A berry sweet 3rd birthday

Khloe,
We've been talking up your Strawberry Shortcake birthday party for a long time now. You definitely knew it was coming and were eager to talk about it to anyone who would listen. I know you were excited about the coming day, but you played it cool in your typical nonchalant attitude. Me? I was excited, and I didn't hide it.

We planned your party to be simple, small. Just an intimate get-together on a casual Sunday afternoon. Somehow that didn't happen. Before I even recognized what was happening your party grew in size and scope. Thank goodness for the team of people that help pull my crazy ideas together! I design, plan, organize, decorate, and shop; Daddy cooks and bakes. Kristi - bless her wiling brave soul - jumps right in and Grandma - what would I do without her? - helps pull it all together. And voila! I think we did a pretty darn good job of throwing a successful 3rd birthday party for you, Little Sweetie, in just a matter of days.

Just like we knew would happen, you THRIVED in the spotlight. We were SO happy for you to have your own shining moment. FINALLY the little sister gets ALL the attention and gets things HER way! We let you milk that all. day. long. We overheard you say to Kayla, "No Kayla, I want it. It is MY birthday." Yes it is. You go girl.

As soon as friends came to the door, you escorted them in, took the present (Or I think you took the present then escorted them in. Or maybe you just took the present.) and sat right down and opened it. It was so cute how you just took charge and executed that decision to open gifts right away. In fact, sometimes I had to slow you down because your friends weren't quite all the way in the house yet before you were opening their present. You were just so so excited and it was so so cute. We didn't hold you back.

The party guests! Mary, Katherine, Emma, Stella, Sophia, Gina, Gabrielle, Addison and Lexie

My Dad asked, "Do you have any friends that have boys?"

A birthday message from Stella

The present you opened from Lexie was a Sophia the First nightgown. The second you opened it (which was about 10 minutes into your party) you stripped down and immediately put on the nightgown. And so that's what you'll notice in most of your pictures - not very many in your red Strawberry Shortcake shirt we picked out but a whole lot in your purple nightgown. Hey, it's your party...

Just take a look at the BERRY good time we had!

The food was a hit! And why wouldn't it be? Just look at all these fun tasty treats!

The birthday girl's exclusive cup

 Ooooooh! You're very own Ameri-kenna-a doll from Addie and Ms. Melissa!

And the carrying case to go with it from Amy and Matt!

 This made you so happy that you brushed your teeth with it on and even slept with it. 

 (Everything you have on is new from your party - headband from Kristi, nightgown from Lexie and doll case from Amy. Someone had a berry fantastic birthday!)

Okay, so back to the party...

 See? Center of  attention. Eating it up.

Opening presents is so much fun!

Per your request - cupcakes

 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you

 Yes, an extra big double Strawberry Shortcake candle in TWO cupcakes!

The best part of the day was spending time with so many great friends that think you're berry special Khloe!

 (We missed you Sadie!)

The Gumbis Clan 

Emma, you're hilarious!

Thanks for celebrating with us everyone! You made the day so berry special for us and for Khloe!

SPRING BREAK!!!!

Ahhhhhhhh! A nine day vacation. Kayla was counting this one down, looking forward to sleeping in, watching Frozen and having lots of family time. I can't tell you how nice it was for ME to have spring break too. It did not go unnoticed by me that I would sit down with my feet up at 7pm and read. That's a vacation! I NEVER get to do that at 7pm on a weeknight! Not when there's homework, practicing, lunches to be made, baths, reading, bedtime routines, and on and on. The girls (and this includes Kristi) were most excited about sitting down and watching Frozen together as many times as they wanted. Hey, it's vacation after all.

We didn't leave our house and travel anywhere, but we didn't need to. Aunt Kristi stayed with us for a week so that was vacation enough! Where did the last nine days go? Whoa, definitely flew by too fast but we were glad spring finally showed up for spring break. We made sure to get outside every day  - we tackled the yard that we could finally see after being buried under feet of snow for 4 months, got the cushions out for the deck furniture, lit up the bonfire, went rollerblading and rode bikes. Here's a little of our spring break vacation at home!

We cheered for the UK Wildcats during the National Championship game, we really did. Sorry they didn't win.

Bringing the happy to the hour with a 3pm rendezvous with friends at Freighters!

Yes, it was 70 degrees outside and we were HOT. It's been a long time since we could say that. It made us all soooooo happy.

Rabbit ear photo bombs. Thanks Kristi and Kayla.

 We took our first trip to the park in YEARS. Well, not really, but after this long winter it sure felt like it years. It was SO wonderful to just. be. outside. in spring clothes and play at the park, take a walk along the water and play at the beach.

Next stop... Lakeside Beach

 Khloe is demonstrating the proper way to wind up and throw a rock into the water. Just warning you though, you better take 10 steps back. That rock has an 80% chance of flying backwards and hitting you instead of the water. Just sayin'.

 I did it!

 Some got brave and ventured into the water. 

That doesn't look so warm girls!

Swim lessons started again, that's always a good sign that summer is just around the corner. This is Khloe's first-ever experience with a swim lesson, she is so brave and independent and loves it! Kayla's doing so well  in her class too, learning so many new skills.

There was another Lowe's Build and Grow workshop, this time to build a Recycling Truck. 

And at the end of a relaxing, fulfilling vacation...

...oh look, three tired kids all sound asleep. They love their Daddy! And Daddy couldn't have been happier with his two sweeties all snuggled into him.