Let the Celebration Begin

We finished up this past week in preparation for Tierney's birthday party with family on Sunday.  Friday, one of our "church grandma's", Maureen, came to our house to help the girls make a cake for Tierney.  Ezri and Alora were super excited to be involved in the whole process, from mixing batter to frosting and decorating the cake.  They got to help with all of the steps and really enjoyed themselves.  

 While much of the activity was happening, baby sister was busy fighting her nap.  After over 2 hours, this mom gave up.  We watched the goings on together as she wanted nothing to do with being put down (too tired to cope, of course)

The big girls also got to help make bunny cakes, which they were very excited to eat later.

Saturday evening, we enjoyed dinner with friends and then a trip to Cabela's so the girls could see the animals.  They were just amazed at all of the different animals and especially enthralled with the fish!

 Sunday, after church, we enjoyed lunch together with Great Grandma, Grandpa & Grandma, Opa & Oma, Uncle Andy, Uncle Jay & Aunt Becci.  As Tierney is not into requesting much more than milk right now, we kept it simple with sloppy joes and some simple side dishes.  Tierney snacked a little, but was more interested in getting out to play.  So, we let her open gifts...

 A few times with the paper, and she figured out what to do.

 Ezri, Alora and Sadie wanted to be in the middle of the action as well, it was quite hard for them to sit back and watch!

 After getting into her first gift, Tierney was happy to just play and we had to keep re-directing her to open another.  Thankfully, there were not many.

 Cake time came next.  As Tierney has only really been eating solids for a month now, she has had very limited experience with food, and had never tasted cake or frosting.

 She was very precise about picking it up...

 And cautious about tasting it too.

 After a little time with the cake extreme amount of frosting, she showed more interest in dumping the plate on the floor, so we took it away.  Then, she just wanted out of the chair!

 No smashed cake, and very little mess, but a big smile nonetheless :)

We count down the days until this sweet little girl turns ONE with a little sadness, knowing she is growing so quickly, but also with excitement over what she will do, learn and who she will become in the coming year.

Spring Fever

We continue to work with Tierney, trying to get her to take naps.  We have not really figured out why she has suddenly decided she does not need to sleep (she definitely does), but we've been trying everything.  Currently, we have been letting her nap upstairs, hoping that the familiar sleeping space will help as opposed to her crib.  Some days she'll lay down and sleep, others I have to sit and keep laying her back down until she finally gives in 45 minutes to an hour later.  It is quite frustrating!

One day, all three girls were quite wore out and in need of naps, so I split the older girls up.  Alora and Tierney ended up asleep in our room, and it was the sweetest thing to see them cuddled up together.

 The girls and I found ourselves at Holland State Park with my friend Kathy and her two little guys a couple of Saturdays back, while the guys went to pick up a washer and dryer.  It was pretty chilly, and our initial plan to visit a maple sugar farm flopped with the cold air and mud everywhere.  The lake at the state park was still frozen over, so we had some fun exploring the beach and very close shoreline with the kids for a while.

 Back at home, we've been happily welcoming the spring weather.  The snow is nearly gone, the muddy yard is slowly drying up, and we've been spending an increasing amount of time outside.  Last Monday, we had a mid 60 degree day and pretty much lived outside.  The girls were content to play on their swing set and in the sand for over three hours without any fighting or need for me to intervene. At one point, I found Ezri laying in the sand, covering herself with it.  Needless to say, that day they all needed a bath!

Most days have been much cooler, but a little sunshine and 45 degrees will find the girls circling the yard in their car, riding their bikes, littering the yard with toys, swinging and running.  No doubt they are as stir crazy as I am and ready for the last remnants of winter to be gone.

 Even Tierney has been enjoying the time outside, happy to go for walks and watch her sisters play.  Far too soon, she will be out there running with them.

Birthday Party

Another month older...

Last week, we had more excitement.  We snagged some snow early in the week and, with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head's parts, we had some fun building snowmen inside.

