Caleb is 3

I'm going to skip around just a little bit!  :-)  One month ago, Caleb turned THREE!  I cannot believe that my little baby boy is three.  He is growing up so much.  He loves school, his friends, and talks so much.  His favorite is reading (like 6 books in a row!). 

He loves to go to church and can sing lots of songs (some he knows better than Kate does!).  We had his birthday one Friday night because there are SO many friend in his class with birthdays around the same time - his best friend's birthday is two days later. 

Caleb wanted a Curious George party so that's what we did.  He and his friends immediately began playing just like they were at school when they got here.  Then they played outside some. 

We had pizza monkey bread, fruit, cheese puffs, pesto chicken pasta salad to eat. 

Then we had a Curious George birthday cake.  I was super excited with how it turned out.  I know some people don't like doing cakes but this is one of the best parts for me. 

I love seeing what different things I can do.  This one turned out great! 

We got Caleb a Ninja Turtle scooter with a Leonardo helmet.  So far, he's enjoyed the helmet more...but that's just due to lack of opportunity. 

I love this little boy so much.  He has a tender heart that loves people so much.  He wants to do what is right (though he still has the typical three year old moments!) and gives the most pitiful face when you have to fuss. 

He adores both of his sisters (yep, two sisters now!) and goes back and forth between being a mama's boy and daddy's boy.  He gets excited to go to church and already wants to learn about Jesus - we read a Jesus story every night and he told David that the Bible says "In the beginning God made the world."  We pray that he will see his need for salvation through Jesus and grow to love and serve Him.

Kate is 8

And now, I will skip through seven months - mostly filled with school activities for Kate including the Principal's award, AR parties, and all A's in second grade.  She LOVED Ms. Hurt and will forever, I'm sure, go visit her!

 She decided that she wanted a butterfly party this year.  We ended up having it at the YMCA for a swimming party. 

Of course, as we were getting in the car to go it started raining.  It rained for the first hour of the party, but they were great and let us play, eat and do presents in the workout room.  We had watermelon, cheese puffs, butterfly hotdog crescents, and butterfly pasta salad.

Then Kate opened presents - she got some fun stuff including crafts, gift card that she used to get Land of Stories (her favorite) books, and a bracelet. 

Then we were able to go outside and swim!  The kids had a great time and I didn't take many pictures because it looked like lightning and confused the lifeguards.

We had cake at the last minute and then everyone left. 

It was a great party! 

Kate's actual birthday was a kids camp again.  This year, they sang to her on stage.  She acted embarrassed but I think really enjoyed it.  We are so proud of Kate. 

She has such a giving and caring heart.  She wants for everyone to be happy and taken care of.  She shares her love and joy with everyone she knows without concern for what they will say or think.  She shares Jesus in a way that is so pure and innocent.

I pray that she only grows in this and doesn't become worried about whether others will think that's ok or not.

Caleb Turns TWO!

I can't believe my baby is two! 

He has been such a joy in our lives and is so fun to watch as he grows and learns.  He has such a kind and friendly spirit and loves his sissie.  He loves to go to school and to church and is already showing signs of loving to read and sing. 

We got to have my parents, Grammy, and some of his friends over to celebrate with a Dinosaur party!

 The kids had a blast playing outside.  Then they came back in for lunch consisting of dinosaur chicken nuggets, dino dung (broccoli bites),

 dino claws (Bugles), dino eggs (M&M's), dino sandwiches and strawberries.

 Then we had cake.  I always enjoy making the kids' cakes.  This year I was really excited about how Caleb's dino cake turned out!

 Even added some dino babies on the side.  Caleb did a great job blowing out his candle

 and then thoroughly enjoyed his cake!

 After cake, he opened presents.

 He did good for a little while and then was pretty much over it. 

He even said "I done" and walked off.  He just wanted to walk around and play with his friends! 

The big sisters had fun playing, too.  We love our Caleb and are so thankful for him!

Kate Turns SEVEN!

After we got back from TN, Kate turned seven!  She had her birthday at church kids' camp and had a blast. 

That night we had fish tacos and presents.  She was super excited about her "mermaid" earrings

 and water bottle (which has been a HUGE success in getting her to drink water!).  She and Daddy got a lego set to do together..and then Kate ended up doing it all on her own!

Then that Saturday, we had her party...grandmommie even got to come!

  She wanted a horse party at the tumble gym again.  So, I made a caramel horse cake...

and the kids played. 

We had lots of sweet friends come. 

Kate even got to wear a hat that David found for her.

 They had fun all around...and Caleb got to see his "lissa."

 I think I have a pretty sweet little family!

Kate's 6th Birthday

Kate turned 6 this year.  I can't believe how grown she is getting.  Comparing pictures from last year to this year is just crazy - she looked like such a baby just a year ago.

 She has grown over three inches and her feet had a HUGE growth spurt, almost skipping an entire size.  She is doing great in first grade and has a new love for writing and reading.  She still loves to cook and loves playing outside.  She hasn't really latched onto any certain extracurricular activity - which is fine but a little too "jumpy" for me.  Ha!  She is also very compassionate and wants to help other people.  She loves to laugh and smile and sing.  She loves her brother so much and is the sweetest sister to him.  We are so thankful for her tender and gentle and giving heart.

 She decided that she wanted a Jasmine party this year.

 Again - why does my family pick themes that has no/limited ideas for food and decor out there?!  Hat for Caleb and Jasmine for Kate.  Alas!  We had her party at the same place as last year and the kids just played and played.

 Kate spent the week prior to her birthday in AL, and Kate-O brought her back and stayed for the party.

It was so much fun!  Kate got lots of fun gifts but one super cute thing was this card Luke made for her.  So sweet are those long-time friends!

For snacks, I made magic carpet sandwich rolls (which ended up being a hit!).  It was just soft sandwich flatbread spread with cream cheese and with carrots out the end.

We also had cheese, hummus and carrots, and grapes.  Kate wanted marble cake.  So, I decided that was appropriate due to Jasmine's tiger Raja.

 I decorated it as the Genie.  Not exactly how I wanted it to look but not too shabby.

Such fun to celebrate birthdays with friends and family.  Happy birthday ( a little late) sweet Kate!