Celebrating Layla

Summer birthdays = fun!  Whew, we had a busy FOUR days celebrating the five year old!  We had her birthday, birthday party and then her beloved Shea and Liam over for the weekend.  It was so much fun and Layla loved it.  She told me she wished every day could be her birthday.  Sorry, little girl...I need the clock to slow a bit between five and six :) 

 

Any other little girls out there obsessed with the soft Disney princess dolls?  

Layla loves them.

  

Happy birthday with a cinnamon roll!

 

Layla's actual birthday was rainy so we headed to the children's museum.  Outside the museum they had a fun and free exhibit going on for the day.  Layla got to pick what she wanted to be when she grew up.  She picked a vet and then the workers took a picture of Layla with a green screen behind her.  Then they placed her photo in a vet office.  Layla loves a Yorkie dog, so she was tickled with the picture.  Pretty fun!

 

 

 

Ryan and Layla being super silly at Applebee's for lunch!

Crab legs.  We like to get them from the seafood counter at our local grocery store.  Yum!  And Grady finally got a real taste now that he is two.  We have a fourth family member obsessed!

Layla loved the cake pops Lisa made for the party.  Layla really wanted Octonaut cake pops and Lisa did awesome transforming the cake pops into the characters.  They were a hit and so easy to serve for a kid party!

 

Shea loved them too!

Cousin time!

Mini doughnut shop for breakfast!  This is the first time we took this group to a restaurant and everything got eaten! 

Celebrating Becky's graduation from high school!  Way to go, Becky!

Cousin camp-out! 

 

Happy birthday to Layla.  What a fun weekend for a fun little girl!  Birthday party pictures to come!

FIVE!

Layla is pictured at two weeks old and five years old.  Layla was in a newborn onesie in the baby picture.  Everything was huge on her.  She was so teeny!

Layla is a sweet, spunky and thoughtful little girl.  She loves lots of time at home to play.  She loves her toys.  A lot.  She could play with miniatures (dollhouses, princesses, squinkies, playmobils) all day long.  Layla is reserved in group settings but has an outgoing personality if you know her well.  She loves to bird watch.  She loves flowers.  She talks about our old house.  Often.  She doesn't enjoy change.  She was taken off her medication for seizures (so thankful for this!) and even missed taking her medicine every day.  She loves books and kid magazines.  She loves book stores.  She loves being a big sister.  Sometimes she likes to assert her big sister role a little too much!  Layla loves Disney Junior and the computer and the iPad.  She enjoys reading Bible stories right now.  She would currently like to be a teacher, vet, scientist, hair dresser or store owner when she grows up.  She knows she definitely does not want to dive with sharks.  She adores her family.  And loves to talk to everyone like they know them too :)

We have a big year ahead of us.  I know she will grow up so much this year.  We are in shock that our little girl is five.  It just does not seem possible.  But we are so proud of the skipping, singing, dancing girl she has become!!  Happy birthday, Layla!

Celebrating Grady, the two year old!

This year, we decided to take Grady's birthday party out of the house.  He is one busy boy and he needed one active party to celebrate turning two.  We headed to a little gym for the party with a few friends.  I liked this party because it fit Grady's personality but it felt a little funny to keep it so simple on my end.  BUT I loved not having the house preparation and I really got to enjoy the party with Grady and Layla!! 

And Grady had a blast so that was great.  He was one busy and happy boy.  Perfect!

 Lunch bags! 

Favors (Dollar Tree!)

 

  Present time!  This fun latch board was made by my friend Stephanie and her husband Adam.

My favorite part of the day, parachute time!

 

A lot of times when Grady plays with the bigger kids, he ends up being "assigned" to play the lion or bear in pretend play games.  I think it is so funny when he embraces this role :)

Grady's shirt was simple to make, just a bit time-consuming to sew around the letters and number.  Hobby Lobby actually had little shirts without pockets on the front.  Those plain white shirts are tough to find for little boys.  The front of Grady's shirt said, "T-W-O."

Grady was pretty cute with his birthday cupcake.  He smiled and looked around at everyone singing during the happy birthday song and then he blew out both candles at once.  And he didn't touch the candles!  Sweet!

More birthday fun!

 

Choo choo restaurant

 

 

How old are you!?!

Preschool...out!

From the second I stepped into Layla's preschool last year, I knew leaving preschool and going to kindergarten would be hard.  I honestly had trouble leaving Layla for five hours a week last year.  It is sure to be an interesting transition in the fall!   

But Layla and Ryan are pumped for kindergarten and I will get there....eventually!!

 

Layla loves picking out different flowers for the teachers.

 

Layla's wonderful teachers.  We could not have picked a better group for Layla.

Layla and her beloved "My Little Ponies" in the classroom.

Watermelon party to end the year!!

 

 And one last round at the preschool park!  What a great couple of years!  Now onto a great summer!

T-W-O

 

We cannot believe Grady is two.  He is a fun little boy.  He cracks us up.  A lot.  He loves to be included.  He loves to tag along with Layla.  He is obsessed with Ryan to the point that he will no longer let me put him to sleep at night.  He has the sweetest smile.  He loves to run free.  He has little fear of hurting himself.  He keeps me on my toes.  I run after him.  Often.  He is getting faster and smarter :)  He is suddenly fascinated by trains.  He still loves balls, especially basketballs.  He is very intrigued by Thomas the Train.   He was made to be a mover. 

 

Grady is such a blessing to our family.  

We are excited to watch him grow.  But boy, what a fun little guy to experience right now.