Kate's Birthday

(I PROMISE... I'll have pictures of her birthday party up soon!!) For now, I'll just post about her "real" birthday.

The night before her birthday, we blew up a pack of 72 pink and purple balloons while she slept.



We hung some streamers. She told me the next morning that she loved the streamers hanging from her door. :)





I wrote on the bathroom mirror in lipstick. She thought that was pretty cool.



We thought she would wake up and be thrilled... no such luck at first. She doesn't exactly wake up on the "right side of the bed" when she has to get up early. I wish she could have stayed home on her birthday, but I am subbing for a maternity leave, so she had to get up early to have a special birthday breakfast and open a present before leaving at 7.

After lots of coercing, she got out of bed and finally got excited about all of her balloons.

Jack loved the balloons, too!





I made her a "4" pancake for breakfast.





We let her pick out one present from Gammy and Gampy to open that morning.


















She went to Nanny and Poppy's that day, where they had a little birthday celebration with Gran.

She had gymnastics that evening and didn't want to miss it. She told me she announced to her teacher that it was her birthday. ha!

After gymnastics, we went home for her requested birthday dinner (spaghetti and meatballs).

She opened the rest of her presents from Gammy and Gampy.







She got her gifts from us... a bike and a scooter. She was thrilled!







We had cupcakes and sung "Happy Birthday".





And, as a bonus surprise, we let her sleep in our bed that night.

We all laid there and watched the slideshows that Mark had made for her past three birthday parties. We reminisced and shed some tears. We were super sappy this year!

Can't believe how fast the past four years have flown by!!

Our Four Year Old

I can't believe it as I type it. Our little girl is four. She's been waiting for this day for weeks now. She will ask me "how many days until my birthday?". Then, when I tell her, she says, "I'm so 'cited!"



Kate, you have truly blessed our lives since you arrived early in the morning on this day four years ago.



You make every day better for your Daddy and me. Even in our rough moments with you, we still can't imagine our lives without you.



Your "spunk", sassiness, and sense of humor are just what this family needs.



You are the best little buddy to have around. I love going places with you and seeing your zest for life.



We have great conversations about a huge variety of topics. Just the other day, you were asking me why people say things are hot when they really aren't hot. It took me awhile to figure out that you were talking about how people say something is hot when it is spicy. This turned into a good conversation about words that have different meanings. Right now, you are really into the word invisible. You'll think long and hard and say, "Is glass invisible?"



I love the questions you ask. Sometimes they are silly with really easy answers and sometimes they are hard ones. You are a thinker, and you've definitely stumped me a time or two.



You take your big sister job very seriously. Sometimes, we have to remind you that you are not Jack's mommy.





You have mastered the art of one liners and sarcasm. You know how to make us laugh, that's for sure.



You know how to give us a run for our money, too. Your 2nd year of life was hard. Three has been just as hard. Here's to four being better!



No matter how rough the day is, at night when we put you to bed, and kiss your sweet little face, there is always hope that tomorrow will be better. And, it almost always is.



You turned our whole world upside down four years ago. Your daddy and I have never been the same.



You brighten every day. Your smile, your pretty blue eyes, and your sweet voice melt our hearts.



All week, you've been saying, "After four, I'll be five. And after five, I'll be six. And after six, I'll be seven...." Slow it down, little lady.



Today, I am happy for four. Thank you for four of the greatest years of our lives, baby girl.

We love you to the stars and back... we love you to pieces.

Love, Mommy and Daddy



I know a girl, she puts the color inside of my world. -John Mayer

More Pics from the Pumpkin Party

We were able to get some cute pictures of the kids at the Pumpkin Carving Party.





Mark made their little shirts.







I'm telling you, I could just eat up my little Jack Man. He melts my heart.





And this little lady... think she's had some practice in front of the camera??