Katherine's 2nd birthday party

For Katherine's 2nd birthday party, we had a "mother daughter dolly tea party" because Katherine's favorite thing is dollies. The guests brought their dolls too. First, we brought all of Katherine's doll toys outside so that the girls could play dolls. Then, we had a tea party. I made cupcakes and fruit salad and I used regular tea cups for the mothers, and child sized cute tea cups for the kids. We had pink lemonade to drink. Then, (my mom had this great idea) the mothers and daughters made their own doll to take home. My mom sewed the body, and the moms and kids stuffed it. My mom sewed it closed, and then they put a face on it with permenant markers and googly eyes. Then my mom had made hair for them to choose: yellow or brown, and they could hot glue it on. Then the girls chose a fabric for their doll's dress and we wrote it down. My mom made the dresses after the party and that evening we took the dresses to their houses. (thanks so much, mom!!) It was a great, fun party! I'm glad my mom could be there! (And surprisingly, only one teacup got broken!) Todd took 399 pictures, so I narrowed it down to about 50 for the blog:)

The princess on her special day:

the party favors in a cute pink bag: a necklace, lip gloss and a ring pop:

Flowers for the table from our front yard:

At first, the boys didn't want to be part of the tea party. Then right before, they decided they wanted to be there. I think they saw the cupcakes.... Nathan said it didn't take away his manly-ness because he HAD to go--it was his sister's birthday party! These pictures of the boys at the tea party are great blackmail for when they get older!!

Abbie slept through the entire thing:

Sweet angel face!

Katherine looking at the balloon bouquet on her chair:

"Ooo! This is good!"

"Will you stop that, Daddy! You're embarrassing me in front of my friends!"

"Since this is a tea party, I hope I don't hit the gag reflex. I wouldn't want to have bad manners!"

"I would like to tell you all how grateful I am that you could be here to celebrate with me..."

"Hmmm, I think I ate too much. I think I'm going to be sick."

"What are YOU looking at?!"

"Oh! More cupcakes!"

"I wonder if I could've fit more in..."

"More please!"

"BUUUURP!"

"Do you want a lick, Daddy?"

Katherine got this apron with a butterfly on it and she loves to wear it. Today she just wore the apron and her diaper:

Making the dolls:

The end

Zoo day

Last week, Todd took the day off of work so we could go to the zoo. It was a fun day. We all had fun!

The train. Katherine looks apprehensive:

Nathan:

Well, all the kids had fun except for maybe Abbie:

The kids waiting for the bird show, which they all really liked:

The kids with the birds in the bird show:

Katherine looking at the monkeys thinking, "Hey! Those are just like my brothers!"

The monkeys escaped!

Nathan got on this statue and asked Todd to take his picture:

Mommy pointing out "Here is the scientific name. First is the genus, then the species. Now we can count this as school."

My good boy

This morning Alex came in to wake me up, and Katherine was next to him. He said she was awake so he got her out of the crib. He came to wake me up and said, "get up, mom! We gotta start school! I already made my bed." I told him to go down and eat breakfast so I could feed the baby and change her diaper. He came back up and said, "how do you make scrambled eggs?" I told him and he said that he was going to eat cereal but he was making scrambled eggs for Katherine! What a sweet big brother! He made eggs for me and Nathan, too. This is a picture of Alex (and Katherine) making scrambled eggs. I've got a very good boy!!

Nathan

For Nathan's special date, he wanted to go in Daddy's blow up boat on Salem pond, and go to the store and buy a sword, and sword fight with each other on the beach. (It had to be on the beach).

Nathan found some ducklings:

Some of Nathan's "moves" sword fighting on the beach:

He was pretending to throw bread to the ducks so they would come to him, and then he would chase them with his sword. He never got any.

Alex

We started a new thing where every month of the kids' birthdate (Alex's birthday is Aug. 12 so every 12th of the month) is their "special day". I got this idea from another mom in my homeschool group. On that day the kids don't have to do chores, they get to choose the dinner, and they go on a date with mom or dad (rotating). For Alex's date we went miniature golfing (no stitches this time, but a few close calls! Be careful around Alex when he's holding a golf club!) and played a few games at the arcade. (We're trying not to make food a part of it at all.) Alex was so cute. He kept telling me how much fun he was having. It was fun to spend time with just him.

Alex got new glasses! He's so cute! He was extremely excited about them. Now he has glasses like his cousin Dallin! Nathan is a bit jealous.

boys' writing

Nathan:
How would you eat all the ice cream in the world?
I would shrink it by getting a magic flower. And I would shrink it. And I would eat it.

How would you make the best pizza in the world?
I would make my own recipe. And I would buy expensive stuff.

Alex:
How would you make three wishes?
I would search and search for a magic lamp. I would wish for an ice cream sundae, a swimming pool and a house.