Birthday Cake!

These pictures are SO old...from back on December 14th at the kids b-day party.  BUT, alas, here they are!

 

Blake was SO excited about his Madagascar cake...Liv was just excited about cake in general :)

Cousin Addy, Liv, and Blake

 Digging in!

 Little Liv is always the best eater of the bunch.  Never have to worry about her getting enough :)

Birthday Party...(way late)

Blake turned 4 on Dec. 13 and Liv turned 2 on Dec. 15 (b/c December isn't crazy enough as it is...I decided to have a couple kids then), so we had a family b-day party on the 14th!

 

It was just immediate family in attendance.  My parents, Ryan's parent, Ryan's grandparents, Ryan's sister Dani and fiance Chris.  Ryan's bother, SIL Arlee, and cousin Addy.  That still makes for a crazy/loud party!

 

Of course Blake wanted his favorite food..tacos, so tacos it was.  He originally wanted to serve cereal, but I told him that probably wasn't appropriate for a dinner party.

We never have a problem getting Olivia to eat.  Blake has always giving us a struggle.  If it is edible she WILL eat it.

Present time!!  We have been on present overload for the past 3-4 weeks.  B-day and Christmas = chaos!

Sweet Livi-kay

SOO many gifts!

 

Giant Mr. Potato Head was a big hit!

Happy Birthday Blake!

One this day four years ago at 6:39p.m. teeny little 6lb.3oz. Blake William entered this world and stole my heart. I can’t believe that my baby is four years old. I told him that I couldn’t believe it this morning. He said to me all seriously and grown-up-like, “I know mom, because I don’t seem like your baby anymore.” I told him that he would ALWAYS be my baby! Happy birthday Blaker! ♥

 

Where is the time going...

I am just sitting here planning a birthday party for my babies...I just cannot believe that in 2 short weeks I will have a 4 year old and a 2 year old! I love watching the grow up, and they are getting much easier...but it all just goes by SO fast.

Seems like we were just having a b0day party for their 3rd and 1st b-days!

 

On that same note...I cannot belie how long it has been since I blogged.  I have a little stock-pile of pictures and stories to post...so I am hoping to get back into the swing of things soon!

Luckiest girl ever!!

I am feeling like I should go to the casino...go buy a lotto ticket....anything.....because I just hit the JACKPOT!!  Yep, that's right....I won Neelys 2000 follower giveaway!!!

 

And...Its my birthday....best b-day present ever, right?!?!

What exactly did I win you ask?!

-One Pair of Classic TOMs your choice from Nordstrom

-My choice of either: Naked Palette or Naked 2 Palette from Urban Decay

-$20 to Starbucks to buy those yummy drinks we all love

-A Tervis Tumbler with my favorite sports team logo on it

-3 Months of a Medium Ad space on Neely's blog

-And a few little surprises thrown in for good measure from Neely herself :)

Seriously...I think that I am still in shock a little.

I am SOOO beyond excited to win this giveaway.  Neely is one of my all time favorite blog friends, and I have been following her for-ever.  We were just tweeting about how far we went back.  Seems like just yesterday that we became blog friends...but in actuality, I think that it was pre-Blake, pre-wedding, years and years ago actually.

ahhhhh, the memories :)

Anywho...go check Neely's blog out....shes the bomb.

Love ya girl!

What Im loving Wednesday

 I have not linked up with Jamie for a What I'm Loving Wednesday in ages...but here goes!!

I am loving that I get to see my sister again in exactly two weeks.  She will be flying home from Denver...and we will be headed to Kentucky!

To go on our girls houseboat trip!  Yay...18 of our closest girls cruising on this beast for 4 days...so much fun!

I'm loving than in less the 2 months we well be headed back to Vegas....to celebrate my sister's and Shawn's wedding!!

Lovebirds when they were back in MI in July!

I am loving that my Blake is having such a seamless transition to preschool.  He is doing great and fitting right in with his new older friends in his new "big boy" classroom!