 The creativity did not stop there.  The girls have both been very interested in coloring, crafting and creating over the past week.  This time, they were united in designing a new bunk/loft bed for their room.  They have decided they are read for bunk beds (we are not) and Ezri has it all planned out.  She is talking Daddy into adapting their beds and making them into loft beds so they can have a fort with couches underneath.  Ezri, acting as architect and designer, has it all drawn up in color, with detail such as barky draw in!

 Last Saturday, we had Ezri's 5th birthday party with her friends at the bowling alley.  Per her request, this Mommy made horse cupcakes for the occasion.

 11 children came to play, bowl, eat and celebrate with Ezri (not including Tierney).  After a little Duck Duck Goose to keep them from climbing the walls until the pizza arrived, we ate some lunch.

 Birthday presents were on Ezri's radar, so we got to those next.

 And the tissue paper was such fun, that soon there was a mass of children tossing it into the air and playing.

 While the children bowled, they took turns signing a bowling pin for Ezri.

 Our girls really enjoyed themselves!

 Ezri even got a strike!

 And Tierney found the best place in the room for a nap :)

 Ezri had a wonderful time, as did her little friends, and even the big people had fun amid the chaos!

Happy Birthday Ezri!

Somehow, we have hit the 5 year old milestone, though neither Daddy nor I can figure out how that happened!  Ezri had been so excited for weeks about her upcoming birthday, counting days until her party and the big day.  She could hardly stand the wait!

We began celebrating the Sunday before her birthday with Great Grandma, Grandpa & Grandma, Opa & Oma, Uncle Andy, Jay & Becci.  Ezri changed her clothes a couple of times after church, finally settling on a lovely princess dress for the special occasion.  A big lunch together, with the menu planned by Ezri, included pizza, peas, fruit, crackers and cheese, macaroni & cheese, salad, "brown beans" (baked beans) and mashed potatoes.  After lunch, she was so anxious to open gifts.

Ezri was thrilled to get a special ladybug necklace - a big girl necklace, and immediately asked Daddy to put it on for her.  She got learning toys, a science kit, a soccer ball, a book and some fun toys too.

 This year's cake was quite a decision.  After suggesting a horse, a dog, a butterfly, even a flower, she finally decided she wanted a rainbow cake.  This was probably one of the easier cakes I have made for Ezri, but is sure was fun!  Rainbow inside and out, this was quite the cake!

 Ezri was ecstatic!  She loved the cake and kept talking about how it was the most fantastic cake ever :)

 And once we cut into it, she was even happier!  The rainbow cake was fun inside too.  And, Daddy topped it off with rainbow ice cream.

 On the days between her party and actual birthday, we kept busy in the house playing with some of Ezri's new toys, watching movies together and trying to stay warm.

 The few pieces of cake left were quickly devoured, and even the extra frosting got put to use with animal crackers.  Alora enjoyed the frosting immensely!

 Baby sister sure kept busy this past week too!  On Ezri's birthday, she took 6 or 7 steps alone (we baited her to keep going) and it was quite the celebration!  She is slowly showing interest in eating solid foods, but usually gags on whatever it is, so we've not been pushing that.  She is suddenly revolting at nap time as well, turning what used to be a few minutes of fussing before calming down to sleep into a 3 hours fight with screaming and protests.  No doubt, she is growing again, but this sure wears us all out trying to get her to sleep without the continuous crying.

 On Thursday, Ezri woke very excited, it was her birthday!  She hunted the house for bows with money taped to the bottom and was very happy to bring all that money to her piggy bank.  There were balloons, a sign and lots of fun in store for the day.  After what must have seemed like forever to the poor kid, we finally got to dinner time - hot dogs and macaroni & cheese (her request, of course).  And then, more cake...

 And finally, the gifts.  A new train, princess dress, stamps, play food and...

 A big bike!

Our little 5 year old sure had a busy week!  But, she is quite proud to be 5, and we are so happy to have watched her grow these past years.  She is becoming quite the little helper, and eager to learn too.  What a blessing she is!