a reason to smile

I have a BIG reason to smile tonight. Today I ventured over to my Uncle Russ and Aunt Kala's store, Minco, and bought my a new toy! I got the brand new laptop I have been wanting to purchase for long time now. WooHoo!
And lookie-lookie...it even has a built in camera/web cam.

Fun stuff I tell you!
I can not believe how much faster this is than the old hunk of junk antique desktop that, up until now, I have been using.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh....you'll have to excuse me while I bask in the glory for a while!

Seriously. This is the last Birthday Post. I swear!

I swear, this is the last Birthday picture post I will do...

...until March when it is Grant's Birthday, of course!

As always, the kids were elated to have guests. They absolutely love having company over so every time there is a knock at the door they get super crazy nutso very excited.

It also goes without saying, they always think the guests are there just to see and play with them, which is often not the case. This time, however, the guests were here to see this very special little girl...

The Birthday Girl, or on this night more famously known as "The Ghostess with the Mostess!" I couldn't resist putting that shirt on her for her party, even though it is more a Halloween shirt than a Birthday shirt.

Oh well, I guess she'll just have to get used to having Halloween incorporated into her Birthday since it is only two days after her big day. Grandma Sue, Grandpa Oscar, Auntie Kala, Uncle Russ, and cousins Austin, Carter, Emily and Evan were all in attendance and as usual I made waaayyy too much food.

I wasn't sure what kid of cake to get Audrey either and she was no help because every time I asked her if she wanted one thing or the other, she would say yes to them all. We settled on the fan favorite, Tinkerbell.

I think it turned out pretty cute...HUGE, but cute. Silly me accidentally ordered a 1/2 sheet cake instead of the customary 1/4 sheet cake so needless to say we had TONS of left over cake. That is okay, I sent a big slab of it home with my Aunt for her teenage girls since they weren't able to make it for the party, plus Cash Wise cakes with whipped frosting are Duke's favorite so he had plenty left to satisfy his cravings for a long, long time!

Audrey got tons of fun toys and clothes. She got a shopping cart, some plastic vegetables to go in her cart, clothes and shoes from Grandma and Papa. Papa even had to help her get it open so she could play with it right away!

She got a really neat coloring crayon carrying bag filled with goodies and an outfit from Auntie Brenda, Uncle Jody, Austin, Bailey and Carter and a super cute dress from Auntie Julie, Uncle Karl and Emily. Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Jerry couldn't make it down for the party so they sent her some money to fill her piggy bank and Auntie Kala, Uncle Russ, Olivia, Chloe and Evan are doing a savings bond for her.
What a lucky little girl she is. Now, as for her manners, that is a whole nother story! Check out this mannerless little princess...

Not only was she a nose-picker at her birthday...she also felt compelled to whip her foot up on the table during dessert and proceeded to pick out "toe jam". Mmmmm... It is really no surprise to me that she did this, but I think my Aunt was a little shocked at her antics. I had to giggle when I heard my Aunt politely (and light-heartedly) explain that 'good little girls don't do that at the dinner table.' HA! Leave it to my little dumplin' to show her how we roll round' here! :)

Something happened with my camera around the time we were singing 'Happy Birthday' so I didn't get any really good ones of her blowing out her candles. The look on her face when everyone was singing to her was priceless.

She felt so special and you could just see it in the smile she had on her face. If I could, I would freeze time and keep my kids little forever, but being able to make memories for them that hopefully stick with them for a long time makes the fact that they are growing up right before my very eyes a little easier to swallow.
Of course, I can't do another post without including a picture of my #1 little man who thoroughly enjoyed celebrating his little Sissy's 2nd Birthday right along with her!

Blessings to all!

Birthdays and Babies

Well, hunting is upon us in Minnesota so to no surprise, I am home with the kids being a "single parent" yet again. We have had a nice, relaxing, and low-key weekend. Actually, we had my friend Julie and her kids Peyton and Meghan over for a sleepover on Fri night. We had pizza, popcorn, played the wii a little and watched movies. Fun times!
I was in a bit of a picture funk this week so not too many good new ones to share, so I guess I will share a few from Tootie's birthday. These pics are from her actual birthday, not her party. I can share those next, but for now this is how we celebrated our baby turning 2.
There were cup cakes...

...and cuteness galore!

Some frosting licking...

...oh, and more two year old cuteness!

And even some sibling love to make a Mama's heart smile.

Then came the present! (Pay no attention to the 'baby' themed bag...it was what I had in the closet and she didn't know the difference!)

But there was a baby in the bag. And a baby stroller, some clothes a nukie and even some diaper changing stuff.

The baby and stroller was a BIG hit! I can truly say Audrey is now into babies! Yay!

Up until her Birthday, she didn't really give any of her babies the time of day. She was busy playing cars with her brother or playing blocks and stacking cups and collecting thing in her purse.

But now it's all about the babies. Undressing them, that is! Not even diapers are allowed by this little mama.

Yes, she likes her babies naked. She has me put their clothes on, only for her to strip them off within two minutes. Not sure what the appeal is with naked babies, but that is the way she likes them.

Well, I guess it is okay to put her slippers on...you know, in case baby's feet get cold and all!

I have a 4 1/2 year old nagging and begging me to go play Lego Batman with him now, so I guess I better get going. Especially since he is currently being extremely polite...when I say "Just one more minute while I proof-read." his reply is "Yes ma'am"

That's my boy!

Tootles!!