Claire is 3!!

Our little princess is 3! Seriously 3 already? Seems like yesterday our docile little baby was sitting in the swing sucking her fingers without a care in the world! That sweet little baby has turned into Ms Princess Sassafrass and we love it! Claire had a really special week, full of lots of spoiling, lots of great gifts and so much sugar we are still feeling the effects from! She woke up on her birthday and said, "I'm not 2 anymore right? " The week of her birthday she was also "Star of the Week" at daycare which comes with lots of extra special attention! We had to interview Claire as part of her star of the week special duties so her teacher could share with her class. She has some great answers and this makes me think I should start interviewing my kids each year on their birthdays and add it to their scrapbooks. Here are her answers:

1. What is your favorite color? PINK ( no surprise there)

2. What is your favorite book? PINKALICIOUS ( again no surprise)

3. What is your favorite movie? PRINCESS AND THE FROG

4. What is your favorite thing to play with? MY BABIES

5. What do you want to be when you grow up? A PRINCESS

6. I am special because... GOD MADE ME!

7. What is your favorite food? CHICKEN NUGGETS

8. What is your favorite animal? CHARLIE MY DOG

On her birthday I was able to eat lunch with her and we celebrated with her daycare friends with princess cupcakes!

I love the pure excitement on her face in this picture!

Making a wish!

Every princess needs a special birthday crown!

On her birthday she opened up gifts from very special friends and family, including a new stroller for her babies, new books, sticker earrings, Hello Kitty watercolor book, and a fish named Bubbles from Carter.

On Sunday, we continued the week long celebration with a picnic in her honor with our family. Once again, we are so spoiled to live next door to the best baker and cake decorator EVER! Elizabeth created a pink masterpiece for Claire with accompanying frilly cupcakes decorated in edible pink glitter. The cake was white almond with raspberry filling and as always to DIE FOR! I know people will always come to my kids' parties just so they can have some of her cake! Thanks Elizabeth! YOU ROCK!

Showing off Snow White and Cinderella dolls!

The GRAND prize, a pink princess bike that just screams Claire! It is complete with front basket and baby carrier in the back. It is full of pink and frill, just like Claire!

Second cousins Maddie, Maycie, Makenzie and Nolan help Claire celebrate!

Happy birthday Claire bear! We love you!

Summer craziness!

It has been one crazy summer so far! So crazy I haven't posted anything in a long time! Between 2 seasons of t-ball, wrestling, VBS, trips to the zoo, 2 town celebrations, and of course as much pool and beach time as we can squeeze in we haven't had much down time. For some reason I have in my mind summer is over once Carter starts kindergarten in 4 weeks and we still have a July birthday, swimming lessons, another wrestling camp, a quick trip to Minneapolis, Iowa State Fair and a camping trip to fit in. Our calendar is full and I love it! Here is a quick rundown of our adventures!

Carter finished his first season of t-ball mid June and started the second season the 5th of July. Luckily even though his team name changed from the Brewers to Cubs ( yeah) for the second season, he had the same coaches and many of the same teammates. The second season is coach pitch and they add a few more rules to make the game a little more challenging for the kids. It is amazing to see how far his team has come since the beginning of June!

At the end of June, Jeremy and Carter spent a week in Michigan with Uncle Al, Aunt Nancy and cousins, Ben, Nick and Sam while Claire and I had some girl time alone at home. Carter was able to participate in Uncle Al's wrestling camp while Jeremy got into the action as well helping out the older kids. In preparation of the upcoming wrestling season, Jeremy turned part of our basement into a wrestling room. Not exactly what I had in mind for that space but they did a great job decorating it and it is truly a wrestling room, complete with stinky boys! Carter did a great job at the camp even though he was the youngest guy there! They got to take in a Detroit Tigers game while they were there and Carter had fun hanging out with his cousins!
One of our favorite summer pastimes is the Blank Park Zoo! It is a great little zoo, perfect for little kids. Carter was able to go last week again with his preschool class and raved about a new dinosaur display they have and told me "You just have to see it mom..it is SOOOO cool!" So I see another trip to the zoo in the next couple of weeks!

Claire isn't so sure about the train!

Happy red, white and blue! We celebrated independence day with all the festivities Waukee has to offer! We joined our friends the Froehlichs for the hometown parade. Claire did not want to take a plastic sack to the parade, insisting on taking her purse! She held it open in hopes some candy would just fall into it I think and never really caught on that you have to pick it up! Carter and Lilly did a great job helping pick it up for her and filling her purse! Following the parade the kids enjoyed inflatables at the park followed by fireworks.

I just had to post this picture of Claire! She is officially potty trained as a present for all her hard work, we got her a pink scooter. Notice her get-up? This is what you'll find her in 95% of the time. Princess dress complete with gloves, ballerina shoes, earrings, and necklace. She has to take her crown off to wear her helmet and set her magic wand down!

Lastly, we have been keeping cool with frequenting our favorite watering holes, Ashby Park wading pool, Splash Park, and Raccoon River. Even the sprinkler in the front yard is great fun!