Welcoming November!

Someone is excited for Thanksgiving.

Our lil turkey.
Although if you ask Reagan, she'll say she's a 'Princess turkey' on account of the tutu skirt and all...

When asked if she remembered what Thanksgiving was about, she said, 'Yes- sharing, being nice to our family and friends, thanking Jesus and eating rolls.' Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Giving thanks for family, friends, jobs, a cozy home, reliable cars, mental/physical health, food on the table, leftover Halloween candy, a good book, Starbucks caramel apple cider, date nights with Andy, girl's night with my besties, mommy/daughter dates with peanut, a welcoming church, a dependable smart phone that stays charged, comfy sweats with fuzzy slippers, safe travel... feeling blessed. Happy November!

Thankful Thursday~ Halloween 2013

After a crazy (but fun!) beggar's night, it was nice to have a quiet family night on Halloween. Our favorite ice cream shop was hosting a Halloween party complete with games, candy and free ice cream for kiddos! It was a win-win.

I have to admit, I've never really been a big ice cream fan but something about Over the Top makes me want to indulge. I know I'm going to go into withdrawals over Christmas and I have this grand idea that they should stay open and sell hot chocolate with delicious cupcakes.  Only in my sweet dreams, I know...

I guess it's goodbye ice cream until next spring when they open again!


Daddy and peanut working on a maze-

So thankful for our family of 3 this Halloween! Hope everyone had fun trick or treating!

Wordless Wednesday~ Beggar's Night 2013

Some of her favorite things...

Along the lines of Oprah and her favorite things episode... in honor of Reagan's birthday, some of her favorite things...(more so for my own memory when I look back on this in 10 years).

Gramma Linda's birthday cakes!

Her cousins!

Lunch with birthday candles! And Orange Leaf for dessert...

Any mall play land...

Opening birthday presents...she loved the Gummi Smurfs and her very own trash can for her room.

Reading...

Visiting daddy at work...

Celebrating with Chuck E. Cheese!

Trick or treating!

Apples! (whole not cut. With tiny little bite marks all over it)

And lastly...toddler zzz's... She doesn't like to go to bed but she loves to sleep in!

Celebrating 4!

In the past, we've done a joint birthday party for Reagan with family and friends. It's a lot of fun but honestly, just too many people in our house at one time. This year we decided to keep things simple and do a friend 'drop-off' party.  I recruited my besties to help Andy and I with 12 kiddos ranging in age from 3-7.

Hectic? Yes. So much fun? YES!

The details:
Food- Casey's pizza, grapes with strawberries, cheese puffs, fruit snacks and juice boxes. All of Rea's favorite food groups.

Decor/invitations/thank you notes- Target, Wal-mart and Birthday Express

Balloons- Bertha Butt's Balloonery and Baubles

Cupcakes- friend of the family

Face painting- A Touch of Color

We played pin the bow on Hello Kitty, the Bozo toss ball game, Hot Potato, and hit the piñata! We also had fun playing in the backyard while waiting for the face painting to start.  The face painting was definitely the highlight of the party! The kids loved it and I'm glad we could have fun with it.

A big thank you to all of Rea's friends for making her birthday party so special. She loved her presents and getting to spend time with her friends.  Another successful party in the books!

Some pics:

Good morning birthday girl!  The morning of the party...

Happy 4 years baby girl! We love you!

Four years ago today...

Dear Reagan,

Four years ago today, our most amazing dream came true- we had you.

What your daddy and I had waited for, for so long, had finally came. We welcomed you with tears of joy and wrapped our arms around you SO tight. We never wanted to let go.

So here we are today, celebrating your four years of life. How fast they flew by...

Milestones:

You are our independent little girl... you love doing it (anything and everything) by yourself.

You can dress yourself (with the exception of a neck hole and your socks might end up on with the heels right side up) but you try every day.

You know your letters and can count to 30. We are working on phonics... You can write the letter 'R' if you concentrate really hard and you are SO proud when you think it looks like it should. You can verbally spell your name and we are working on your last name.

You love eggs! And don't forget the bacon... with a side of toast. You still love most fruit- nectarines, mandarin oranges and fresh pears are your favorites. You eat veggies because we make you but the only veggie you actually gag on is carrots.  You love pineapple juice in your very own lil can and Recess peanut butter cups are your guilty pleasure- with a side of milk!

You are truly an outdoors kinda girl... you would stay outside for hours if we let you- playing on your play set, in the sand box, driving your car or your bike and always asking to play with the neighbor kids.

You fiercely love your family- Grampa's and Gramma's, Aunt's and Uncle's and cousins.  You also love being with your friends- you ask every day for a play date or a sleepover...

You are doing so well with dance this year and tumbling.  You love going to both and we can't wait for your next recital.

You love trips to the library, kids church and running 'erwands'... and your favorite hobby is having your face painted.

Reagan- never forget you're our greatest joy. We smile because of you, we laugh because of you, we strive to be better parents because of you.  We are so proud of all that you have accomplished this year and can't wait to see what year 4 has in store for you.

Love you to the moon and back, always and forever.
Your biggest fan,
Mama


Reagan at 4 weeks:

Reagan at 4 years:

Wordless Wednesday~ Almost 4!