Her 'Real' BirthDAY

 

Started with cake batter pancakes (this time I followed the recipe exactly and they still weren't the best.  I think we'll stick with regular pancakes {maybe with chocolate chips?} for birthdays from now on...)

 

 

followed by 5 year old pictures

(which turned out great!)

 

 

(including a stop at the big fish tank (it's tradition!))

 

 

and lunch at Chuck E Cheese's!

 

What could be better?!  Oh, that's right...

 

 

more presents

(See the pink hair clip and pack of nerds?  Apparently, that's all 82 tickets at Chuck E Cheese will buy you!)

 

 

and birthday phone calls!  :)

#5

It's official.  As of 9:49 this morning our baby girl is five. years. old!

 

 

Happy 5th Birthday, L!

We love you so!

M-I-N-N-I-E M-O-U-S-E

We celebrated L's 5th birthday a few days early this past weekend.  She's been saying since her last birthday that she wanted a Minnie Mouse party and when I asked her again a few weeks ago she said, "Minnie!" so Minnie it was...

 

 

I found a link to free printable Minnie Mouse invitations and clip art and used it along with the Waltograph font to make her invites.

 

 

 I hired a cake maker.  I said yes to JM's request to make L's Minnie cake!  I'm so glad I did because there is NO WAY that I could have done anything close to this.

 

 

Seriously!  Look at that detail.  So awesome!  Thank you, J! 

 

 

With the cake off my plate (hooray!), I was free to create other things.  Like this Minnie Mouse pinata. 

 

 

L wanted to do the pinata as soon as the party started!  Unfortunately, it was hard for the kids to break.

 

 

 Not that they didn't try!

 

 

But once the goodies inside came flying out (with some help from D!) they didn't seem to care!  ;)

 

Next up was food and since the theme was Minnie that's what I did for food, too (Minnie = Mini, as in small!). 
 

We served Mini Pigs in a Blanket,

Mini Caramel Apples,

Minnie Oreos (which were actually Minnie and not 'Mini'),

Rueben Dip and Mini Bagels (my sister's recipe - sorry no link)

Mini Hot Diggity Dogs (little smokies in BBQ sauce)

and grapes (which weren't mini or Minnie but we needed something healthy!).

 

 

The Guests (including JJ and K via skype (minus a few, as usual.  Sigh!))

 

 

The Presents

 

 

The Happy Birthday Song

(can you tell how much she loves the attention?!)

 

 

Making a Wish!

 

 

One very happy almost 5 year old!

 

Thanks to all who came, we hope you had a hot diggity time!  :)

Project Life ~ Weeks 40 & 41

 

Our kids are normal siblings.  They fight.  A lot!  But there are also these moments (usually right before nap or bedtime, why is that?!) when they have so. much. fun. together!  Tonight they were giggling about something.  I have know idea what.  Something only the two of them would understand, I'm sure!  The giggles reminded me of a video I posted a while ago so I found and watched it.  You can too, just click here.  :)

 

These fall trees cost me an ironing board cover, a grater and a t-shirt but I think they were worth it, don't you?



 

J, D, K and Baby D joined us at a local Italian place to celebrate D's 34th birthday.  He spent the rest of his day eating apple pie courtesy of his sister, working around the house and...

 

pulling L around the yard in the sled that we had out for the first snow earlier this week!  I love the look of total love and admiration on L's face (click the picture to enlarge!).

  

 

Apparently, the stool was being used elsewhere and I Man thought he'd use the potty seat to see in the mirror.  It's good to know he uses that thing for something!  Sigh...

 

 

"Mom, do you wanna see me pull a hippo out of my hat?"  AKA:  Her magic show! 

*Side note:  On days that we don't have anywhere to go, I let L dress herself.  Just sayin'.

 

Diaper box + tape + tissue paper & streamers = a Minnie Mouse pinata for L's birthday party.  It wasn't too hard to make but it was very hard to break!  Apparently, I put it together a little too well that or we should have used more than a plastic bat, ahem!

(More on L's 5th Birthday Party Coming Soon!)

 

Game Night:  Candy Land (and bowling for I Man because he wasn't up for an entire game of Candy Land!).

 

A long awaited playdate! 

(See I Man with his blankie on the stairs?  He was crying because he wanted to play the game toooooo!)

 

 

We celebrated L's 5th birthday today but technically she's not 5 until Wednesday thankyouverymuch!  :)

When Life Gives You Lemons Snow

 

(Yes, you read that right, snow...in early October!)

 

 

Pull on your boots

(not to mention the kids' snowpants, boots, coats, mittens and hats - oh and don't forget to make of list of the too small coats, snowpants, boots and hats that need to be replaced)

 

and follow the kids outside {camera in hand, of course!}

(despite the cold wind and wet snow hitting your face)



 

because they don't care

 

how early the first snow comes.

 

 

Just as long as they can attempt to build a snowman

 

 

and pretend to be a snowplow clearing the road slide.

 

 

They just want to catch snowflakes on their tongues

 

 

and take a sled ride around the yard.

 

 

So try, as hard as you can

 

 

to see the first snowfall through their eyes!

 

At least that's what I did right before I said a little prayer that the snow melts in time for supper because, seriously it's October 4 and it is way, way easier to send them outside withOUT snow!  :-)

Project Life ~ Week 39

 

The striped wall?  Yep, she liked it.

 

 

and he was very glad to have his dad home!



 

The first jump of the season!



 

We went to the moon this week (sort of!).



Because she was being Doc McStuffins and she needed a mask (it's the rug from her dollhouse and 2 stickers taped to her face), where does she get these things?



 

A few weeks ago it was football, this week it's basketball.  It doesn't really matter though, as long as there's a ball I Man is happy!



 

We took pictures today for L's birthday party invitations.  I can't believe she's almost 5!