Birthday Traditions!

One of my favorite birthday traditions involves going to the mall! On the kids' second b-days we took them to build-a-bear to make a bear and get an outfit....so each year since (for Kailyn) when we go on the other child's b-day the non-birthday child gets to pick something under $10! This year however, we had gotten a free animal coupon and Kailyn received a $5 gift certificate from build-a-bear workshops, so we decided to let her make another animal and put her gift certificate towards an outfit! Will also got to choose an outfit for his bear (the first since he made his) and he chose a sport ball PJ for Big D! Kailyn chose a puppy and named her Haley.....she picked out a skirt and little heart hoodie and some shoes (which she will be getting from grandma for her birthday)! What a great experience to see the difference and excitement from when Kailyn was only 2 till now! She is helping to put the stuffing in her bear...notice her foot on the pedal!

Then it was off to the carousel for the traditional birthday ride! The kids love riding carousels, but this is the only time we do it at the mall:)
Kailyn and her puppy, Haley. She waited until after lunch to get her out of her house and hold her....I was proud at how patient she was:)Will loved putting Big D on his shoulders....you can't really see his new jammies, but they're cool!

After a little shopping the kids and I took grandma to Olga's and had a wonderful lunch! The kids were awesome....I couldn't have asked for a better morning:) Thank you Lord for the blessing of four years with our precious daughter and for birthday traditions that bring us closer together!