Preston's Third Birthday

We celebrated Preston's birthday a few days early so Grand, Celeste and I could celebrate!  Preston is three! Where has the time gone?  

I swear this was just yesterday!

Now look at this big boy!

We had a big picnic with hot dogs and hamburgers with all the yummy fixings!  We had so much fun watching Preston open his presents.  He was so excited about everything.  Preston tried to act a little shy because he knew he was the center of attention.  I loved it!

My sister makes the most amazing cakes!  I am lucky if I get frosting on my cakes.  She on the other hand makes works of art!  Look at this awesome triceratops! Isn't it incredible?

Happy Birthday cute boy! Auntie loves you!

Celeste is One!

Another quick flashback!  I just got these pictures back from Celeste one year photo shoot.  I am in love!

Look at this cute little girl!

I love her face when she laughs!  How can you not smile?

Daddy and daughter.

While we were changing outfits Sierra snatched this cute picture of Grant!  I love his genuine smile.

This tutu was so easy to make and look at how cute Celeste is in it!  Celeste knew she was cute too!

Grant thought it was a funny to wear the tutu as a hat.

We got her a little birthday cake.  She was a little nervous about putting her fingers in the cake, but she got the hang of it.

Grant (the kid who hates frosting on his fingers) tried to show Celeste how to get messy in her cake.  It was so funny!

I was SHOCKED when I saw Grant eat the cake with his face.  I made Sierra take a picture of it!

Grant wrote this sweet note for her.  It says, "The best sister and happy birthday."  I thought it was so sweet.

Celeste's First Birthday

Celeste is one!  I rounded out the rainbow theme with balloons and star sprinkles on her cake.  Grant was a great birthday helper.  He helped decorate the night before.  Celeste was also a good girl.  She wasn't a huge fan of the cake, but didn't pitch a big fit like Grant did.  

Grant loved helping her open her presents.

Do you not love this tutu?  Isn't it adorable?  I made the bow to match.  I also made a cupcake onesie.  There will be lots more pictures to come of Celeste in her tutu.  I had some professional pictures taken for the special birthday occasion.

The Cake

I found this rainbow cake in a magazine and I loved it.  I thought it would be so much fun for Celeste's birthday.  I made the cakes about a week in advance and then froze them.  I frosted them all on her birthday.  When you cut the cake it looked so awesome!

This is the first time I have ever done anything more fancy than just frosting a cake in a pan. I was really proud of how cool it turned out.

Grant's 6th Birthday

Grant's "real" birthday was a great day!  He was so excited to be 6.  We spent the morning playing and I took him to DK Donut shop.  I let him pick out his birthday donuts.  Grant didn't want birthday cake, but rather birthday donuts.  In the afternoon Grant went to school.  He was excited to tell his friends that he was now 6.  While he was at school I finished wrapping his birthday presents.  We had French Toast for dinner, per Grant's request.  Grant opened his presents and thanks to modern technology Uncle Lee in Arizona and Grandma and Chris from Utah were able to watch him open presents.   He had a great day and is so excited to be 6!

Kindergarten Birthday Celebration

Grant's kindergarten teacher celebrates all of the birthdays in a month at once.  So, the Friday before Grant's real birthday was a birthday treat day.  The kids in the class sang to the birthday kids.  Then they ate the special birthday snacks.  Grant wanted to take rice kris pie treats, however Ms. Clegg doesn't like to have more than one sweet treat.  We had the choice of bringing crackers, cheese or carrot sticks.  Grant's exact words are, "that is lame! Carrots aren't a treat.  I don't want to bring stupid carrots for my birthday."  We decided on crackers and cheese.  Another girl brought cookies and someone else brought fruit.  Grant liked having the kids sing to him and having me come to his class. 

Double Birthday Party

On Sunday we had a little party for Grant and Evy.  In the past my sister and I would throw the kids a big themed birthday party.  We haven't been able to have joint cousin parties since we moved away.  This was as close as we could get. 

Grant opened a few presents from my mom.  A Star Wars book and the Millennium Falcon.  I love the picture of pure surprise.  It is a little blurry, but I love the look of pure shock on his face. 

I made a pumpkin cake (per Grant's request) and we blew out candles twice.  We also sang Happy Birthday twice.  Happy Birthday to Grant! Happy Birthday to Evy!

My Birthday!

I totally failed to take any other pictures on my birthday except for this one.  

My birthday started out like any other day.  I got the kids up and ready for the day.  We ate breakfast and played for a while.  I took Grant to school in the afternoon.  Celeste had another physical therapy appointment in the afternoon.  She is making progress and we are almost done with therapy.

I spend the rest of the afternoon holding my sweet baby.  After Grant got home from school I made BBQ sandwiches and broccoli salad for dinner.  I love broccoli salad with vinaigrette dressing.  I am also a sucker for BBQ.  

I hardly got two bites before Auna, my friend and neighbor, came to pick me up.  We went shopping for a few hours with her daughter Emme.  I got a few new shirts, a new skirt, and a new dress.   I had a great time and was so grateful to my friend Auna for taking me, however, it was a little sad knowing I will never go birthday shopping with my Grandma.  Since my 13th birthday I have gone shopping every year with my Grandma.  We always went out to lunch and to a number of different stores.  Sometimes the mall and sometimes other stores.  It was sad to think those days are over!

Kyle bought me some new garments, which I desperately needed!  I had stretched all of mine out when I was pregnant with Celeste.  

Auna has a recipe for an AMAZING peach dessert.  It is so yummy!  I had made the dessert earlier in the day and after I got home we ate some of it.  Yum! I have always loved fresh peaches and I love that my birthday always falls during peach season!  

We started getting ready for bed when I received the message my Grandma had passed away.  We knew it was coming, but I was still sad.  I will miss her so much.

Preston Turns 2

In Utah we were able to celebrate Preston's 2nd birthday!  I love Preston to pieces.  He is so adorable.  He loves Thomas the train and basketball.  Preston loves to be around animals and go outside.  

My Dad was super excited for Preston's birthday.  He bought these hilarious birthday glasses at the dollar store.  No one else would wear them.  All the kids thought they were dumb, but Papa wore them.  It was hilarious!

Preston got some Thomas trains, a few books, and some clothes for his birthday.  We gave him a T-Ball set.  We thought he should broaden his horizons to other sports besides basketball.

Evelyn and Celeste have matching zebra outfits.  Evy loves her zebra outfit, but Celeste has been too small for hers.  Now that Celeste has started gaining weight she finally can wear her zebra outfit.  We had to take pictures of the cute girl cousins.

My sister is the most talented cake decorator.  She has never taken a class or anything.  She is just talented!  She made Preston this adorable Thomas cake.  He loved it!

The best part: He knew he was cute!