Happy Birthday Jordan!!!

Jordan turns 4 today, September 1. It's hard to believe she is four already. It seems like yesterday that I was totally surprised that she was actually a girl. She was non-stop in my belly, so I really thought there was another boy in there. Little did I know that the dancing she did in my belly would be the dancing (and running) that she does around our house everyday. And little did I know that I would have a kid with such curly hair!

Here is what Jordan's been up to the last year...
She played soccer, her first organized sport.
She loves yogurt.
She adores her big brother. And even though he doesn't admit it, he loves her lots too.
She loves, loves, loves candy.
Her favorite toy is her baby doll in the purple outfit.
She is really starting to love dancing and singing. She loves singing in the car.
Loves painting her toenails.
Her most recent love is lip gloss!

She's really starting to grow up. She has her girly moments with lip gloss and fingernail polish, but also can be a tomboy. There are only 3 other girls in our culdesac of 10 kids, so she holds her own with Nerf guns. She even got a Nerf machine gun for her birthday. Of course we had to "girly" it up with some stickers.

Jordan, we love you more than you'll ever know. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!!!

Big, Bad Bowling Party

The nice thing about having Jackson and Jordan's birthdays 5 days apart is that we can double up the birthday party and get it over in one big swoop. The hard thing about having their birthdays 5 days apart is the very same thing. While we save a little $$$ and get it all over with, this party was pure and utter chaos for two hours.

We've done swimming parties and Stomping Grounds and this year we decided to have a bowling party. Let's be honest, it's been 100+ degrees almost every day in August. Anything indoors was a big plus.

So Jackson invited 5 or so of his school friends. Boys had one lane, girls on the other. Some of the boys had been bowling, some had not, but by the end of the game, they were all pros. Jackson has been bowling several times on field trips with the daycare. And he really looked like he knew what he was doing.

Jordan invited 4 friends as well, and of course we invited their cousins. None of the little girls had ever bowled before, and Jordan had only bowled once before, so this was a new adventure for them. It took a while for the ball to get down the lane in a timely manner sometimes, but all in all, it was great.

After bowling a game, it was time for pizza and cupcakes. We had the cupcakes made and then made toppers ourselves. Big thanks to Aunt Carla for helping with the candy melts for the Lego heads.


Jordan went first. She struggled a little blowing out the candles, but eventually got them out.

Jackson was next and didn't have a problem blowing out his candles at all.

I know one little girl really liked the blue icing. ;)

After the party, we went home and the kids opened their presents. They loved everything they got. When I asked them what their favorite was, they couldn't answer because everything was so great.

We spent the rest of the day inside playing with all the new stuff! Also trying to stay cool... the high was 110!

Birthdays - Part II

We had birthday parties for Jackson and Jordan's friends the Saturday between their birthdays. Aunt Gayle and Uncle Mark were generous enough to share their pool for the parties. (Thank you!!!) We also had a Bounce House from our friends Amanda and Mark (Thanks, guys!!! )

Jordan's party was first. Her friends came and swam and had snacks and cupcakes. Of course Jordan requested a pink princes birthday party.


Here are the princess crown cookies I made for the party.


Blowing out the candles.




Jordan's party was so nice and calm and didn't prepare us for the chaos that we were about to have when all the BOYS came for Jackson's party. This was a Transformers party.


Blowing out the candles.


Jackson with Nana and Papa.



With Grandma and Popo.


Fun in the sun!


Jack and Jordan got lots of great gifts. One of their favorites were these bicycles from Grandma and Popo. We had to try them out immediately!



What fun! I think they'll remember their 3rd and 5th birthday parties for a long time.

Jackson and Jordan Birthday - Part 1

Since Jackson and Jordan's birthdays are only 5 days apart, we combine their parties since they're still young. There were so many birthday activities over the course of 2 weeks, I'll just jump right in.

Jack and Jordan have many friends that live on our culdesac, so we started with a movie party the Friday evening before Jack's birthday. We served movie style food and played a movie on a big screen TV in the garage.

Each one had their own cupcakes to share with their friends.



On the day of Jackson's actual birthday, we were able to have lunch with him. So Kenny and I picked up McDonald's (where else) and had lunch with Jackson and brought cookies to share with his classmates.

Here he is while the pre-K kids sing Happy Birthday.


Here are Jackson and Daddy passing out cookies to his friends. Jackson requested dinosaur cookies, so Mommy had to deliver.


I think they were a hit!

Happy Birthday Jordan Clare!!!

Jordan turns 3 on September 1!!! I can't believe how fast the past three years have flown by. I remember screaming "WHAT?!?!?!" when the doctor said that she was a girl. I just knew she was a boy. But I can't say I regret for one second having a little girl. She definitely keeps us on our toes. Jordan is totally a girly-girl and loves wearing jewelry and having her toenails painted. She LOVES the color pink too! She has a little bit of a tomboy in her too. She likes to play catch and always pulls out her baseball glove, which is pink, by the way. Jordan is always smiling and loves to give hugs and kisses. She's got crazy, curly hair which definitely makes her her!

Just a few days old...


With Big Brother...


And now.


Happy, happy birthday sweet girl!!! We love you soooo much!

Happy Birthday Jackson!!!

Our big boy is 5 today! I can’t believe it. It seems like just yesterday the doctor was coming in her office telling us “It’s a great day to have a baby!” Jackson is a typical little boy. He loves firetrucks, trains, Transformers and Legos. His favorite TV show right now is Phineas and Ferb and his favorite toy is his Buzz Lightyear. His favorite foods are Sloppy Joes, strawberries, cantaloupe and pizza.

Here’s a peek of Jackson thru the years.

He definitely bleeds maroon. :-)


With baby sister in 2007.


And now.


Happy Birthday sweet boy!!! Mommy and Daddy love you very, very much!!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Carla!!!

Happy, happy birthday! We hope you have a great day!!! Thanks for all you do for us! We really appreciate it, and love you LOTS!!!!!

We celebrated Carla's 50th birthday Friday night with a surprise party at her house. She was really, really surprised. I don't know how many times I almost slipped up, or called her with a question about HER party! But nobody spilled the beans, which was great. We had so much fun! Tara, Tamara and Martin did a great job organizing it all. I Wish I had taken a picture of the "Fifty and Fabulous" shot glass!!!


I did get pictures of the cookies I made. This was my first attempt with numbers, and I think they really turned out really cute!