4 years old!?

How did my baby get to be 4 years old already!? What a sweet girl Sapphira is!  When people get hurt or are sad, she is quick to offer a hug and her la-lee to cheer them up.  She's a tough little cookie...she rarely cries when she gets hurt and is quick to issue a matching offense if Brother is responsible of her discomfort.  While she is terrified of most dogs (especially medium and large dogs), she is getting to be a bit of a daredevil and will try most things once.  In this last year alone, she rode a horse, helped Papa clean some fish and learned to crack eggs with Grandma...all things she would not have done just a year ago.  Her legs are finally long enough to ride her trike and she loves being able to keep up with Malachi.  Daddy is also teaching her a little bit about soccer and she loves kicking the ball with Daddy.  She is also a girly girl who loves pink, purple and Rapunzel.  Dress up is a favorite activity.  Sapphira can write her name with spelling help, knows all her letters and can count to nearly 20.  She sings constantly and ballet class has added many new moves to her dancing repertoire.  Malachi and Sapphira fight like any pair of siblings, but play together well fair more often then they bicker.  She comes up with new "games" for them to play everyday, but they play her "mommy" game everyday (she is the mom and Malachi is the child of some sort) and alternate between being a human and cat family. She is nearly finished with her first year of Cubbies at church and loves to go to club to see Cubbie bear and his friends.  She doesn't like learning the verses from her Cubbies book, but listens intently when Malachi is memorizing his Sparkies verses and tries to learn them herself.  She knows about a quarter of the books of the New Testament by heart.  I think she is close to asking Jesus to come into her heart.  She knows about Jesus and all He did for us and often asks questions about this or the lesson she heard in Sunday School class.  She was so proud when we bought her a big girl Bible this year (it's pink of course!!!) and likes to carry it around and sleep with it if we let her.  She continues to be a Daddy's girl and always goes to him for loves or help over anyone else if he is around.  Her favorite day of the week is Saturday and Sunday because they are "family days" meaning Daddy is home from work and we get to be together all day long.

Every year, we let the birthday kid pick their dinner supper.  Sapphira had a Red Robin supper planned out for a very long time.  Sapphira woke up feeling very sick and feverish on her birthday, so we couldn't go out to eat, but Daddy picked up Red Robin take out for us on his way home from work.  After supper, Sapphira got to open a couple presents from Mommy and Daddy...she was so excited!

 Rapunzel!!!!!

 A Rapunzel CD for her new...

CD player!!!  Her best friend has a CD/radio player in his room and when she goes to his house they are often found in his room with a worship CD playing, dancing and singing to the music.  I knew she'd be over the moon to have her own!!  Funny story...we listened to Sapphira' new CD a couple times before bed and after being in bed for a little while, Malachi gets out of bed to tell us "I was thinking about Sapphira's new song in my head and its too loud."  Samuel said "well just think about it quieter."  "Ok" and he went back to bed...goober.

I just can't imagine life without my girl.  Happy Birthday Sapphira!!!  We love you!

Instagrammin'

Ever since we got our iPhone complete with their awesome cameras, I have been guilty of not using our nice SLR nearly as often as we should. It's heavy, an extra thing to carry with us and we already have our phones with us where ever we go. So, while I get better at schlepping our big camera around, Instagram pics will have to do. ;)

new sparkly shoes; rear view mirror fun; waving goodbye to Daddy

break dancing bee; trying a new drink for the first time in years (it was yummy!!!); love these hands ♥

making new friends; Mother's Day sidewalk art; did anyone else spend grade school recess making daisy chains?

Malachi used part of his birthday money to get himself a Captain America; just chillin'; best buds

racing and running; garage sale fun; so excited about the gift he wrapped and addressed himself

stylin' in her new tutu from Grandma; Natalie's rose in full bloom; interesting outfit choices

5.12.12--Transformers Party!

The Saturday after his actual birthday, we celebrated by having his party at one of our favorite parks with family and friends.  He chose a Bumblebee theme, so we decorated with yellow and black.  We had cake and drinks and tootsie rolls and stickers for treats.  After a bit of playing on the play structures, we all gathered together so a very impatient Malachi could open his presents. :)  While he waited for everyone, I sat down and talked with him and asked him what he was thinking about.  He said he was so excited open presents, show everyone his cake and be able to play with his new toys.  While we chatted, I was able to capture a few of the many faces of Malachi...

