Easter Eggs

We colored Easter Eggs Thursday Night.
Both the kids got a real kick out of it.
When Jake helped Sam put his 1st egg in dye, he wasn't sure what was going on, but when they pulled it out a minute later, Sam let out a surprised yelp. He hadn't expected the egg to change color. Kate of course had planned out how she was going to color and decorate her eggs before the dye was even purchased. She is a planner, just like her mom. Sadly later that evening when they each picked out an egg to eat for a snack, they both spit the hard boiled eggs out in disgust.

Bunnies & Spring Fairies

My kids have been up to their usual hilariousness lately.
I was in the living room this week when I heard a a lot of loud jumping and "rabbit, rabbit" being said over and over again by Sam. Eventually both Sam and Kate came down the stairs. Kate was dressed like a fairy- an Easter fairy she told me, and Sam was a rabbit, playing his part very well. Kate made the two of them act out a play she created. The story line in some ways resembled the Velveteen Rabbit, but was mostly them dancing and hopping around. I loved it. I loved it so much I made them do a encore for their Dad at lunch, it was almost the same story.

Other funny things from the week.
Kate and I were reading a book. I told her to identify all the animals on a page. She named them. Crocodile, Buffalo, Angelfish, SeaStar, etc.... until she came to a turkey. I am not sure why, because she knows what a simple turkey is, but she instead said "MEAT". I laughed really hard, so she laughed to. She does like Turkey meat.

Samuel said his 1st full sentence today. and it was
"Mommy, I want a cookie." in a super whiny tone. But I loved it

Kate and Sam are enjoying their new playroom in the basement. (cue choir of angels)
Mom and Dad are enjoying having all the toys in one room of the house, even if it is the largest room in the house.

Kate was playing with some pretend food this week. She kept making me meals to eat.
Pancakes, Soup, then she started getting sneaky and putting balls and farm animals in my salads and soups. She thought it was hilarious. I played along. She kept saying " I keep tricking you, and tricking you" She laughed so hard at herself she could hardly breathe.

Who Has the Cutest Kids?

Its not really a question.
I finally took pictures to mark turning 2 and 4 tonight of the kids.
We got 15 minutes in the wind in clean clothes after dinner.
it makes me so happy to have photos to mark the year.
They really were troopers in the cold without sweatshirts.
As their reward (bribe) for 15 minutes of mostly undistracted smiles- they got to pick out a treat from the checkout line at the grocery store a few minutes later.
it is so nice when pictures are painless.

Kate is 4!

My beautiful Kate turned four today.
This also marks the four year anniversary we officially became parents.
It seems longer than that. It seems like we have always been parents... in a good way.

The day she was born seems like forever ago.
Not only has she grown and changed so much since this picture when she was just an hour or so old. I have too. We've grown up a bit together.

She's growing up way to fast, but somehow it doesn't make me so sad.
It fills me with awe to watch her learn.
Her mind works so well. She is always figuring things out, puzzles, "mysteries", she knows letters, numbers, simple reading and writing and I swear I spent very little time with her on these subjects. Not to mention she has a vocabulary and social skills that would beat most 6 year olds. I can see her always thinking, when she is playing and talking and even just watching tv. Sometimes I think she thinks to much, and gets a little anxious or worried about things. Her birthday celebration was a really great time because she just stopped thinking and had fun. It is hard on a parent having their four year old be keen. There is not tricking or forgetting something I said- she keeps me an honest parent for sure.
She has lots of little friends now, and talks about time- past and future constantly making plans and talking about memories. She likes to dance, but it is not wild, it is more interpretive with lots of hand movement and facial expressions. She is still my side kick like always. Even if that means spending the afternoon on the couch because I am not feeling well. And when I fall asleep she only sometimes reminds me "But Mom who is going to take care of me?". She loves going anywhere though, stores, restaurants,outside, and always wants to go to ice cream.
She is excels at being a big sister. She helps Sam play and is almost always kind to him.
She tells me she loves me the most and always wants me to but her to bed because she knows I cuddle longer than dad will. She changes what she likes everyday. Usually based on a cartoon she saw on Netflix, or something she saw at a friends house.
I love this little girl. I see myself and Jake in her so much.
Though I am not sure where she gets her awesome faces- she is always making crazy expressions.
I am really proud of her too. Proud of her for being so smart. Proud of her for being so nice. Proud of her for adapting so well to new things. Grateful she was my 1st born-and is such an awesome kid to lead the others.
Happy Birthday my Sunshine!
I love you so very much!

