Birthday Par-tay!

This year, for Kailyn's 5th birthday, we were able to hold the party at my parents' house so that we could invite both Ryan and my families (our house just isn't big enough). With this blessing we were able to plan a wonderful "princess" party for Kailyn to enjoy surrounded by family who LOVE her!Our little treat buffet....the kids got to load up a treat bag with goodies before heading home! I got most of this idea from my girlfriend Lindsey! If you're interested you can visit her website: www.goodiebagbuffets.com

Her blanket from Gma Stehouwer....Kailyn got to help pick out the colors but hadn't seen it finished yet...she LOVES it!Kailyn and her cake......she was so happy with how it turned out! I am too, but I couldn't have done it without my mom there to frost it and figure out some of the design things! Thanks mom!
The kids digging in to the candy and filling their bags....yummy!Every year on their birthday the kids put a handprint on their tree in the playroom at my parents! So, since we were already there, we decided to have Kailyn add her 5th handprint to her tree....she did a great job!

Thanks again Mom and Dad for opening your home for us to use and for all the help in preparing the cake and the food....I love you guys!

And to my precious birthday girl....Happy Birthday, we LOVE you!

Divas!!!!!

To celebrate Kailyn's 5th birthday this year she got to choose one friend to do something special with!!!! She chose her bff Anne Hope to join us in a morning at Stanely Harris getting our hair and nails done and then to Mc D's for a happy meal! All the kids also recieved a cup of ice cream(at McD's)...Kailyn's came with a candle in it and the amazing employee singing "Happy Birthday!" The Divas!!!Thanks to my friend Andrea who made it possible to take the girls without a tag-along!!!!! What a fun way to spend a birthday:)

Really!?!?!

It's so hard to believe that my baby girl turns 5 today!!!! I know every mom feels this way, but I just can't get over how amazing she has become. I know she's ready to be 5 when I listen to her talk and watch her play and pretend, but I'm not so sure I'm ready:) Here are a few of her 5 year pictures taken by Sears:Happy 5th Birthday sweet girl!! We love you so much and are proud of who Jesus is making you to be! Keep on loving Him and always give your best!

Snowman!

This past week's theme in preschool was winter, snow and ice! What better way to finish up a theme like that than to go outside and enjoy all that is winter??? Well...that's just what we did and here is our amazing snowperson (not sure whether the sticks on top look like spikey hair or a tiara)! And this time we actually had full size carrots for the nose....we also used red berries off a bush for the buttons, rocks for his eyes and acorns the kids still had stashed from the fall for his eyes. Happy Winter!

ICE!!!!!

This past weekend there was an ice sculpting competition downtown Holland!!! This is the first year we were able (interested?) in attending....so we met up with my parents and my brother to watch a little carving in action! What each contestant started with........

Here's what they could make out of it......an angel,
a swordfish,a hammer-head shark,a burger, (Dad was getting a little hungry....haha!)a butterfly,a fish.

What a great experience....and the kids really loved to tell us what each sculpture was. This is definitely a not to miss event in the future!

Beach Day!

During the first week of January we extended our break, seeing as we did school the whole week before Christmas. So, to break up the week a little for the kids, we had a BEACH DAY!!! We hauled out the sun umbrella, shorts and t-shirts, sun hats, beach towels, water (blue sheet), and sand (Duplo blocks). We built sand castles and even did a little swimming and sitting in the "sun." The kids also got to pack their lunches in their new lunchboxes that they got for Christmas.....the morning was a hit, especially after I dug out their beachballs!!!!!

They got a little crazy with the beach balls after a while! I even tied in a craft and was able to find a summer Dora about the beach to watch:) The kids are asking already when we get to do it again!