Bampa's Birthday & Baby Bounty

About a month ago, we headed north to the cabin home to celebrate Bampa’s birthday and to collect some of our baby gear that has been in storage.

A winter (yes, it was still cold) trip to the cabin wouldn’t be complete without heading into town for breakfast…these nuggets kept their Daddy and the entire coffee shop giggling as they devoured their cinnamon rolls and milk.

While at the cabin, our time was pretty lazy.

This little corner nook of the family room is often were B can be found when up at the cabin…it’s so fun to watch how his play has evolved as now different trucks, trains etc. have voices and various jobs they all are tending to.

B and Gram worked to make, bake and decorate a birthday cake for Bampa…

The cake looked so delicious, Bay even ‘snitched’ a piece before we got a chance to light the candles and sing.

Once again, Little was was thrilled to sing the birthday song…and both nuggets were delighted to enjoy some tasty cake!

We also sifted through our collection….accumulation rather…of baby gear, trying to decide what was going to make the initial cut since we still don’t know if nugget number three is a boy or girl. Little A made sure the car seat made the cut as she showed us that it does still work and is ready to ride!

Another aspect of the weekend was starting the ‘tree house’ project that C and have dad have been conceptualizing for a closet at the cabin. The project is really a tiny bunk room…but been dubbed as a tree house because it will have a secret passage way door and be built to look like a tree.

The nuggets thought cutting a hole in the wall was pretty funny!

The weekend was quick…but a treat to get away one last time before we become a family of 5!

Be blessed.

Gigi, Papa & Auntie B’s Visit

These three special people ventured to our neck of the woods for a few days to celebrate Little A’s birthday.

The weather was unseasonably cool (to say the least) so we enjoyed getting a little creative with ways to get out, stretch our legs and make some fun memories.

One day we visited a kids store in the area that has free studio arts and crafts time. This particular day, the kids got to paint bird houses…

After painting the little houses, they tried their hands mural painting and color mixing…

It was a hit!

After painting, we enjoyed a super ‘YUM’my lunch before heading home for some good old fashioned rest time (for Little A, as B will be quick to tell you that he doesn’t take a nap any longer ).

While A and Papa rested, Gigi, B and I took Ella to a self service pet wash…in hopes of getting her all clean and ready for Little A’s puppy party the following day.

In theory, the outing sounded like fun…it was for the humans in the group…the one canine was not at all impressed, but did come out remarkable clean!

For dinner we enjoyed homemade pizzas made by none other than our two nuggets (with a touch of help)…

B was thrilled to be able to paint (this time with tomato sauce) again…

And willing to sample the mozzarella cheese to make sure it was edible!

In honor of Little A’s birthday, we made her a brownie cake…brownies piled high with sprinkles and candles. She enjoyed being sung to, yet again…clapped for herself and was delighted have brownie inside her tummy and on her face!

The next day, we celebrated Little A officially by hosting her party.  Afterwards, we enjoyed another birthday celebration…this time for Gigi!

The nuggets (especially A) were thrilled to have yet another opportunity to sing the birthday song and have a sweet dessert.

Afterwards, Gigi and Little A opened some packages…this from Auntie B was a hit!

As was a sparkly red dress up cape from Gigi and Papa!

This was our attempt to capture of photo before church on Sunday morning…

After church, we took Auntie B to one of our favorite restaurants for brunch. B calls it the ‘Minnesota Beach’ because it sits on a lake. Needless to say, despite pesky ice lurking on the lake’s surface…we enjoyed a beautiful view and a delightful breakfast.

After brunch, we headed to play some baseball and swim in the splash pad all in effort to wear the nuggets out and enjoy some good old fashioned quality time.

A seemed to enjoy trying to keep up with her brother, while B continued to work on his swing…

Gigi & I offered to take over camera and life guard duty…while these five enjoyed playing in the water together!

Later Auntie B headed to the airport to fly south and Gigi and Papa treated C and I to a long over due date while B and A squeezed a little more time with with Gigi and Papa.

Our time together was quick, but as always filled to the brim. It’s so fun to provide glimpses of these two nuggets’ worlds around our neck of the wood.

We love you Gigi, Papa and Auntie B!

We look forward to your next trip because it will mean that we’ll have a third nugget here for you to love on and make memories with!

 

Be blessed.

Puppies & Pancakes

As Little A’s personality has continued to blossom, we have learned a few things about our dear middlest nugget. She really really really likes any and every dog (or four legged critter) and all are named ‘Ella’, she has quite the budding fashion sense (especially an affinity for boots) and she really likes pancakes!

