Kendall is 2!

This sweet baby

turned TWO last Thursday

Oh I love her at every.single.stage.....but I miss that little, squishy baby so much!  This girl is full of fire, she's a sneaky little sprite who likes to get her brother riled up and then give a mischievous grin :)  But she's also such a lover <3  She snuggles with me still and loves to be held at any given time.  She runs away from us whenever we try to get her dressed, stands across the room, bends down a little and then runs full force into your arms-it's just like her personality, sassy and sweet!  This girl talks up a storm, I couldn't even begin to count how many words and phrases she says.  She calls Colson by his name and Bubby and Alyvia has morphed from "Mia" to "Awibia", less often she calls her Sissy.  She calls herself "Kenni", which is so cute!  She loves to be the boss and points her finger and yells at the big kids and dogs all the same.  She even sends them to timeout!  She still loves her paci, blanket and boo, we're trying to break the habit of taking all 3 EVERYWHERE :)  She's getting very independent, or so she'd like to think.  She likes to try to undress herself and put her own shoes on, she MUST buckle her chest clip by herself!  I'm not ready for her to grow up so fast though.

On her birthday, she spent the day absolutely refusing to look at the camera-what a stinker!

I asked her all day, "Kendall, is today your birthday"
Kendall: "No"
Mom: "Who's birthday is it?"
Kendall: "I dono"
She's so funny!!!

Daddy came home early from farming and we headed to Texas Roadhouse for dinner (Daddy got to choose since Kendall only cares about macaroni and cheese!).  Then we came home and had ice cream cake :)

Still refusing to look at the camera and being silly with her tongue!

She loves her daddy!

On Sunday, we celebrated with our families with a Sheriff Callie themed birthday party!  I planned on having her dress in her halloween costume for her party, but since she wasn't a big fan of dress up-we didn't do that!

Her birthday went much better with no dress up!

She LOVES her new cousin, Briggs

Kendall we hope you had a fun filled 2nd birthday!  We love you so very much!  Happy birthday baby girl <3

Colson turns 4!

Oh this baby boy, how is he 4 already?

 He was just a peanut when he was born, 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 19 inches long.  He took 48 hours to enter the world and he still only does things according to what he wants ;)  He's always been our "fickle pickle" and we couldn't possibly love him anymore!  He is SO FUNNY lately.  When you tell him to hurry and eat, he says "I just takin' my time".  He is really into singing-his favorites are Chainsaw by The Band Perry, This is How We Roll by Florida Georgia Line and a song about God from pre-school (something like "God does his work in the same old way")....he has eclectic taste!

The day before his birthday, Daddy took Cole to The John Deere Pavilion in the Quad Cities.  Colson got to play on the equipment and choose his birthday present, then the boys went to lunch together.  It's become their yearly tradition and they both love it.  

He got his "Big John" and auger wagon for his birthday-he's ready to pick crops!

 That evening we went to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate-they sang Happy Birthday to Cole AND he rode the bull...well, he didn't get too into it but he didn't cry or refuse to do it and that's pretty good for our guy!!

Birthday dessert! 

Colson had school on his actual birthday and it was picture day!  He was such a handsome birthday boy!

We took donut holes for his birthday treat :)  He got to open his present from his sisters that evening. 

And after Alyvia's dance class, we sang happy birthday and had a brownies :)  He was a happy boy!

His birthday party was the next weekend :)  Hope you had a great day buddy-we love you!!!

Alyvia is 7!

I vividly remember the night of Alyvia's one week birthday.  It was bedtime, I had laid her in the bassinet beside our bed all swaddled tight with a hat on her head even though it was August (we had a window air conditioning unit in our room because we lived in our old farmhouse with no central air).  I got really emotional and was so sad that she was already a whole 7 days old.  I knew, even then, that before I could blink she would be 7 years old....and now here we are.  Her 7th birthday.  I feel like I barely blinked.  That perfect little baby is now a beautiful little girl who is quickly growing up faster than we'd like.  She loves to create art projects, give to others, dance and swim.  She is not afraid to say how much she loves her family and I hope she is always like that.  She is the BEST big sister you could ask for.  She has more patience than I do with her younger brother and most often does what he wants to make him happy.  She loves her baby sister and dotes on her.  She's amazing and I probably don't do a good enough job of telling her that.  Mental note to work on that more :)  We love her and are so proud of the little girl she is!  

We started her birthday celebration more than a week before her birthday!  The last 4 years, my mom has taken her to American Girl in Chicago for her birthday present.  It started to just get her first AG doll and it has morphed into a yearly tradition :)  Alyvia loves it and looks forward to it every year!

Livi wanted her toes painted before we went...Baby needed hers done too <3

I always love driving into the city on Lake Shore

She brought along Caroline this year :)

and Kendall!

Dropping Caroline off at the AG salon

 

 After we dropped Caroline off at the salon, we realized she wouldn't be able to join us for lunch :(  So we made a (very) quick trip around the store and grabbed Rebecca to join us-her birthday present from Mom and Dad!

We picked her up right after lunch, freshly styled!

Nana and her girls (poor baby was teething bad!)

We had a great day in the city and I love that we do it every year....maybe Kendall can have her first trip next year!
Our next celebration was the day before her birthday.  We had her friends party at noon and then her family party at 4.  It was a crazy busy day, but it turned out great.  Livi decided a long time ago that she wanted to have a Frozen party and she wanted to be Elsa, and she stuck with it, so we ran with it!

Her Daddy loves her so much, he strung lights and tulle outside the night before

We went with Olaf's summer for the food, IN SUMMERRRRRRR!!

 

Rylie, Livi, Reagan and Cole

  

Her actual birthday was Monday the 28th.  We found out a lot of places are closed on Mondays during the summer!  We finally decided to go to Wildlife Prairie Park and we met our friends Kristin and Lizzie there.  Right as we parked, Livi said "Hey Mom, look!"  Her birthday buddy Dylan was there with his family too! (His mom Stephanie is my best friend from grade school, h.s. and forever!  We had our first babies at the same hospital on the same day!)

Alyvia & Dylan are 7!

Cole, Lizzie & Livi

 

Someday they may all look at the camera!

That evening we let Alyvia choose where to go out to eat.  Her new favorite restaurant is Chilis :)

The birthday girl in her new scarf from Aunt Anne

 

Colson and his "brakwi" :)  The kid doesn't eat well at all, but LOVES broccoli!

I hope Alyvia had a very special birthday!  We love her so much!  I hope time slows down now....we'll be celebrating her 17th birthday before we know it....Love you Livi Lou!