baking party

i was able to squeeze one more year of combining a birthday party for kinsley and hallie.   considering there was 9 girls with a slight age difference i am still marveling at how smoothly it went.  

it was super simple.  the girls rotated through different stations/games centered around the baking theme.

everyone made personal pizzas (look below to see the original version of kinsley and hallie's aprons)

the girls decorated cake boxes....i love the different decorating techniques between hallie's friend and kinsley's friend.  

each girl also got to decorate her own cake.  this was adorable.  

kins and her good friend maya eating their pizzas.  

caroline LOVES the camera.  this is how she smiles anytime i am about to take a picture of her.   

there is one reason this party was efficient.  there is one reason i could manage the kids and not worry about the pizza prep, cake prep, pouring drinks, and cleaning messes and more messes.  there is one reason i could enjoy snapping pictures of the kids during the party.  there is one reason i had the time to  love on kinsley and hallie during their party.   thank you, jane, for all the behind the scenes work you did.  i am beyond grateful for you.  

a charlotte "safari"

we were so thrilled to have ben's parents AND cousin adalyn come for a visit last week.   it's always a treat to have visitors and that joy was definitely magnified with adalyn here.  

we went to a local ranch that took us on a wagon ride through some stunningly beautiful countryside.    

 everyone had a bucket of feed to pass out to the hundreds of animals around the ranch.

 this guy was particularly slobbery.   adalyn was one dedicated girl to put up with the mess.

kinsley feeding a water buffalo

hallie was a bit more timid than the other girls.  

herds of animals roamed freely....zebras, cows, deer, pigs, llamas, ostriches are only a few off the top of my head.   

caroline and gramps looking at some lemurs.  

please note the landscape....so pretty!

thankful for family who traveled super far to visit us.  

springy spring spring

the weather and our family time have been equally beautiful.   i have never seen anything more lovely than springtime in charlotte.   the wisteria trees line the streets and flowers are blooming everywhere.

these pictures remind me of the days when ben only had one child to walk with.   now he is barely able to move with all three piled on top.   these girls are growing like weeds; i'm not sure how many more times this will be happening.  

easter morning.  such a fun day we had.  

i don't want to forget a slight complication to our day.  caroline and i stayed back from church because she had hand foot and mouth disease.  first child of mine to ever contract it and boy was it a nasty little virus.  i've never seen such a sad sight on one of my kiddos.  she had blisters everywhere.  on her face, tushie, hands, feet, toes, between her toes.   ouchie.  

neighborhood egg hunt

we had friends over for easter dinner and sent the kids on a fun scavenger hunt.   i think they went up and down the stairs a dozen times.   i'm sure the ring pop as a reward was totally worth it.  poor things.  

spring has also meant soccer.  this is hallie's first season and she is a trip to watch.   i'm so proud of her.  

strawberry picking is a new favorite past time.  this patch is very close to our house so i know we will be frequenting it lots.  it was soooo pretty!

such a beautiful place!

don't let caroline fool you.  she looks as if she is seeking out the perfect strawberry....she is not.  she spent her time racing up and down the aisles having a good old time.  

april 1st disguised as april 2nd

hallie ann.  you are four years old.   you have my heart.

you are chatty.  if you are not narrating what you are doing you are probably singing.

you have a kind and generous spirit.  i stand in awe at all the times i have seen you share or give up something you like for someone else.  

you love puzzles/thinking/matching/categorizing/comparing activities.  i think you're pretty darn smart.  

you adore your sisters.  you try to mirror everything kinsley says and does.  sounds, postures, reactions....you don't even realize it but you keep a close eye on her at all times.  

you are incredible with caroline.  i constantly catch you kissing her as you pass by or saying chummy words of adoration as you crouch at her level.  

you could play games with me all day long if you had your way.  and i better not try to sneak a peek at my phone or discreetly lay a magazine down as we play.  you are on to me and you insist i play "for real."  

you have mastered the art of skipping.  i am already sad your awkward straight legged skip is gone.  

you have incredible endurance.  on our family walks you never ever walk.  always a scooter or bike.  no exceptions.  

you take learning new things seriously.   when you are at swim & soccer lessons there is no room for playing around.  while your sister counterpart gets giddy and looks to mom and dad with every achievement, you concentrate and remain focused.  

you officially built your first lego set before me.  i am so impressed with you.  

while you may think you have only taught me how to build a lego castle you must know you have taught me WAY more than that.  

i am so thankful for you.  

for your birthday...
it is now a family secret that we celebrated your birthday a day early....daddy will be gone on your actual birthday so we cleverly decided to tell you that a day earlier was the big day.  we told all family members to call/facetime the day before and you never knew the difference.  :)   (today, your real birthday,  i have been silently celebrating you all day long)

we went to church, opened presents, braved chuck e cheese, ate dinner & cake, and took a family walk.  it was great having the whole day to celebrate without any school/work interruptions.  i kinda think all our birthdays should fall on weekends from now on----and they magically just might until you kids can read a calendar.

your favorite dinner...corn on the cobb, hamburgers and ranch.  easy peasy.

happy birthday, hallie!