Dinosaur Birthday Party!

The weekend following Aud's birthday we had a little party for her. Her first party that wasn't only family ;) We had our neighbors from beside us and from across the street. All four are boys. Aud calls them "my boys". It was pretty low key. Amanda helped me make tails for the kids as favors. Trying to get them all together with all the tails on was impossible. We played a balloon game that my Mom did for us when we were little. You put big tshirts on the kids, pair them with and adult and see who can fill the kiddo's shirt with the most balloons. Aud and I would have won if Ben wouldn't have sabotaged me, by holding my arm away and taking my balloons! It was so much fun. Only three out of the 6 wanted to play but they all had a blast. Ben blew up so many balloons, they all had the best time playing with the balloons and popping them.

All of the boys wore dinosaur shirts to her party and her gift from Lincoln and Greyson was a T-Rex shirt. She was soooo excited and wears is all the time now!

We had pizza, veggies and fruit (for the herbivores), wonton crackers, dirt cups with dinosaurs, and homemade coconut ice cream. Aud told me I needed to make meatballs for the carnivores but was willing to accept the pepperoni pizza as their food! :)

I wish I could accept the credit for these tails but I can't. Ben made 3 of them and our sweet neighbor made the other 3. She made two for her boys then made 2 more for her nephews but with a cutting error, we had to borrow an one from her for Audrey's tail. Thanks for the help Amanda, you're the best! They were huge hits. Our kiddos wear them all the time. 

The hulk!

They had a blast and all of the kids were in bed sleeping well before 1930!

This was right before we started singing to her...

 ...when we started! She was so excited!

Spencer and Hayden

Greyson

Lincoln

The Woman is Four!!!

Our first born turned 4 about two weeks ago! We the day devoted celebrating Audrey. She woke up to balloons covering her floor, streamers, and special balloons from Daddy. We kicked off with the breakfast of her choice which was Waffles, sausage, and strawberries. It was a beautiful day so we went out to the playground. It was the first time Aud was able to pull herself onto the swing! She looked at me with these huge eyes and said, "Momma, now that I'm four- I can get onto the swing ALL BY MYSELF!" It was too sweet. We played outside for awhile and with the neighbor boy then we came inside for the lunch of her choice- pepperoni pizza. She is so loved and got calls and messages all day- she was on cloud 9! We had dinner all planned with her favorite saurbraten meatballs, egg noodles, and mixed veggies with frozen banana ice cream- but we made a trip to Joann's to get the material for her dinosaur tails and she saw a Chick-fil-A. She was so sweet about it, she said Momma, Daddy- it's my birthday and I changed my mind- I'd like to play at  Chick-fil-A and eat "chickie bites" with fruit. It was her day, so we changed gears and had a nice time. It worked well for us because right beside the Chick-Fil-A, was a Chipotle :) While the kiddos played, we had an awesome meal of veggie burritos and a salad. All the excitement, celebrating, and turning 4 must have been too much because by 1730, she was a mess. This Momma is a firm believer in kiddos needing sleep- she was in bed sleeping by 1830 :)

Naturally, there had to be candles in her waffle :)

Birthday gifts from Daddy and Momma, Snow Whites Prince and "The Princess and the Pea" book

Candles in pizza :)

'Cubba needed candles in his pizza too :)

Our sweet girl- what a complete joy you bring to our lives and everyone that knows you! You have such spunk, energy, and life in you- it's so much fun just to be near you! This past year, like the few years before, have been tough on our family- but you have flourished in spite of it all. 

 You are learning so much so fast- you amaze us! Your recollection of the names of dinosaurs is incredible! Your dance shows, songs you think of are more precious to me than you will ever know! You love to be read to, have things explained to you in the greatest of detail, and miss nothing! You love playing with your dinosaurs, your dolls, puzzles, matching games, paints, crayons, the sandbox, taking walks, and playing on the play ground.

You love to learn about Jesus, hear his word, and talk about him all throughout your day. We are so proud and will foster this above everything else. 

We love you, our wild woman. Since the day you were born, our lives have gained so much. Never had I ever laughed more, or been made speechless. You are the only you and we are so thankful God chose us to be your Momma and Daddy.