Super Sweet Candy Party

Today we celebrated Alyssa's 4th birthday, inviting all of our friends and family to Alyssa's Sweet Shoppe. I found the idea of a candy party online and thought it would make a colorful, fun summer party! There were close to 50 people at the party, so it took a lot of planning and work to make it a success. Luckily, my sister and niece were in town, so the week before I asked them for help in making decorations. We constructed some lollipops that we stuck in the grass leading up to the pool, as well as candy bracelet wrapped silverware, a Dum-Dum lollipop tree, a candy bar (make your own treat bags), and a candy cake! We were lucky enough to be able to have the party at a friend of ours house, and make use of the huge backyard and pool. I went over early and decorated and set up, then Alyssa came just as her friends were arriving. She was so excited to see the party! It was all a surprise so she didn't know anything about the theme, decorations or candy bar. She said, "Oh thank you mama for this candy party! This is the best party I never had!" Andy BBQ'd some dinner, we swam, had cake and treats and Alyssa opened her gifts. She was so grateful for all the presents as she said thank you to each individual person after she opened the gift. I must say she had a fantastic party and we, the grown-ups, had fun planning and decorating for this special day. Thank you to everyone who made this day special for Alyssa and to Michelle and Kelly for letting us take over your backyard!

We made candy bracelet napkin rings

Decor

Dum Dum lollipop tree we made

Alyssa & her friends eating

Instead of treat bags, I did a make your own candy bag, candy bar

More candy bar.......

and more candy bar.......

all the kids swimming

Alyssa and Maddie

4 short years ago

Happy Birthday to our baby girl who is 4 today! I can't believe how fast you are growing into a special little girl! You have enriched our lives and gave us the opportunity to make a lifetime of memories with you.

This has been quite a year for you! You successfully completed two sessions of swimming lessons, learned to make your bed, help with the laundry and take out the recycling. You can also write most of the letters of the alphabet including spelling and writing out ALYSSA! You can count forwards and backwards and up to ten in Spanish. You can fully dress yourself and use the potty all alone.

You have so many friends to be thankful for and for the opportunity to enjoy fun activities with. You had many birthday parties, Valentine's Day parties, went to the circus, Disney on Ice, Walking with the Dinosaurs, too many park play dates to count and a few pool parties! You shared these fun times with Maddie, Sophia, Aidan, Jordan and Evan.

You love to do arts and crafts, swim and most of all "spend over the night" with Grandma & Papa and Nanny & Opa.

We love that you are so full of life and excitement, joy, love, happiness and the eagerness to learn and explore.

Lots of love, hugs and kisses,
Mama and Dada

A few pictures from our family birthday celebration ~ Alyssa chose to order pizza for her dinner birthday!

Gifts from Mama, Dada & Jaden

Yummy chocolate cake

Crib for Dolly Madison - Alyssa's favorite baby

New goggles for swim lessons

Make your own Tinkerbell jewelry

Cinderella wand and crown

Circus and friends

Tonight we enjoyed a mommy and me night out to dinner and then off to the circus. Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus was in town for the weekend so we decided as a group to get tickets for the Friday night show and go out to eat dinner prior. I set out to eat Mexican with Alyssa, Lilyanne and 3 other moms and their 4 kids. Alyssa had such a good time eating out at a restaurant with all of her friends and I actually had a nice, pleasant meal as well.

The circus was fabulous ~ all 2 1/2 hours of it!! Alyssa's favorite parts were the tight rope walkers, the elephants and the tall skinny guys on stilts. It was such a colorful, musical show and there was never a dull or lagging moment. Exhausted after an exciting dinner and long show, Alyssa actually fell asleep 5 minutes before the circus ended!

Aidan, Sophia, Alyssa, Lilyanne, Maddie & Jordan

Silly faces!

Lilyanne and Alyssa with their cotton candy and funny hat

Alyssa was cracking up when the elephant started carrying the dog in the basket

Alyssa's favorite - the tight rope walkers

My climber

I've anxiously been awaiting this day for the last few months. It's officially the day that Jaden has successfully climbed out of his crib. He has attempted a few times before, but never actually made it out! I figured that since he crawled, walked, stood, ran, jumped and climbed early, he probably wouldn't make it in his crib all the way until his second birthday. I'm surprised he lasted this long, but am nervous to see how transforming the crib into a big boy bed will change his sleeping habits. He may be full of double strength energy during the day and never sit, but when it's bed time, he goes right into his crib with no worries, no crying, super easy and off to sleep. I think his freedom to roam around his room just might do him in! We'll see.....

