Madelyn's 5th birthday PAW-ty!

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These puppies are now in loving homes. :)

Madelyn L-O-V-E-S dogs. Any kind of dog...large or small, ferocious or cuddly n' cute. They all bring her joy that cannot be put into words. When she's not torturing loving our big pup, she's pretending to be one herself. So, it came as no surprise that she wanted a puppy party for her birthday.

We celebrated her special day by inviting family and friends over to our house for lunch, cupcakes, and ice cream. The kids decorated paper bags that held their stuffed puppies they named and "adopted," adoption certificates, puppy chow (cocoa puffs), and free puppy coloring pages I found on the internet. I got most of the ideas for this theme off of Pinterest (of course)!

Paw prints: Junior mints and chocolate chips

Sign: scrapbook paper and puppy party printables

 Madelyn’s 5^th Birthday Interview

What is your favorite color? Pink
What is your favorite toy? Alvin & the Chipmunks stuffed animals
What is your favorite fruit? A clementine
What is your favorite tv show? Dora the Explorer
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? grapes
What is your favorite outfit? My Hello Kitty shirt
What is your favorite game? Pet Pals
What is your favorite snack? Trail mix
What is your favorite animal? doggies
What is your favorite part of school? learning
What is your favorite book? Olivia
Who is your best friend? Emma
What is your favorite cereal? Every last one
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play
What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My big doggy
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Every last thing
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Broccoli
What do you want to be when you grow up? Jasmine (the Disney princess lol)

Dear Madelyn,

You are a teeny, tiny girl with a BIG personality. I think the nurse said you are in the 8th percentile for weight and height. I'm beginning to think you'll never outgrow your 3T clothes, your love for Dora, or your cute chipmunk voice :). Your days are spent playing hard and praying hard. I am glad we are getting over the I-must-sleep-with-every-toy-I-own phase. That wasn't a very fun battle. We both know you had no intention of ever sleeping on those nights. Wherever you are, your big sister is nearby. The two of you share a room, toys, books, an ornery brother, and a special sisterly bond. 

You are adventurous, funny, strong, and bright. You test your boundaries at times, and have the "I'm sorry, feel sorry for me" teary-eyed expression down.  It usually works, especially if you use it on Dad:). 

I hope turning 5 is every bit as special as you thought it would be. You are a beautiful little girl, or I guess I should say BIG girl, right?

There are 5 things that I always want you to remember to do, even when life seems hard...

 Love God, love people, live simply, scatter kindness, and care deeply.

Happy 5th birthday to my small-but-mighty Madelyn!

Love, 

Mom

 

Samuel is 8

Pin It  Samuel turned 8 in February. We chose not to have a big party this year due to the drawn out, stressful process of relocating to Ohio. Instead, we invited a few family members over for cheesecake and opened some presents. Among the gifts were a few new costumes, Legos, and books.

Samuel still loves dressing up as different characters and getting his sisters to join in the act. Some recent favorites are Super Mario characters, Indiana Jones, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and Star Wars. Their creativity continues to put a smile on my face.

 Samuel's 8th Birthday Interview

What is your favorite color? green
What is your favorite toy? Legos
What is your favorite fruit? apples
What is your favorite tv show? iCarly
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? turkey sandwich
What is your favorite outfit? jeans and Diary of a Wimpy Kid shirt
What is your favorite game? Star Wars for DS
What is your favorite snack? peanut butter crackers
What is your favorite animal? lion
What is your favorite part of school? reading
What is your favorite book? Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
Who is your best friend? I like all my friends the same.
What is your favorite cereal? Multi-grain Cheerios
What is your favorite thing to do outside? play Frisbee with Marlie
What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my pillow pet
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancakes and eggs
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? chili
What do you want to be when you grow up? US Coast Guard (he changes his mind every month)

Dear Samuel,
 Oh my, you are such a strong willed, energetic boy with one exhausted mother! I hope that when you are faced with peer pressure, you will use this as a strength to stand firm and make good choices. 
You are great at completing your morning routine and chores quickly, and will often offer to do your sisters' chores for them in order to earn extra money. I love how, at the age of 8, you behave more responsibly than some adults we know! Keep up the hard work and determination and you will go far!
Your imagination impresses everyone you meet. You have always been full of interesting ideas. When you were 3, you would always walk around saying, "I have a great idea..." and the things you would come up with made me think you just might be a genius! :) I may be biased though! If there is ever a problem, you will come up will a million ways to solve it.
Samuel, you are loud and crazy at times, but there's a sweet side beneath all that boy-ness that still likes to snuggle with mommy :). 
Wherever you go in live, I will be there offering tons of love, support, and advice...whether you like it or not!

Love,
Mom 

Sarah is Six!

Pin It  Sarah turned six this month and we celebrated by spending a week visiting family and friends in Ohio, and had an art party before coming back home! Since she received plenty of new art supplies for Christmas, I gathered up what we already had at home so that we only had to buy food and paper plates for the party. 

Art table:

 Coloring caddy: markers, paint pens, crayons, felt and foam stickers, construction paper, coloring books

 Paint caddy: watercolors, finger paints, paint bowls, paint brushes, paint smocks, large white paper

Once the table was set up, the kids we able to paint and draw as they wished. One thing I forgot to do was take pictures of the finished masterpieces! Very creative minds were at work!

  

C.J. made two rainbow cakes with vanilla frosting and Sarah decorated them. :)

 

I found this birthday interview on a blog, and it's definitely something I want to continue doing with all three kids as they get older. You're supposed to ask the same 20 questions every year on their birthday, add a photo, and make it into a keepsake book. So, for Sarah's 6th birthday, we began this new tradition...

Sarah's 6th Birthday Interview:

What is your favorite color? pink and purple 
What is your favorite toy? Barbie Fashion sketch book
What is your favorite fruit? Clementines
What is your favorite tv show? Wild Kratts (PBS kids)
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? ham and cheese sandwich
What is your favorite outfit? My whole closet!
What is your favorite game? Crafting Mama
What is your favorite snack? peanut butter crackers
What is your favorite animal? peacocks  
What is your favorite part of school? doing Explode the Code
What is your favorite book? If You Give a Moose a Muffin
Who is your best friend? Kaylee
What is your favorite cereal? Rice Krispies
What is your favorite thing to do outside? play in the show
What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my pillow pet
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancakes
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? chicken noodle soup
What do you want to be when you grow up? a mom and an artist


Dear Sarah,
Six years ago, you came into the world with what appeared to be a smile on your face. Daddy noticed right away, and the nurses joked that you were already wrapped around his finger. We named you Isabelle Hope, but as I kept looking at you, I realized you were not an Isabelle. Daddy agreed. So Sarah you became, and a princess you will always be.
Six years later, you continue to always offer a warm smile to those around you and make friends wherever you go. When you learn something new, you usually try to teach Madelyn whatever you learned, remaining calm and patient the whole time. You are so helpful and creative!
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure...okay, that is totally from an Aerosmith song, but it's the truth! I love you through your good and bad moments...sometimes those bad moments don't seem so bad an hour, day, or week later. Last week, at dinner, I asked you what the best part of your day was. You responded with, "Seeing you, Mommy!" That made my heart full, especially since we are rarely ever apart. I'm glad you enjoy our time together and don't get sick of seeing me 24/7! You also usually ask me once a day why I look so happy. Well, one reason is because God made me your mother, and you my daughter! What a wonderful blessing it is having you in my life!


Happy 6th Birthday, Sweet Sarah!! I love you!