Kiersten's party

Kiersten's birthday party was today at a candy store in the supermall called, Kid's Korner. We were all sad that Ben didn't get to be here for it, but I found another reason to miss him today as my mom and I tried to carry a heavy cake, plus all of our extra stuff for the party, while dragging the girls along side us. I can't wait to get my packhorse back :) As soon as we were shown into the party area, Evie insisted on putting on a party hat. There were 3 or 4 different designs, and all the kids switched and swapped hats the rest of the time.the kids had lots of fun with this pin the tail on the donkey. Kiersten really wanted to pose with it so daddy would see. the kids wanted to play over and over, which was okay since we were waiting quite a while at the beginning for the party person to come back there.Mom enjoying the festivitiesSweet Karalee. She really took it on herself to make sure Kiersten was the center of attention, and everyone was having fun. She kept asking the other kids, "what is your favorite part of the party so far?"Each of the kids got to choose an animal to stuff. Kiersten got a panda (or as she calls them, a bamboo bear). I was surprised, because she already has a stuffed panda on her bed at home. But apparently that one is a boy, and her new one is a girl. She named it "Beautiful Princess". the party helper couldn't write it on the birth certificate without laughing.These 2 little guys both picked out T-Rexes. There was a lot of growling, and smaller animals being chased or eaten, or attacked.Evie didn't weigh enough to make the machine work, so the party guy would step on it every time she poked it with her finger. She really thought she was doing it. After she had come back over to me, thinking it was finished, he decided it needed more fluff, and she booked it back over to poke the pedal for him. She picked out a pink bunny, and named it, "mine bunny"Kara chose a cat and named it "cute eyes Pip squeak Miller". Kiersten got to wear this birthday cake hat, which was way too huge, and she got to keep it, so we can use it again when our kids heads get bigger. She wouldn't wear it very long, because she thought it was messing up her curls.Here comes the cake. It was kind of heavy.She chose 4 individual candles instead of the #4 candle. She was proud to have blown them all out in one try.opening her gifts. She made sure to thank everyone at least twice.I wanted to take a group picture, but Zach didn't want his picture taken, and Evie was trying to not get tired, and therefore running around like a maniac. so I got a picture of the rest.
After the picture, they all got outfits for their animals, and a free bag of cotton candy to take home, though most of them had it eaten by the time they were out of the store. They also got little backpacks with playdough and a few small toys. I think it was a successful party.

Happy 6th birthday Karalee!

Karalee is 6 years old today! She has been so excited about her birthday. Her party was on saturday at a bouncy place in the supermall. Here are a few pictures from her party.That's Evie sliding down on her belly.I planned to make her cake wednesday night, but the power had gone out, and by friday it was still out, so Ben ordered her a cake from safeway. I was happily surprised that they were able to make it by 10 the next morning. I had a really fun idea for her cake, but this one was really cute.All the kids liked sitting up in the birthday chair.Last night Kara stayed up a little past bedtime to decorate cookies to take to school today. Her teacher always makes sure they are class helper on their birthday. She had a hard time deciding what to take for show and tell because she got so many fun gifts at her party, and also has her christmas gifts to choose from.She chose to open her gifts from us and family this morning before school. She decided last night right before going to bed, so I didn't have too much time to get everything wrapped, and the table decorated. but if it looked lame, she didn't seem to notice. I thought she should open in her jammies, so she could pick out new clothes to wear to school (as that's all she got from us, after so many toys at Christmas). But she just wanted to wear the t-shirt Ben brought back from St. Louis so she could match with Kiersten.I stuck a candle in her muffin for her to blow out after we sang happy birthday to her.All she wants for dinner is mac and cheese. She even specified, "the kind in the box. NOT the kind mommy makes in the oven!"