I am loving how much this little girl is asserting her independence.  18-24 months is an age when SO many changes take place...and she is growing right up on us!!

I am loving that there is a feeling if fall in the air.  This is the best time of year...

I am loving that by birthday is on Friday (well not really)....but whatev!!

What are you loving?!

Link up here!

Piggy tails and Birthdays

Livi Kay sported her first pair of piggy tails today! Oh boy did she think that she was something special (well...she is)...she is just SO sassy and loves to look at herself in the mirror. As a mom, who is as girly as they come, this having a girly-girl is just too fun! Love that her hair is getting longer...and that she LETS me do it!

AND---it is my momma's birthday today! Happy birthday mom/nana! We sure do love you. We would be lost without you. I hope that you have a marvelous birthday and that the coming year is filled with happiness and fun!
The older I get, the more I realize how wonderful my mother is, and what a great job she did (and still does) of raising my sister and I. Love you.

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

Today is my hubby's birthday!! Ryan turns 27 today :). I am SO happy that he was born 27 years ago, and that we met 5 years ago. I know that he won't read this...he isn't into the blog scene...but I wanted to take a day to honor him anyway!

Ryan is SUCH a good dad and husband. We are so lucky.
He is loyal, honest, and a very hard worker. He provides for his family...and for that I am grateful!
At 27 he has already accomplished so much...I look forward to 27 more birthdays and everything that the future has in store for us!
Happy birthday Ryan...love you will all of my heart!!

And she ate cake...

Livi's cake smash photo session wasn't much of a smash at all. Our girl is an eater....and she eats like a big girl! She saw that cupcake and went straight for her mouth. Bless her little heart!!

Liv and Blake are opposites when it comes to eating. She is, and always has been, a great eater. She likes everything. She is always ready to eat. Blake could care less about eating. Eating is a chore for him. It is painful for him to come to the dinner table..he is simply to busy to stop and eat. Ha, I wish I had Blake's problem....too busy to eat?! No such thing!! Liv definitely takes after her mama!! :)

I have a 3 year old!!

I never got around to posting about Blake's 3rd birthday. December is just a crazy month. Blake turned 3. Liv turned 1. Christmas. Parties. Etc. There just really want much time for blogging.

I took Blake to his 3 year well visit yesterday. It seems like just yesterday he was born, and now he is a little guy....not even a baby!! He was 38' tall at his appt. Just over the 50th percentile. He weighed 31.3 lbs. Just under the 50th percentile. His head was in the 50th as well. He is just perfect (but we knew that).

I can't believe how much my little guy has changed in just three years.

On the day that he was born:
At his 1st Birthday:

Second Birthday:

Third Birthday party: If I could only stop the clocks and keep him little forever!!!......

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I am linking up with Jamie today for What I'm Loving Wednesday!!

1. I am loving that it is my birthday today!! Well...maybe I am NOT loving that I am getting a year older, but I do love all of the attention that comes along with my birthday. I have been getting lots of phone calls, e-mail, facebook messages (over 100 already!), and tweet love! Thank you all for being so sweet!
I am celebrating by going out to dinner with my family tonight. Tomorrow I am going out with my girlfriends. I already went to lunch and shopping with my mom! I am pretty lucky. PLUS, Blake said to me on the way to school today "It's mama's birthday...its her special day"....awww...bless his little heart!

2. I am loving this grilled pizza that I made last night. I used this recipe from one of my favorite sites. It was delish. I grilled veggies that we grew in the garden!!

Ready to go in the oven....

Yummm...delish!!

3. I am loving that I made my first batch of dill pickles! This is my 1st attempt at canning (aside from Strawberry Freezer Jam). I am anxious to see if it worked! If so, I am going to make lots more, because we have TONS of pickles/cukes growing in the garden!

Once I get the hang of it I may even try to make some salsa!!

4. I am loving that I am featured over here on this awesome lady's blog today!! How cool....and it even worked out that I was posted on my birthday too :)

5. OF course I am always LOVING by adorable babies!! Here they are at the fair the other night!!

What are you loving?!!? Go link up here!!