Memorial Day Weekend

I must say we had a fabulous memorial day weekend with friends and family. Grandma and Papa hosted a family BBQ/pool party on Sunday which including lots of snacking, swimming, BBQ dinner, banana daiquiris, more swimming after dark and for dessert ~ and ice cream sundae bar! We, as well as the kiddos, had fun spending time with all the grandparents; Grandma and Grandpa by the water, Nanny and Opa, Grandpa in the blue house, and Grandma and Papa. We are so blessed to be able to provide all of these 'grandparent' memories for our kids!

Papa and daddy thought it would be a good idea to have a trial run on Saturday to see if the margarita machine and grill were working properly for Sunday! We spent most of Saturday over at Grandma and Papa's again, swimming and grilling. This was all just the tip of the iceberg for Alyssa who was able to 'spend over the night' at Grandma's on Friday and Saturday! She is becoming an expert at politely asking the grandparents for a sleepover! She starts by asking, "grandma, do you work tomorrow? Oh good, then can I spend over the night?" So cute! Then she proceeds to make her way to Papa and ask "Papa, can we go to the bagel or donut store in the morning?" And of course, Papa always says yes! She was so excited to get to spend the night and swim all weekend!

Jaden is also becoming a pro and developing his own routine at grandma's. He is getting good at saying, "wa-wa" (water), "hot" (for the grill), "more" (for snacks), "hello", "please" and "thank you" He is all about swimming lately. I'm so glad neither of my kids had much of a fear for water!

Alyssa, Uncle Charlie and Daddy

Grandpa by the water, Grandpa in the blue house, Grandma by the water

Jaden eating his bananas with whipped cream and sprinkles

Alyssa eating her ice cream sundae

Playdate at the park

Today we had one of our first park play dates of spring. We met our friends Gena, Tyler, Chase, Michelle and Aidan and walked to the park for a picnic play date. Alyssa and Aidan chose to ride their scooters to the park and did a great job. It was a hot, sunny day and at 80 degrees I wasn't sure if they would make it there, play for a while and make it back, but they did!! We went to a toddler park and the little boys had a great time together! The moms, too, had a good time since all of the equipment was designed for little people we were able to relax and visit!

Tyler

Aidan

Jaden

Jaden and Tyler playing together

Sparkly teeth

Alyssa's first trip to the dentist went a lot smoother than I had originally thought. The 2 days prior to the appointment she was very scared and was determined not to go! After a few days of talking to her about the dentist, we headed to the appointment. She did so good from the minute we walked into the office. She listened, more than cooperated, got to hold the "sucker" all by herself and ended the trip with a new toothbrush and toothpaste. She was so proud of herself for getting her teeth cleaned and said, "mama, the dentist lady is nice, it's not scary. Look at all my new sparkly teeth!"

And the Easter Bunny arrived.....3 times!

The Easter bunny was fabulous to the kids this year! A little too fabulous I must say so myself! Alyssa was overjoyed and in total excitement when she came down the stairs and ran to the back door to check on the carrots. Lots of bites taken out, and only small pieces of carrot left! "He really did eat it mama and dada!" She began to search the house to locate the baskets. She thoroughly enjoyed her foot tall chocolate bunny and basket with treats. Unfortunately, Jaden my sleeper inner, wasn't awake yet for all of this excitement and Alyssa was having a very difficult time waiting for Jaden to wake up to open his basket. Daddy cooked breakfast and Alyssa patiently waited for Jaden while she sneaked a few pieces of candy. Jaden finally made it and didn't care much about the basket until he opened it and spotted the jelly beans at the bottom! "More, more, more, more....." is about all we heard from him all morning!

All of the family arrived at our house later that morning for an Easter egg hunt in our backyard! Papa, Uncle Wayne and Andy did a good job hiding the DOZENS of filled eggs around the backyard. The older kids all had a blast but Jaden wasn't really sure about why picking up eggs was so much fun.........until he accidentally opened up one and there was candy inside! Needless to say, he filled his bucket quickly after that!

Grandma and Papa arrived with an Easter basket full of goodies, as well as did Nanny and Opa! 3 baskets each for the kids, plus filled eggs = sweet tooth disaster and 2 kids on a sugar high!

After the egg hunt, we headed over to Grandma and Papa's house for Easter brunch. What a delicious lunch. We are so blessed to have the opportunity for our kids to grow up with such a large family and the most thoughtful, wonderful grandparents! Thanks everyone for a great Easter!

"This is the biggest chocolate bunny I never seen!" --Alyssa

Taking a bite out of the bunny before breakfast!

Playing the harmonica she got from Nanny

opening Easter basket #2!

Jaden with basket #3

Not sure about all this stuff!

I love this chocolate bunny! --Jaden

I'm ready for the egg hunt

Taking things away from Alyssa! That's what brothers are for.......

Playing the harmonica again.......

Jaden found a lollipop during the egg hunt!

Alyssa won't open her eyes to see the bunny on the grill! (Papa has told the older nieces for years that he sets a trap, catches the Easter bunny and grills it -- Alyssa wasn't thrilled!)