Tickle Time

This is SO my dad. He loves to love on these kids. He can somehow tickle Ellery while keeping Walt's attention. Or maybe it's keeping Walt from attacking his glasses! 

I never want to forget the sound of giggles that were happening in this very moment.

3 Years Old

This morning we celebrated Ellery, one more time, with a family brunch.  She requested chocolate chip pancakes and that's what she got!  So after church we came home and got cooking!

Papa & his Princess

Mar Mar & her Prince

Little Mister Loves having his grandparents around to hold and cuddle him.

Her gift was a princess castle.  

Cary picked this up for her at least a year ago, while he was out of town on a business trip.  Someone told him of a toy store that was going out of business and having a huge clearance sale.  We scored some serious Christmas & birthday gifts for the kids.  I love buying things at consignment sales and such during the year so when holidays come around we don't have to stress, just go to the toy collection!

 Gigi (my grandmother) did send her a collection of Disney princesses that are just the right size for her new castle.

I have loved celebrating this little girl over the weekend.  Reliving the memories of her birth and looking back on the past 3 years that has FLOWN by fills my heart with so much love.  Children are SUCH a blessing.  They are a lot of hard work but so worth it.

Princess Tea Party

Friday morning Ellery celebrated her 3rd birthday with a "Princess Tea Party." It was very small and perfect.

 

The majority of our decorations came from a pack of Princess scrap booking paper I found at Hobby Lobby.

Each of the place mattes were laminated pages of scrap book paper.  Each girl took theirs home.

The tea cups and plates are my Mom's.

The paper crowns are from a Princess cupcake set I bought at Disney last year.  

The cupcake set came with a small cupcake cookbook,which is what I used to make the chocolate & vanilla cupcakes.  They were INCREDIBLE.  Seriously, the best cupcakes I've ever had!

Again, more scrap book paper and ribbon!

Ellery was given the Bella Princess Dress as a birthday present! 

Each guest wore their princess dresses and looked so adorable!

I read a princess story to them, of course it was a Beauty and the Beast story.

Then we headed into the play room for a candy necklace craft.

Then we had our lunch. Crown Almond Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, fruit (served in the tea cups) and Cheez-Its.

The Moms ate chicken salad on croissants, deviled eggs, four bean salad and fruit.

The amazing cupcake

Ellery listened very carefully when we sang Happy Birthday

The candle proved to be a bit more difficult than expected.  Thankfully Mar Mar stepped in for a little extra help.

Funny how kids eat primarily the icing and just a little bit of cupcake.

We served lunch around 11:15, a bit early but I really wanted the sugar from the cupcakes in the girls systems as early as possible so it could wear off before nap time.

Ellery received so many wonderful gifts!

Mimi gave her a precious pink princess dress with a cape that has fur trim and matching slippers.

Happy Birthday Precious Girl!  I love you very much!! :)

Perfect Valentine's Day

This year was probably the BEST Valentine's Day of my life.  No joke.  That is saying a lot!

Here is why:

Tuesday morning I was in Ellery's preschool class participating in her sweet Valentine's party.  I read "Elmo Loves You" to the kids, while Walt, Ellery & her friend Bella climbed into my lap (and almost broke my legs).  We watched a VeggieTales DVD on Love while the kids did crafts and of course there were TONS of handmade valentine cards for each child and yummy goodies.

When Cary was driving home he called and told me not to make dinner, that he had something special planned and to have the kids ready to head out by the time he got home.  I didn't care where we went, as long as I didn't have to make dinner.  Sweet man took us to Stuffy's for dinner (a sub shop) where there were literally no other patrons so we could relax when it came to the volume of our children's squeals.  My family used to eat at Stuffy's on Sunday nights after church when I was growing up.  So there was some nostalgia there for me.  Ellery shared a sandwich with her dad.  It was so cute to watch her eat a sub by herself and she just looked so grown up and CUTE.

Next we walked across the street to Sweet Frogs and had some frozen yogurt.  There were 2 families there with children the same age as ours so again, it was relaxing.  Ellery LOVED it.  She especially loved the fast dance music and hopped out of her chair when she was finished with her ice cream and proceeded to dance all up and down the shop.

Once the kids were in bed I was able to "craft" for Ellery's party on Friday and then Cary and I were able to spend some sweet time together. 

Seriously, so low key.  So relaxed, no pressure of the typical "Valentine's Day" things.  Although I will say that my sweet man gave me a card, chocolates, my new favorite beer AND some peanut butter ice cream.  He knows me so well.... :) 

I loved it!  I love my family so much.