Harper's Ice Cream Party

Today we celebrated Harper's 3rd birthday with an ice cream theme party.  We couldn't have asked for better weather or better friends to help us celebrate our little girl.  A big thanks to everyone for coming today!

Christy made adorable cookies and cupcakes for the party so the kids were in sugar heaven.

First we had lunch inside and then everyone made their way outside to play.  I borrowed some things from friends and put out a lot of our outside toys, too.  The kids had fun hitting the pinata and loved getting to make their own ice cream sundaes.

Harper was so excited about her party today and before the guests started arriving she kept asking me when some people were going to get here.  As soon as her friends started to arrive, she was thrilled.

She was especially thrilled to have her best friend from school there.  She and Parker have a very special friendship and it's so sweet to watch them together.  At one point outside, everyone was busy playing around the yard and Harper ran to the middle of the action calling, "Parker!!!  Where are you?!?!?" Then he came running out from where he was playing and said, "Here I am Harper."  Then they held hands and made their way to start playing together.  Tonight when I was putting her to bed I asked her if she had a good day with all of her friends and told her she was lucky to have so many people who wanted to help her celebrate turning three.  Then she looked at me with a big smile and said, "Yes, and I'm so happy Parker was there.  I love him so much." :-)

Getting ready for Harper's party

I've spent this week gearing up for Harper's birthday party this weekend.  I always say I'm going to do something small for the kids and it always turns out to be a lot bigger than I originally intended.  It's fun though...I love everything that goes into the planning and the kids feel extra special that it is all for them and their special day.

Mimi and Dadaw got here yesterday for the big event and we've been having lots of fun with them here.

Tonight after all the kids were in bed, I put my dad to work helping me get things ready for tomorrow.  He and Robby always like to joke about my drill sergeant ways and the never-ending list of tasks I have planned out for everyone.  I'm not really that bad. ;-) I just like to know that everything will be ready how I planned it and that we won't be rushing around at the last minute.  Plus, Handley has a soccer game in the morning though and all the grown-ups will attend with her (except me) so I needed to get as much done ahead of time as possible.  Stay tuned for pictures from her party tomorrow.

Harper's school celebration

Today Harper got to celebrate her birthday at school.  It's a really big deal to the kids because they get to decorate their birthday crown to wear all day.  I had my friend, Christy, make cookies and they turned out SO cute!  If you ever need special cookies or cupcakes, she is the one to go to!  Another secret about birthdays at school you may or may not know: teachers hate when you bring cupcakes to school because they are so messy.  This was the case when I was teaching and was confirmed by a comment Harper's teacher made to me today.  Cookies are much easier on everyone. :-)

Harper was excited about her cupcake cookies and was so cute when everyone was singing happy birthday to her.  She gets sort of nervous when she's the center of attention (which is so unlike her personality) and does this funny little thing where she twists her tongue.  

After the kids enjoyed their cookies they danced and sang to Harper's picks: Wheels on the Bus, Shake Your Wiggles Out, and Animal Action.

Harper is THREE!!!

Happy Birthday Harper!  I have a hard time believing that she is three years old.  In my head I still see her as a little toddler, but in reality she is growing up to be a sweet little girl.  Today we had a special day planned for her.  Handley decided to stay home from school so that we could have lots of fun with our birthday girl.  

This morning started off with a special chocolate milk cocktail, including sprinkle rimmed glasses (thank you pinterest for the idea). 

Then we met our friends, Jake and Reece, at Champion Kids to play.  It's an indoor gymnastics play place.  The kids all had fun bouncing on trampolines, sliding down the giant inflatable slides, crossing the balance beam, and swinging into the foam pit.  

After playtime we ate lunch at Harper's favorite, Chick-fil-a, came home for rest-time, and then went to our playgroup.  During playgroup Hudson got his first ride in the wagon, thanks to Handley and Avery for pulling/pushing him around.  

Harper getting in for a ride, and notice her new purse!  It was a gift from Jake and Reece and she has NOT put it down since she opened it earlier today. :-)

For dinner, Harper had requested pizza, so we had birthday pizza, complete with candles.  I think she had a really fun day and she kept telling me she was three so I know she feels big.  She's excited about celebrating with her school friends tomorrow and then her party at our house on Saturday! In this family, we like to celebrate birthday weeks. :-)

She gets to eat off the "birthday plate" and notice her purse...still right beside her. I made her put it down for a picture. 

