Two Things:

First: This little bedhead is officially 20 months old:

How does this keep happening? Remember last month when I thought she was 20 months and I was so happy because I have never gone this long after a baby without getting pregnant again? Yeah, that celebration is happening now. She's running (seriously, you'd never know she had been delayed) and into everything. She's talking up a storm, leaning new words every day, and making a few 2 and 3 word sentences. My personal favorite is "I yuh oooh" (I love you). She's a doll and she makes us happy each and every day. There is so much sass and humor and sweetness and personality in this little body. I honestly want to squish her face all day long. Love you Sammie.

Second: It's finally warm enough for this:

My kids were so happy to be outside, riding bikes, and eating popsicles. It made me pretty happy too!

Clayton looks a little less than thrilled, no? He's growing up and with that comes a certain level of frustration when I try to take his picture. Picture him saying, "enough mom!"

 Can you get too many pictures of a messy baby face? No, no you cannot.

 "I swear I will OWN this popsicle, if it's the last thing I do!"

 Mission accomplished.

 Uh, Mom? I'm with Clayton now. Can we be done taking pictures?

So glad to have the sunshine and warm weather returning to us (slowly but surely). I hope that this was the first of many popsicle days in our immediate future!

4: The Big Birthday Bash!

We love birthdays around here. I love the little traditions we've started and I love how excited my kids get over each birthday (their own and their siblings') and I love celebrating with them. While I love doing the fun little things each year, I'm not a big fan of huge birthday parties every year. They take a lot of work and, frankly, I just don't think my kids need them every year. Since I grew up in a house where we did birthday parties every four years, I have become a big fan of that system. It didn't take long for Justin to see the wisdom in the every-four-year-party idea and so that's how we've been doing it. I love it.

Because Josie turned four this year, she got to have her very first birthday party. She'd been talking about it for at least a month. We decided to do a makeover/princess party (appealing to every girlie bone in Josie's tiny little body). We invited six of her closest girl friends (in fancy party dress, of course), kicked the boys out of the house, and we had a very fun and feminine time!

We began by having the girls sit down while we talked about how the beauty of a princess has more to do with her inside than her outside. Then we decided that, while it's most important to be beautiful inside, it's a lot of fun to get beautiful on the outside too!

We had the girls sit in the kitchen while we (myself, my mom, my SIL, and our 8 year old helper) painted the girl's toenails and fingernails and put some lovely make-up on them (lots of red, pink, and glitter).

Kambry was our 8 year old party helper. I highly recommend this to anyone having a party for a group of 4 and 5 year olds. Those girls adored Kambry and were over the moon to have her there. She was a great helper too! She ran party games and helped the girls with everything! Seriously, this may have been my best party idea.

 Don't the girls look lovely?

We made little bracelets with the girls.

 It was perfect. The girls were so focused on their bracelets, it was so quiet!

After the bracelets we had some lunch and then...
high heel races!
The girls each got a pair of my heels (low ones, of course) and they had to race across the family room. It was pretty hilarious!

Then it was time for cake! My mom made Josie this princess pillow cake - complete with crown! Josie, of course, adored it. The pinkness, the crown, the candles...it was a hit!

 Each girl got her own crown to wear.

 Then it was time for gifts. Josie was so funny while opening her presents. She would get so animated and scream things like, "OH MY GOODNESS!" and "IT'S MY FAVORITE!" and "OH THANK YOU, THANK YOU!" It had us cracking up.

It was a great party. The girls were so good and everyone (including the adults) had a great time. I will admit, it was pretty fun planning and throwing such a girlie affair. I look forward to doing it again (but not for another four years).

Happy birthday Jo! We adore you!

She's Four!

Josie had her birthday yesterday. It was a day she'd been looking forward to for a loooong time. As the day grew near, she was constantly asking if it was her birthday yet. Needless to say, when the big day finally arrived, she was ready!

She came downstairs just after I'd put her birthday muffins in the oven. She was so excited to have a special breakfast and eat off the birthday plate. I love this age and that she's old enough to really appreciate and her birthday and know that it's her special day.

 She's looking so grown up!

 First gift of the day...special birthday shirt complete with a sparkly number 4!

At school they made a huge fuss over her birthday (isn't preschool the best). It also happened to be the day that they were learning about community helpers. Justin has gone in every year since Noah started preschool and talked to the kids about being a doctor. It was awesome that this just happened to coincide with Josie's birthday this year. She was so excited to see him!

 Love these two!

Every day, we pass a McDonald's on the way home from Josie's school. Every day, she asks if we can go there for lunch. Every day, I tell her no. However, since it was a special day, we made the stop and were able to eat lunch with Justin before he had to go back to work. Double birthday bonus!

When we got home, Josie got to open another present. She got to open some clothes from Aunt Missy and Uncle Jared. When the boys get clothes, they like it but then they want to move on to the next thing. Not Josie. She ooh's and aah's and holds things up to herself and tries things on. It's kind of an event. So thanks Rose family! You nailed it!

After we picked the boys up from school (and went to gymnastics), Josie got to open another present. This one was from the boys. They got her a Tinkerbell blanket.

It's quickly becoming a very beloved object. **Side note - my boys were so good with her on her birthday. They are at an age where they know that it's okay that she gets spoiled on her birthday because they get one of their own later. There was no jealousy, no anger, no tantrums, just genuine happiness for their little sister. Made my heart happy!**

After a dinner of her choosing (mac 'n' cheese and French fries) and a bath, it was time for the last present of the day and cake. She blew out her candles like a pro.

I didn't take too many pictures of the day because we're having her super glam, super girly party on Saturday and I'm hoping there'll be more pictures of that event. But I love this girl, even with all her drama, independence, and stubbornness, she's a wonderful, sweet, smart, caring daughter and I wouldn't want her any other way!

How about a trip down memory lane?
At birth:

1 year old:

2 years old:

3 years old:

4 years old:

It goes too fast. Happy birthday Josie. You are so loved. Every day with you is a blessing!