :)

You eventually decided to take a rest from the heels and read a book...

You are precious little high heel wearing, watermelon loving, popsicle eating book worm :)  Love you!

Your First Snow Day!!

Dear Kate,

On Friday, we woke up to a beautifully snow covered yard!  

You've experienced snow in the past, particularly when we went skiing, but you weren't walking so let's be honest here, you really haven't, right.  So Mommy was super excited to get you out in the snow.  We put all our gear on and headed that way...

You were loving it!  You just plowed your way through that snow, one foot at a time!!! 

 But then you went face first into the snow.  And, well, that would make anyone angry.  I had a hard time getting you to walk (vs. me holding you) and you sure weren't about to take a picture with Sister and Ellie!

 But, finally you saw how much fun your sister and cuz were having, so you re-joined them!

 It was a very pretty day with sunshine and all, so that helped make your first snow day experience pleasurable.  It was still a little cold, though, so we didn't stay outside too too long.  Your cheeks were a good indication that it was time to go in!!!

 After a yummy snack to warm us up, Mommy, I mean, we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, fire side!!

Hope you enjoyed your first snow day as much as I did, little snow bunny!!  Love you!

Happy Birthday Clara Lee!

Dear Kate,

Clara Lee turned 4 and you helped celebrate with a little song and dance!  

Seriously, aren't you the cutest dancer ever.
You also helped celebrate by going to the coolest "fouresta" ever!  That's Clara Lee's Mexican themed birthday party, including all the yummies like white cheese dip and a nacho bar and a pinata!!!
There were tons of kiddos around, but you found it enjoyable to be in Mommy's lap, Daddy's arms or Sister's chair :)

 And then there was Big Katie Bug's arms.  I think you are a little unsure about this seat...

 You did a little dancing...

 And even let Mimi hold you some, but she was busy helping with painting the maracas.

 So you found yourself climbing yet again.

 Clara Lee was all smiles with that awesome sombrero hat birthday cake!!

 And you were hands on with that awesome sombrero hat birthday cake!

You had a blast and impressed everyone there with your good going to sleep habits, cause it was pretty early for you due to a lack of nap earlier, and somehow you stayed asleep the whole time, despite the million of kiddos running in and out of the house (and maybe a little of the adults, too!!).  We had a fun, fun time at the fouresta!!!  Happy Birthday Clara Lee!  And love you sweet Kate!