At three years old Harper: 

• loves playing "lady and ma'am."  It's a game she created where she pretends to buy items and I have to tell her how much she owes and collect her money or swipe her credit card.  
• is sensitive and cries very easily. 
• runs everywhere she goes and is always falling down or knocking into things.  This has earned her the nickname of tornado. 
• loves watching Mickey Mouse and Clifford.
• likes playing "school" or "baby and mommy" with Handley. 
• mimics everything I do, including what I wear, chores around the house, things I say, and ways I take care of Hudson. 
• loves school and everything that goes along with it, including her teachers and classmates. 
• can pedal her tricycle. 
• likes to snack and her favorite thing to eat is popcorn. 
• is a ham and can put on quite a show. 
• knows exactly how to push Handley's buttons and although most of the time they play very well together, they can argue pretty well, too. 
• loves her baby brother and is super sweet with him. 
• has a love of life that makes her permanent expression a big smile.
• is a flirt and is definitely going to be the boy crazy one. 
• can be extremely stubborn
• loves everyone and I think the feeling is pretty mutual.  
• likes being silly.
• still likes to cuddle and sneaks in our bed in the early morning hours. 
• loves wearing jeans and flip-flops.
• carries her bag or purse with her everywhere she goes. 

Happy Easter!!!

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday!  Last night I went to dinner and the movies with some girlfriends and by the time I got home, it technically was already Easter Sunday.  That meant I had to get to work overseeing the Easter Bunny duties of getting the baskets filled.  

This morning Handley was excited to check out what her basket contained.  Harper, on the other hand, was afraid to go downstairs because she was worried the Easter Bunny might still be there.  (Note- She did tell me that when she is 3, she will like the Chick-fil-a Cow and the Easter Bunny...I don't believe it. :-))

They had fun checking out their loot, which included sunglasses, matching nightgowns for the girls and their dolls, bubble bath, a new movie, princess notepads and glitter pens.  Hudson got some sunglasses and a bunch of yummy snacks he likes to eat.  

The girls and I went to church while Robby stayed home to watch Hudson, who was napping.  He still takes a morning nap, which is right during church and I'm not quite ready to leave him in the nursery yet, so for now it works for the girls to attend while the boys stay home.  

The girls sporting their new shades.

Jake and Reece were looking especially cute at church this morning and the girls wanted a quick picture with them.  

After church we came home, had lunch, and made our way to Gigi and Papa's house.  Apparently, the Easter Bunny had visited there too and left a treasure map with clues to find some special treats.  There were also eggs hidden everywhere that the girls got to go hunting for.  

The kids enjoyed playing outside in their new sand/water table, doing the "airplane" with Robby, and eating appetizers on the deck.  We ended the day with a delicious steak dinner before heading home and getting ready for bed.  

I'm sad spring break is over and the girls head back to school tomorrow, but we had a wonderful week together and I'm more ready for summer now than I was before!  

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

This morning was our neighborhood egg hunt.  When we met at the playground to set up this morning it was VERY chilly and I was worried everyone would be too cold during the hunt.  Thankfully as soon as the sun came up it warmed right up and turned out to be beautiful for our event.

My job over the past few weeks was to collect all of the eggs.  We ended up with over 80 kids participating and that translates into a LOT of eggs.

The girls were really excited about today and couldn't wait to fill up their baskets.  They had been talking strategy with Robby all morning and had a plan to run to the back, away from the crowd, to start getting their eggs.

It must have worked because they both racked up.

Our friend, Bryce, was the Easter Bunny again this year and to Handley and Harper's enjoyment, he seemed to be lost and just happened to need Robby to give him a lift on the golf cart.

As I expected, Handley ran right up for a hug, Harper started crying and wanted nothing to do with him, and Hudson didn't seem to care one way or the other.

Hudson didn't get to hunt for eggs this year, but he sure did love trying to eat them. 

It was a fun morning and the perfect way to kick off our Easter weekend!