{FOUR!?!}

My baby turned FOUR today.....how did that happen?

We started two new traditions this year, and I think we'll keep them both. First, I made a "It's Your Special Day" bucket and filled it with some of Carlie's favorite things. Of course we had to have coloring books and crayons (she's a colorin' fool), Skittles, "Taffy Taffy's" or Airheads as the rest of us call them, a Tinkerbell Pez and a few other things. I also filled our picture ladder in our family room with pictures of Carlie. I thought it was a fun way to remember the past few years!
As you can see I went all out on the cake this year...or not! Star cupcakes on a two tired cake stand, Carlie thought it was great and it was super easy. I also made our favorite ice cream dessert for the grown ups.

All Carlie has been asking for was a "fishing cole" and Princess Polly Pockets. Of course she got both, and wouldn't you know they were the last things that she wanted opened up....isn't that the way it always works? Uncle Shad made her the cute balloon hat, that was a hidden talent we didn't know about.

What an adorable little gal she is, we sure love her!

Happy Birthday Carlie Girl!

[Brock's Birthday Celebrations}

Cake anyone? Brock's request this year was an Indiana Jones cake. I'm not a cake decorator, that's my sisters job, but she had to go and come down with a sinus infection (how dare she). It's a good thing we have a basement full of Lego's or I know I couldn't have pulled it off. Even as simple as the cake was, I still ended up making two, since the first cracked and fell apart when I took it out of the pan. I highly recommend parchment paper, it's amazing!

Is that a masterpiece or what?

The birthday boy with his cousin Kamryn. He was so cute to just hold her and play with her.
Gram and Papa got Brock a dress shirt and two ties. The yellow tie has monster trucks on it and Brock thought that was perfect, he said it will remind him of Monster Jam. Good pick, Papa!
Have you seen these fun slides carpet skates on TV? The kids were having fun experimenting and thought I was mean when I said they couldn't try them out on the stairs! He got some pretty cool gifts along with his favorite thing, $$money! He keeps reminding me that a package is still coming from Grandma Jeannie in the mail.....what a spoiled boy!
The Birthday Boy is NINE!
Monster Jam Hot Wheels Track....are you sensing a pattern this year?
And finally.....the one and only thing Brock really wanted for his birthday was a suit! I think he told us thanks at least 10 times after he opened it. Doesn't he look handsome, not to mention, he's looking pretty grown up to this mom. Next thing I know he'll be turning nineteen and we'll be taking mission pictures!
Last night we told Brock he could choose where he wanted to go for dinner tonight and if he wanted us all to go or just him, mom and dad. He thought for a few minutes and then said we could all go, but I could tell he was a bit hesitant. When I asked him if that's what he really wanted, he admitted that he'd rather just the three of us go, but then said he really didn't want Carlie and Kaleb to feel bad! What a sweet boy I have. We decided to see if K and Carlie could go to Great Grandma and Grandpa's while we went and then it would be something fun for them too and everyone was happy!