 ...happy Malachi...

 ...crazy Malachi...

 ...thoughtful Malachi...

 ...and thirsty Malachi! :)  I found these tiny little soda cans at the grocery store and the kids thought they were so cool.  Malachi thought it was even cooler when I told him he could have his own can.  The kids don't get soda very often, so this was an extra special treat! :)

Finally we got to the presents!  Gaga and Boppa gave him a few more Transformers and some fun Transformer knee pads.  Very exciting!

They also gave him a new digger and forklift...these are also a favorite!  GG and Grandpa GG gave him a new movie and some birthday money to spend, Anut Debbie and Uncle Rod gave him a nice pair of shorts and a Spiderman shirt (!!).

His favorite present of the year had to be this Ironman "3 in 1 Repulsor".  He has been wanting an Ironman "arm thing" so badly and was estatic to be able to have his own!  It shoots little "missles", makes super hero noises when you move your arm around and has a light on the palm of his hand that lights up and makes more noises when he does the Ironman pose.  So much fun!!!

Be sure to check out his special demonstration! :)

We got this cake at Wally World of all places...it was soooo yummy!  Who knew they made such fun cakes?  Malachi picked it out himself and was so excited to have the characters to bring home after we ate.

We also had a special visitor!  Bumblebee himself appeared at our party! ;)  He and I hid behind a tree while he put on his costume and then I annouced our special guest and he jumped out from behind the tree.  Everyone oohed and awwed and he was so concerned that people didn't know who it really was so he pulled off his mask and yelled, "It's just me!!".  He always wants to pretend to be a character is his costume, but is always worried we don't know it is really him...so silly.

 He displayed some awesome super hero moves...

 ...and then we sang to him.

 He tried to blow it out with his mask on with no luck!  He got it on the second try though!

With all the airbrushed paint on the frosting, we all had funny colored teeth and tongues, but Sapphira's was by far the darkest!

 Yummo!

Even though he was incredibly hot, he insisted on playing in his costume for a while.  One little boy even walked by and said, "Hi, Bumblebee!"  Malachi thought that was pretty cool! ;)

Another great day to ahve fun celebrating this great boy!  Happy Birthday sweet boy...here's to another wonderful year!

Happy Birthday, Malachi!!!

How can my baby boy be 5 years old already??  I was looking back at baby pictures of him last night, and I can hardly believe that I was holding that tiny little boy 5 whole years ago...sigh.

Malachi, what a sweet boy you are! You are currently obsessed with the super heroes and the new Avenger's movie and it's toys have you very excited!  Emergency and contruction vehicles are also an "all the time" favorite.  Red and blue are your favorite colors. 

You are super excited to start kindergarten in the fall, but I think you might have a hard time being away from your sister every day.  Just the other day, Mommy and Sapphira went to a wedding while you stayed home with Daddy.  You saw something on tv and jumped up to find Sapphira to tell her all about it, only to come back to the living room with a bummed look on your face to tell Daddy "I forgot, she's not here...".  You try so very hard to be obedient all the time, but struggle listening to Mommy and Daddy and doing what we ask right away...you'll get it soon enough.  You are developing a sense of humor.  You try to tell jokes and often find humor in the things Mommy and Daddy say and do.

You are such a caring boy.  When one of us gets hurt, you get quite concerned and make sure to help us if you can.  Every morning, when you snuggle with Mommy in bed before your sister wakes up, you bring an extra "lee-lee", so I can have one to cuddle, too.  You don't like to kill bugs, especially spiders, that get in the house because they are your friends.  (Sapphira is on Mommy's side and will get a shoe to kill them for me! :D)  You are also a friendly boy and make friends whenever we go to parks or play places.  You also like to share your toys with your friends, like our neighbor friend across the street.  You are constantly on the go..such a busy boy.  You love playing outside for hours on end and riding bikes and playing soccer with Daddy are your current favorites.  Each and every morning, you ask "when can we play outside?".

You can count to 13 or 14 on your own and 20 with a bit of help.  You can also write all your letters, your name if I tell you which letters to write, and can recognize 1-10 by sight.  I just can hardly believe what a wonderful boy you are growing to be and can't wait to see what you'll accomplish. 

Happy Birthday, Bubbo!!  We love you so much!!!