In effort to encompass some of A’s favorite things, we found it only appropriate to have a Puppies and Pancakes themed birthday party.

Doting family and friends were gracious to make the trek back over to our neck of the woods to join in another spring birthday celebration.

In effort to make their tummies as full and happy as possible, we created a little pancake bar…complete with nutella, chocolate chips, sprinkles, berries, syrups and whip cream! We also enjoyed some tasty fruit salad in a puppy shaped watermelon bowl and some non-puppy themed egg bake.

We used the seemingly myriad puppies that Little A has acquired over the past two years to decorate…and found the rain boot flower vase that helped to tie the silly theme together…

These two gracious grandma’s, disguised as puppies,  worked together to ‘man’ the pancake station…making sure that everyone enjoyed warm fresh cakes…as always, B helped!

A enjoyed all the party preparations…it meant lots and lots of sweet sugar from her Auntie B while we all got ready…

This little Ella friend was a surprise to Little A the morning of her party…the four legged friend now resides in her bedroom next to her rocking chair and yes, has been named ‘Ella’. (I like A in the background of this photo playing with the puppy balloons…simple joys!)

A’s newest Ella friend doubled as our welcoming committee and the overseer of the party favors…which was none other than puppy chow !

We thought it only appropriate to have an autograph dog for family and friends to leave blessings on for little A…hopefully she’ll appreciate the meaning behind it someday.

A’s Gram made this little puppy skirt for her to wear for her big day…the fabric is what ‘inspired’ the party as it has little puppies wearing rain boots on it.

Before digging in, we sang to Little A…

Once again, she delighted in every second…

And clapped after blowing out the candles (with help from her big brother).

She took to the little cakes like anyone else would cake…it was a hit, whip cream, sprinkles and all!

The rest of the morning was filled with craziness that lots of sugar and lots of little ones can provide…it was simply fantastic!

Just before the house became quite once again (and A crashed for a long afternoon nap), B helped A open one gift…

Yes, this little Native Texan got her first pair of cowgirl boots! 

Courtesy  of her Uncle J and Aunt K! Off came the rubber rain boots and on went the pink leather boots!

The entire morning was a memory and so special as Little A got to celebrate alongside all 4 of her grandparents!

And her mom, dad and brother too!

And of course…her real Ella Dog!

It was once again, such a gift to be surrounded by family and friends as we celebrated our precious little girls past two years!

Be blessed!

_________________________

Little A,

I feel like all we’ve done is blinked since we met you in the hospital just a couple short years ago. You continue to be such a blessing to our hearts as your smile and giggles are continuous and contagious!  Your little personality is blooming and so much fun to watch. You keep your mommy and daddy on their toes…which is a good thing!  We recently read something that seems to encapsulate so to a tee, it read ‘Let the little girl sleep, for when she wakes, she’ll move mountains’…oh, how these words remind us of you. We often wonder what in the world God might be preparing your little mind, heart, hands and feet for as you are so busy, always on a mission and ready to make things happen. We wish we could bottle your joy and energy…it is a gift from your Heavenly Father!  We are so blessed to watch you grow and see your little personality blossom…to watch you wear your little bright pink ‘boofs’ (boots) and carry one of your many ‘Ella Dogs’ under your arm always ready for your next adventure or whatever each new day holds. You are a joy little girl…a delight and a gift.  Happy second birthday…and welcome to your third year, may it be blessed as we are sure God has lots in store for you and for our family!

We love you!

Mommy & Daddy

Little Miss 2!!!

 

The week of A’s birthday, I took B to the store to pick out some gifts for A. Initially, he set out to find her gifts that he might have chosen for himself. Upon further inspection of the toy aisles at the store (with a little coaxing from me), he found some toys that seemed to be fantastic for his little sister.

Later, he found a big bag and tissue paper and wrapped the gifts all by himself…he was quite proud!

Be talked and talked about how it was about to be A’s birthday and how we were going to celebrate her.

 

On A’s actual birthday, we kicked off our little two year old’s celebration by enjoying a little family breakfast together. A enjoyed french toast with sprinkles and candles (like her big brother a few weeks ago). C, B and I sang the birthday song and our little girl clapped…oh, how we could just eat her up!

It wasn’t long before B was encouraging A to open her gift from him…

Needless to say, she was thrilled with the contents she found…a car seat for her baby…

And new purple sunglasses!

After A revealed her gratitude, B was quick to head in for a hug and then dig into a yummy breakfast and special day of celebrating his little sister!

Happy Birthday Little A!