Evangeline's birthday party

Evie will be turning one on the 13th. Since we are moving next weekend, and expect to have a really busy week getting ready, we decided to have her birthday party this weekend. The girls put together goodie bags for all of their friends who were invited. They were very careful to put girly things and colors in certain bags, and more boyish things in other bags. Most of my cake making stuff is packed away, but we did come across the big cupcake pan I used for Kara's 3rd birthday. So I used that. We have been letting all of our food run low, or run out so it will be easier to move. So I had no sugar and hardly any flour. Rather than go buy entire bags of each, I opted to go with cake mix and canned frosting. The girls put on tons of sprinkles. They were so funny, placing each one by hand just where they thought it was needed. I thought it would look better with big fondant sprinkles, but I didn't want to buy more fondant, when I know I have some packed away in a bin in the garage. But I think the regular sprinkles looked good too.

We had her party at Stewart Heights park. It's a really kid friendly water park. We had lunch and the party first in the regular playground area, and went to the water park after. We got there early to claim some tables, so the girls had lots of time to play.

This spinning toy was fun, but hard for Ben and I to stay on.

After lunch and cake, Evie opened her gifts. Well, she opened the first gift, played with it for a second and then squirmed in my lap while I opened the rest and showed her. she is getting 4 new teeth at once, so I was just glad she wasn't crying at all.

This water park is perfect for kids. They do have a deep end that is sectioned off, but the majority is wading depth and spray toys. I think all the kids had a great time.

I played in the water with Evie for about 15 minutes, before she got tired and went down for a nap. She slept for a long time considering all the noise and people around.

Kara and Kiersten loved playing with the other kids. Kara was even big enough to go on the waterslide this year. She is getting too big.

I had a nice spot to sit with Evie while she was sleeping to watch everyone hanging out in the pool.

As soon as she woke up from her nap, Evie was ready to start getting wet again.

Kiersten picked out this adorable swim suit to give her for her birthday when I took them shopping a few weeks ago. So it worked out perfectly when we decided to have her party here. I'm glad she had this new one, because it fit perfectly. I would have thought her old one still fit, and now I see that she may be getting bigger than I realize.

She still has a couple gifts from Ben and me to open on the 13th, and we'll put her in the highchair to really dig into some cake on her birthday.

Karalee's birthday party

Kara really wanted to have her birthday party while Nancy and Victor were visiting, so she could invite her cousin Tommy. So we decided to have her party on the 15th instead of the 22nd. It turned out well, because one of her friends from school is having a birthday party on the 22nd, and they would have overlapped. We had her party at the Norpoint center in Tacoma. It was a luau/swimming party. Kara looked so cute in her little party dress. the norpoint staff did all of the decorating, and then all of the clean up as well. That was pretty nice to just be able to show up, and set up the food, and be ready for the party.

We had dominoes pizza for lunch. I made a few desserts to go along with the cake.

I used my babycakes machine to make these cheesecakes. I think it would have been easier and faster just to make them in the oven though. Ben made a strawberry topping for them.

I also made cream puffs for the first time since I was in high school. They turned out right, but I didn't take out enough of the center, so I think they were a little too dense. I made a pineapple cream filling for them too.

The last thing I made were these flower shaped brownies. I used a flower shaped silicone mold, and most of them turned out well.

my pretty little birthday girl. It has been a little confusing for her to have had her party early. She keeps saying she is 5 now. Close enough, I guess.All the kids loved dressing up in grass skirts and leis. I didn't get any pictures of them swimming though. One of the mom's did, and I'm hoping she'll share a few of her pictures with me.

limbo, one of Kara's favorite games.

I kept trying to think of games to play, but never ended up getting anything for games, so I was glad when we got there, and they had provided a few games for the kids.

Evie slept through most of the party. She did get to swim, and really liked it.

blowing out the candles. She was very careful, trying not to spit on her cake.

she got so many fun gifts from her friends. She will be busy for the next few weeks at least!

some of her party guests. She had 4 friends from school, 2 from the ward, 2 kids of our friends, her sisters, and her cousin. I think that totals 12 kids including Karalee, a decent sized party.

I'm glad she seemed to really enjoy her party, and as far as I could tell, all the other kids did too. It totally feels worth it, when you see your kid having so much fun, and just feeling happy and special.