Happy Birthday, Sapphira!

Prepare for picture overload!!!  Sorry, I just couldn't narrow it down anymore!!!

How can my baby girl be 3 years old?  Weren't you just born yesterday, Sapphira?  Such a sweet girl you are...very thoughtful and considerate.  Always quick to give a kiss to your brother after he's been hurt, or offer one of your lovies if Daddy or I don't feel good.  You are still attached to your "Baby", but are starting to let her take naps in the car instead of taking her inside at stores or church. You are a quick learner, too!  You can count to 10 (sometimes higher!) by yourself and can point out all letters when asked, even out of order.  You love going to "everybody's church" (the kids were arguing once about whose church ours was and I said "it everybody's") and the day you go to Puggles is your favorite day of the week.  You love Jesus!  While you haven't yet asked Him into your heart, you sing songs to and about Him everyday and love to learn new "Jesus songs".  I think you are close to being able to understand enough to make a decision for Him soon.  We bypassed the "terrible twos" and dove right into the "terrible threes" and you are struggling with obeying all the time because I think you have new ideas about things and how the world works and want to be able to do things on your own, but you are learning quickly to be a good girl.  You will always be our little baby girl and will love you forever and ever.  xoxoxoxo

On to the party!  Sapphira picked a Strawberry Shortcake theme.  She loves watching "Cake" on TV and playing with the "Cake" toys she got at Christmas.  Whenever she sees something that has a strawberry on it, "Cake" or not, she get very excited and must look at it! :)  We held her party on March 31st since her actual birthday (4/1) fell on a Sunday.  I had so much fun planning her party...so girly and pink!

 I made her a dress that I modeled after Strawberry Shortcake's dress on TV and even scanned a picture from one of her coloring books to make sure the applique on the front was just right.  When she saw it for the first time, she yelled "Cake", and hugged it to her chest, kissing it over and over.  Guess I did ok! :)

She really liked opening presents this year, but was insistent that this garbage bag be very close to her so she could put all the paper in it.  Why doesn't she keep her room that clean?

 I can't get this thing off!

 Oh, Boppa has a knife...he'll help me.

 A "Cake" book with an magna doodle...

 ...yay!!!!!!!!!

 Boppa got all the plastic wrap off, thank goodness!

 oooooooooooooooooooooooo..."Tin-ter-bell"!  Bubba did good!  (He actually spent over a half and hour at Target looking at all the girl toys to find just the right toy for his sister.  He even picked the Tinkerbell with the pink shirt and shoes because she loves pink so much.  He also wrapped the present himself...he was so proud!  It made me proud, too that he was so thoughtful and really wanted to make sure she would be happy.)

 "Tin-ter-bell, Tin-ter-bell!!!!!!" She was so excited! 

Gaga and Boppa got her a book about ambulances because she says she wants to be an ambulance driver when she grows up.

 ♥♥♥♥♥

 Giving the new bunny from GG and Grandpa GG a kiss.

 Another "ooooooooooooooooooooo" for the strawberry jammies we got her.  Look at the creases in her forehead...I just love her!

 She loves those jammies!  Funny thing was that she was with us when we bought them and insisted she carry them out of the store herself!  Love that 2 second memory! :)

 A strawberry pillow.  She asked for a big girl pillow for her birthday and my friend found some strawberry print flannel when it was on massive sale...love it! :)

 "oooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"  A princess watch from Grandma and Papa!  She's been wearing a toy watch everywhere lately and is really starting to love the princesses, so this was a big hit!  (Apparently, the ooooooooooooooo and corresponding face was the litmus test for presents this year! ha)

 She loves the pink sunglasses Addy got her!

Her snack table!  I was too busy to get a good picture...there were pink, lime green, and red balloons back behind those cupcakes.

A good friend from church made these cupcakes for me...complete with sparkles!  They were so yummy and Sapphira loved them, but I loved that I didn't have to make them and get my kitchen dirty! ha  Thanks T!!!

 Happy girl!

 Being sung to.  I was so thankful she enjoyed it this year, after she hid her face last year and got really embarrassed.  Such a sweetheart!

Blowing it out!  She actually got it out by herself.  

What a great day!  I love being able to celebrate our children with all the people they love!  We are so glad you had fun, Sis!!!  We love you!!!!