Happy Birthday Katelyn!!

Last week in our week of birthdays, Katelyn turned 4!! She had her family party on her birthday and then had her friends come over the next day. She had to wear her birthday hat that she got from preschool.

Who doesn't love playdough?
Oh, yes that's a nerf gun. This was Dave's idea and she got two so they could play together. She absolutely loves them and both she and Kelsey have played with them almost everyday.
And a few more games to play with mom while Kelsey is off at school all day and Addison is down for her naps.
Now for the cake.

Her first birthday party

We were a little preoccupied last year with Addison being born so we waited another year before having her friends over for a birthday party. She picked all the friends she wanted, and had it all planned. We went and picked out her plates and what she wanted to do. She chose to have a glorified playdate with presents and and it came off great. Aside from the power being out almost the whole time, everyone came and a great time was had by all. They had pizza and cupcakes and ice cream and opened presents of course. Thanks to all her friends for coming to her party.

All Katelyn's friends.

Everyone together.

Katelyn, you are getting to be such a big girl and we are so proud of the person you are becoming. You are always happy no matter what and your smile lights up the room. You are such a big help with your little sister who loves you so much. You are growing up so fast now that you are the big sister at home to help mom. We love you so much Katelyn, our little "peanut."

A week of firsts!!

Last week Addison turned 1. I know it's cliche and everyone says it but I really can't believe how fast this year has gone. Since Kelsey was in kindergarten most of Addison's first year, it made it go by even faster. Then the summer came and at least while we were at home it seemed to drag and then it was over. So while it seemed slow, it was over before we even knew it and now we're halfway through September already. Holy cow, where has this year gone?

We take "Birthday Week" to a whole new level. Three of the five members of our family have birthdays in September, all within a week. Addison's is the 12th, Katelyn's is the 14th and Dave's is the 18th. I know it's kinda crazy around here, it's worse than Christmas. To celebrate Addison's first year, since Dave has lots of meetings on Sunday, we did it all in the morning. We started with her favorite breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes (she couldn't tell us what she really wanted but she ate 1 1/2 so I don't think she cared what she had), then she opened her presents and has been so happy to play with all of them. The girls were so excited to help her open them and have had fun playing with her as well. It was also our scheduled family dinner and it just happened that we had dessert to bring. We made a chocolate cake with pink frosting and we all sang to Addison and Katelyn. Addison loved us singing to her and smiled the whole time. For Katelyn she doesn't really like cake, except for the frosting so we made homemade chocolate ice cream and peach ice cream too. Addison loved that she got to eat (destroy) her own piece of cake and stayed "way too clean" for someone who had just eaten her very own piece by herself.

The Presents

I love this look on her face

She just loves this ball. She throws it everywhere and chases it.

She also loves books. All kinds of books. Since both her sisters always have a book they are reading, she's picked up on the idea too.

A bag with princesses on it? That must be for me!!

Singing Happy Birthday to both Addison and Katelyn. I love that Katelyn doesn't mind sharing her birthday week with Addison and her dad. She thinks it's that much more special!! And it makes it a little easier on me with the cake situation. Although dad gets his own. I don't think he'd want a pink cake with princesses on it, do you?

Can you tell, Addison loves singing. And the fact that we were singing to her made it even better. Such a beautiful smile.

The eating of the Cake

Starting out, not sure what to do.

It didn't take her long to figure it out.

All finished.
Oops, forgot some. Gotta get every last crumb!!
I must say, she is the cleanest baby I've ever seen after eating her own piece of cake.
And of course Aunt Kaylene had to spoil two of her favorite nieces with clothes for their birthdays as well.

In our next line of firsts: Katelyn started preschool. She has been waiting, well really since Kelsey graduated from Miss Kris' preschool. All summer long we were on countdown. And then finally when the big day came, she said, "But I can't go yet, I'm not 4!" But she was excited to go anyway. She went the week before to orientation and met all her new friends that would be in her class. She is also so excited because she is the first "Leader" and she gets to celebrate her actual birthday in school with her friends too. So much fun.

And last but not least, Kelsey had a first too: She lost her first tooth on Addison's birthday. Her two front bottom teeth have been loose for a little more than a week and while brushing her teeth one of them just popped out. She came down stairs crying because she was scared, but after she rinsed out her mouth a few times, she was very excited. She now talks with a bit of lisp and can't keep her tongue from playing with it. Just waiting for the other one now and then she really won't be able to talk!!

Hooray for a week of milestones.

All in a day's work

Over Labor Day weekend, Dave and Kelsey went down to California to help can tomatoes and spaghetti sauce. They left Friday after school and were back on Sunday morning in time for church. We've never been able to go since it always falls on the same weekend we get our peaches and for 2 of those years, I've been 9 months pregnant, not about to jump in the car to drive 5 hours away from my doctor to do them. I opted out of it again this year since we decided with it being such a fast trip, that we wouldn't put Addison through another long car ride and that Katelyn wouldn't have very much fun either. So I stayed with the 2 youngest and Dave took Kelsey off to work. And work she did.

Apparently it was colder than anticipated and we forgot a jacket for her. Just waiting to go in and start picking.

Up to her elbows in tomatoes

What kind of tomato is this?

So proud of you Kelsey for wanting and asking to go down to help with the tomatoes. Love you sweetheart.