Kate's Birthday Celebration

Kate turns 4 today.
We decided to celebrate yesterday.
It was one of the best days ever. She woke up in the morning and didn't seem to remember a thing about the midnight meltdown over picking the wrong theme for her birthday. Thank goodness. It would have broken my heart. At 9:30 am she was ready to get the party started. Why not? I asked her if she wanted to help me get things ready for the party or surprise her like we did Dad and Sam. She wanted to help of course. She knows how to get ready for a party and instructed me on what we needed to do. I gave her the box of party supplies and she got to work. She hung Strawberry Shortcake decals all over the walls and windows in the kitchen. Next it was time to hang streamers. In between some of the decorating I would tell her and Sam we needed to pick something up (so there would be room for opening presents) it worked really well and soon we had the house decorated and clean. We had balloons to blow up and spread all over the living room, party plates to set, and of course she had to decorate her cake some more too.
When everything was ready and to her standards she asked if it was time for the party.
Sure Kate.
We told Dad at 10:30 in the morning that he had to come home from work because it was time for the party, presents and cake. It was just the four of us for this part of the day after all.
She picked to open presents first.
Well who wouldn't. especially when she saw the pile we had for her.


Kate got way to many presents. Way to many.
I knew this was going to be the case. She just hadn't thought of anything she really wanted, and me wanting her to be delighted, just kept picking stuff out.
From Jake and Sam and I alone she recieved a a talking princess song book, an Ariel purse, a Strawberry Shortcake book, a new train set, a talking Kai Lan doll, a Disney shirt, and her favorite thing- a Barbie laptop with games like mom and dad's phones to play.
This cake Kate picked out at the store. Then she added more pink and green sprinkles, candles, and some strawberry shortcake figurines.

Showing us how old she is.



This girl is beautiful! I love how happy she is.
The party was a success. Kate was 100% pleased with everything and loved all the specialness of the day. In the car later she was singing "it is my special day, its my special day, it my birthday today, its my special day" and also started singing Happy Birthday to herself. She smiled a hug smile the entire day.

When Kate started seriously talking about birthday plans the day after Sam's birthday we happen to be driving in Utah County and passed this jumping place. We had been there a time or two before. She decided that it was what she wanted to do for her birthday. She also decided that she wanted to invite her friends. Somehow she learned that some kids have parties with friends. Though I am not ready to let her invite all her friends over for a birthday party, we decided we could take three friends to Jump On It with us. She choose to take Johnny, Emilee and Kaylie. When it was time to get ready she put on her new shirt saying she wanted all her friends to see it. Then we filled our car with car seats and boosters, turned on Aristocats, and traveled with 4 kids under 4 down to Utah County. Kaylie and her Mom and sister were able to meet us there.
This is Kate friend Emilee. She talks about Emilee constantly. Calls her "my best friend Emilee". I don't know where she learns stuff like "best friend" They sure have fun together too.

Attempting to get a group shot.

Sam followed Kate's friend John around most the time throwing balls and calling his name to play.
This is one of my favorite pictures of the day. Kate really let loose, and had a crazy fun birthday.


She ended up at home with more loot.
A Tinkerbell coloring set, a paper dolls set, a tutu and hairband, tons of strawberry shortcake figurines and playhouse, and this gigantic lolipop from her friends.
Then Grandma and Grandpa Anderson came over to deliver birthday presents. Two barbies and some snap blocks.
We went to Arby's for dinner. Partially because the day had been long and also because I know Kate likes their food. Sure enough as we pulled in the parking lot she says " MMMMMM I love this place cuz they have turkey"
After dinner she got to take her birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Freeman and pick something out at the store. She literally walked up and down the aisles of toys for 35 minutes trying to pick something. She kept saying she "wanted something really different". She ended up picking out a classic motorized fishing game, and big pink glittery ball and lots of gum. She took it to the counter and handed the lady her money and said "here is your money" She got some change back and happily put it in her piggy bank when she returned home. It was her 1st experience using money to buy something and she liked it.
We spent the rest of the night playing with the fishing game as a family.
Kate happily packed her tons of toys up to her room, sleeping with a variety of them at the end of the night.. We eventually had to tell her to put everything away and go to sleep.
It was the best day.
Seriously, I would rather have it be one of my kids birthdays than my own.
It makes me so happy to make them so happy.
It was any 4 year olds dream day.

Happy Birthday Kate!