Carter is 3!

I can't believe our boy is 3 years old. That's more than half way to... shhhhhhhh - kindergarten (insert tear). I can honestly say that every year he gets to be more and more and more fun! Yes, discipline / fits / etc... will always be a part of life with a toddler, but this is a super fun age! I'm trying to treasure it because I know it will be gone so fast!

Carter LOVES birthdays, so the week before his birthday, we talked about his birthday coming up. I told him we would have a birthday party, and he said "I eat cake? I have birthday candles? I sing Happ Birday to You?" Everyday he would wake up and ask if it was his birthday, we would talk about the fact that it was still a few days away, and he would keep patiently waiting. I wanted to do something big so that he would KNOW when he woke up that it was his birthday, so we did this...

...we crepe papered him in and filled his room with balloons. That morning, he woke up and I heard him saying "help, mommy, help!" He could see the balloons in the dark, but didn't know what was going on....I snuck my way into his room and turned on the light for him. He looked around, got out of bed, and said "Wow mommy! Wook at all these balloons!!! This my balloon birthday!" :) Success. He was thrilled with his birthday balloons. We probably played in there for about 45 minutes! 

Since we are living at Nana and Papa J's house right now, we had a pool party with a few friends and family. It was a beautiful day, and Carter had such a fun time playing with his family/cousins/friends! I found some Toy Story decor at Party City since our birthday party decor was in storage! 

He got a fishing pole from Grandmama and Granddaddy, and he was a pro by the end of the day!

Of course, we had cake and sang "Happy Birthday to Carter" one of his all time favorite songs :) He was beaming with joy the whole time we sang to him! We swam, ate, opened presents, and had such a fun day! 

Yes, that is his finger in the cake - just couldn't wait...

I love that Carter is 3! The growing up part is bittersweet, but I just love that he can tell us what he's thinking!!! At the end of his birthday, I was lying in bed talking to him about the day. We always sing a song at night, and he requested that we sing "Happy Birthday to Carter" again :) Then I told him that 3 years ago he was the special gift that God gave to his daddy and me, so that's why we celebrate with gifts. I told him that God made him so very special, and handsome, and funny, and kind....he looked at me and said, "Yep, Mommy, and God made me tired." 

Ha! It was a good day, and we were all tired and ready for bed that night...

For the record, here are some more funny things you've said lately that I don't want to forget...

1. We were playing army men ("Uncle Jason"), and you wanted the men to hit at each other, and you said "he has a float!" I realized that you thought all the army men were holding fun noodles. We then had a fun noodle / army man war :)

2. You gobbled up the zucchini on your plate...turns out you thought it was "Zoo Candy" 

3. You made a mess at supper. Daddy told you "We'll clean it up." You thought your friend Will was going to come clean it up. 

4. I was trying to talk about something at supper with Daddy, Nana, Papa J, and "Uncle" Matt. I stuttered and said "o-o-obligation" and you thought that was hilarious! You started poking fun at me and repeating my stuttered word! You are your father's child :) 

5. We were swimming in the pool. Daddy and I always come up to you with our hand out of the water like we are a shark and say "Duh-nuh, duh-nuh, duh-nuh" like the Jaws music....a little while after I did that one time, you started swimming around with your hand out of the water saying "donut, donut, donut." You're such a funny kid!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Carter! 

I love you, and I love that you love birthdays and parties as much as I do!

Miles's First Birthday

We celebrated Miles's first birthday on May 4, 2013. We had a few church friends and family over for a Dump Truck Party! It turned out to be a cold, rainy day, but that didn't stop us from having a wonderful time with friends and family. Miles even took his first real steps that morning in preparation for the party - such a big one-year-old boy! I love first birthday parties - I love all parties, but especially the first! To me, it's a celebration that we all made it through the first year (can I get an Amen?!?!). Here are some pictures from that day...

We were able to use the banners from when Carter turned one, and I made Miles his own hat and 12 month picture banner. We gave bubbles, fruit snacks, and sidewalk chalk to our guests.

We decorated the table with dump truck themed food, and used diaper boxes and sheets to add some height/interest to the table. I bought some cardstock and went to town printing things out...pretty much if it is dump truck party themed and made of paper, I designed and printed it from Powerpoint :) 

The food - yummo! Yes, I scrubbed and scrubbed those dump trucks and foil lined them...then they went right back outside :)

It was such a fun time with friends and family. Of course, big brother Carter more than willing to help Miles open his presents.

I always forget how slowly (my kids) smash cake experiences start out, but they certainly get the hang of it :) Again, big brother was more than willing to help out! 

Thankful for loving and supportive grandparents who not only kept Carter and Miles the week before the party, but then traveled all the way here to celebrate with us!!!

On his "real" birthday, we had a family pizza night and he opened his presents from us - a water table and a big huge ball :) He also smashed cupcake all in his mommy's face! Love that boy :)

Happy Birthday, Miles! 

We love you.

Carter's 2nd Birthday Party

It was about a month ago, but if you'll excuse my lateness on posting this blog, I think you'll enjoy it :)

Carter loves the back yard and all of it's possibilities! So I thought we'd have a backyard bash for his 2nd Birthday! What better way to celebrate turning 2 than with lots of fun with lots of friends?

We had water balloons!

A shaving cream slide/tarp - SOOOOO MUCH FUN!

He got pretty into this activity :)

Sandbox fun! 

A bouncy house that our friends let us borrow (Thanks, Sheas :)

Watermelon pops were a good way to fill up and cool down!

We had some fun summer snacks in the kitchen...


Since we didn't really have a theme...I got a Mickey Mouse Beach cake at Publix!


He loved his "Mouse Cake"

This boy knows how to eat cake :)

We had such a fun time celebrating this 2 year milestone. Thank you to all our friends and family who made it such a special day! 

Party, Party!

Here are the things that I made for Carter's 1st Birthday Party. Yes, I know it was more than a month ago - goodness, it was almost 2 months ago!!! What can I say, I have a 1 year old!

The outfit....

I even made it reversible so that he could wear it after his big day!

The banner...

The hat & high chair banner....

It was so fun to add my handmade touches to his 1st Birthday Party! I really enjoyed making these things, and plan to use (some of) them again!

DISCLAIMER: Please don't think I'm a supermom who has it all together though. On the morning of his party, I got so wrapped up in greeting the grandparents/getting ready for the party - I TOTALLY FORGOT TO PUT ON MAKEUP!!!! Yes, I had 40 people at my house - and not a stitch of makeup on my face. We also went out to eat to Logans on his "real" birthday because I was so tired from the party :-) I remembered to wear makeup to Logans!

I am a real mom.