{The TEENAGER}

13.  Honest-to-goodness TEENAGER!

Where did the time go?  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was holding my little 6 pound 9ounce baby?

That I was changing diapers, folding baby laundry, up at night, rocking, singing to sleep, feeding, cuddling, bouncing, playing...

Happy 13th birthday Emma Kate!  You really truly are our 'Teenager' now!!!

We love you lots!

photos by Tonia Schauer - Studio 9 photography

Cutest Little 3 Year Old Around

 She was so excited! 

When we arrived she came running for my girls yelling "My best friend!"

(I think she said that to everyone.)

She really has an aversion to the camera so you KNOW she was excited about having a birthday party because we got her to smile.

Then she started giggling.  AND she thinks she's 15.  She's a ton of fun and says the most hilarious stuff.  Everyone around here thinks she's the best!

Middle Sister turns 8

Middle Sister turned 8 last month!

Gotta have some good 'blasters' at a party!

Drinks...

Treat bags...

Gifts...

and cake!  Errr... PIE!!!

She said she didn't have to have cake she'd take peanut butter pie instead.  I gladly agreed!  Much easier than putting together a fancy cake!

Friends make birthdays tons of fun!

Indians and Spiderman.  That would be Middle Sister's birthday wishes.

She was quite delighted with everything.  Art supplies, skinny balloons to make into animals, face paint, spiderman, Indian stuff, everything she got was exactly the kind of stuff she likes.

This would be Little Sister dressed in the Spiderman costume Middle Sister got.

Face Paint.  D. was very serious about painting everyone's faces.  When I asked what all stuff he could paint he replied solemnly, "Pretty much anything!"

She declared the party a success!  Best Party ever she said.  And I agreed.  I pulled it together very last minute and didn't go to any stress or bother.  Just some kids, food and fun and she was happy!

Vivi's Birthday Party

The decor was swoony - just as expected:)

As Kara said, 'if you don't have time to wrap your child's gift - put it out for display'!!

The kids loved this candy bar.

Sparkling Lemonades from Trader Joes.  I've been craving these ever since.  Gonna have to make a trip to Dayton.

The swan theme was darling.  So glad Kara has a girl so she can pull out all her pink, girly stuff.

Macaroons.  No need to make these, Trader Joe's were deee-licious!

Leave it to Kara to serve her daughter chocolate cake on a beautiful china plate!

She really wanted to check out that flame.  We had to sing fast.

The 'blaster' was very intriguing.

MMMM.... Maybe I will pay attention to that stuff in my bowl.

A couple cute kids I coaxed into posing beside the gorgeous hydrangeas.

And Miss Vivi did indeed get into her chocolate cake:)

After a bath and clean clothes she was ready for bed.  Unfortunately her blanket was wet - thanks to big brother Zach for spraying her pack-n-play with the hose.  So the blanky had to go to the dryer and Miss Vivi got a lollipop!

And some gifts.

Sorry for the blurry pics, the last couple were taken when it was completely dark and I couldn't tell where I was pointing the camera.  Good think we have a flash or there would have been no pics at all:)

What I got for my birthday..

 Middle Sister has figured out that ladies like to get roses!  So since she couldn't drive to the store to buy me one she made one - with a green colored pencil for a 'stem' and then taped a red pom-pom on top for the 'flower'.  Along with the note, what Mother could ask for more?!  I loved it.

 Dishcloths made by my Grandma.  These are my favorites!  The foil fan was on top of my gift from Mom and the feather was also from my Mom.

 I found this nativity after Christmas in the after-Christmas-sale stuff.  My Mom got it and saved it for my birthday.  Thanks Mom!

 Feather found a home in this little vignette.

A very good friend brought this stuff by!  Thanks Jessica:)  Middle Sister talked me out of one of the little notebooks and all three girls are enjoying the soap.  They say it smells like something Kara would have at her house.  So I guess Jessica has great taste:)  I do have to say it smells heavenly!!!