Thursday, February 28, 2013

Tea Party

So, Reese's birthday celebration has stretched for a few weeks!  How fun to be 6!  Long story short...back in January Reese said she did not want a birthday party...just a celebration with family! Wow...but I should have known better.  During our travels back from Disney, she voiced her desire to celebrate her birthday with her friends!  I could have said "no", but I just decided what the heck...we can do this!  This, as in plan a party in less than a week, spend a very small amount of $, fit it into an already busy weekend...and Viola...a Tea Party!

Tea Party table ready for 10 6 year old guests!  Place cards were very exciting for Reese to have on the table!
 A tea pot and tea cup decorating station.  We printed out tea pot templates on card stock, then cut out the "pot" circle in scrapbook paper designs and let the girls pick and glue.  We decorated plastic tea cups with stick on jewels!  
 Tea Pots everywhere...we pulled out all of our tea pots, this was a tea pot that was my sister's and mine when we were little!  
 This little gem came right on time...Aunt Joyce sent Reese a Belle doll and tea set...little did she know that it would fit perfectly into our party Theme.  We read the Belle tea party book during the party, and many hands loved to play with this mini stet.
 Some of the "ladies" picking out jewels and pearls to wear
 Working on the teapots

 My little Hostess with the mostess pouring some tea
 Ta-da....the edible tea cups...fun and Yummy!  A scalloped wafer cookie, dab of icing, large marshmallow, spread more icing, add pearl sprinkles on top, cut a life saver in half...dab icing and put on the side for a handle!  The ate them up...and loved making them...favorite part putting the large pearl sprinkles on top!
 The Little Tea party...Hadley, Brynlee and our friend Jayde Kirkland were here.  The Kirkland's came for a quick weekend visit...our girls loved having friends in the house!
 No tea party is complete without a little makeup.  We did eyes, blush and lips...and then a little later...I painted nails!  I hope the moms were ok with Neon pink and purple nails!
The Dress up station...we had a few things out for the girls to put on...most came in their own...but some had fun dressing up and down...and up and down...and up and down...good thing I am used to that!
 Maybe a little more stress added to my weekend...but watching the girls have fun was worth every bit!  
CHEERS!


Friday, February 15, 2013

DISNEY!!!

Well, our long awaited trip to Disney came and went...we can't believe it is over!  We have been planning this and saving for this for a long time!  We waited until the week before we left to tell the girls.  We printed a picture of Cinderella's castle with the words "We are going to Disney World" typed across is, cut the picture up into puzzle pieces and then sent the girls on a scavenger hunt to find the pieces and put it together!  Honestly the hunt and puzzle making was really fun for them!

Needless to say once they figured it out...they were so excited and almost could not believe it!  These pictures are way out of order...but we finally got home today after being gone for a week...and I am too tired to organize...plus I am pretty sure my brain isn't working!

We headed down South to Punta Gorda, Florida to see Grandma Shirla and Grandpa Dennis for a few days...we celebrated Bryn's 2nd birthday with them...and then left little bit to hang with them while Jason and I took Reese and Hadley on to Disney!

Inside Cinderella's Castle
 Lunch with Tigger and Friends
 I hope they have great memories, regardless Jason and I will always remember to look on their faces as they took everything in.

 Hanging with Daisy Duck.  Meeting all of the characters and getting them to sign the girls' autograph books was a highlight for them both...but Reese really loved it!
 Nighttime Spectacular show at Magic Kingdom...really beautiful...and like everything Disney does very well done!
 Minnie
 A moment captured of the sheer excitment and joy these two had!  
 Merida and Rapunzel!  I started back this summer looking for great deals on Disney stuff...I did not want to pay the high prices at Disney but I knew the girls would want things...so I found a fun treat to give them each day before we left for a park...these were day #2...a great steal at Old Navy for $4 each!
 Getting ready for lunch with Donald and the Gang
 I love this picture because I caught Hadley rubbing Daisy's arm...she just wanted to touch all of them...and then Daisy rubbed her right back...so funny!

 Mommy and the girls before we headed to Hollywood Studios
 Daddy and Hadley...Daddy's poor neck and back...but the girls love doing this!

 I was so impressed with all of the shows we saw at the parks...Beauty and the Beast is a favorite of the girls....and if you are planning a trip and have little girls (3 yrs plus) I recommend the Enchanted Tales with Belle at Magic Kingdom!
 Grandma Shirla and Grandpa Dennis brought Bryn up for the last night and our final day going to Magic Kingdom.  I am so glad that we opted not to bring her the whole time.  It allowed us to really get one on one attention with Reese and Hadley and Bryn got lots of love and one on one from the Grandparents.  
 The girls were so excited to see Bryn after missing her for 3 days.  

 Our beautiful Birthday Princess getting ready for dinner with Prince Charming and Cinderella herself.
 SOOOO happy...Bryn was not too sure...and don't worry I did bring a Princess Dress for Bryn to wear, but she was not having it!
 I was so impressed with Prince Charming...Bryn did not want anything to do with him...but he got down on her level and began to talk and play with her and she finally came over and hugged him!
Our Royal Family 
 Cinderella's stepmother stayed in her role for sure!  All night when people would ask the girls how old they were...Bryn told everyone she was 6 like Reese!  But, the stepmother was so scary that when she asked Bryn...she looked at me like she was going to cry and said 2!  She scared the truth out of her!

 Getting ready for Dumbo with Grandma Shirla
 Meeting Merida...Reese loved this because Merida told her they could be twins or triplets!
 Out of order, like I said, but this is from our first night driving back from Day 1 at Magic Kingdom...we stayed until 10:00 pm!  They were full of the energy until the seat belts clicked and then they were out!
 In Punta Gorda, before Disney, Grandpa Dennis and Daddy going for a ride
 Hadley walking Fritz with Grandma (Hadley's hair is wild here)
 The two cutest princesses in the park!
 Wearing their cool 3D glasses for A Bug's life 3D show...it was a great show...they got a little scared at one point...which makes this tough girl picture that much cuter!
 We would not have made it through 4 days at Disney without this stroller!
 Her birthday celebration was the best one yet...sadly she may be disappointed in the years to follow!  She wore her birthday button every day...and I am pretty sure that all 5,000 Disney employees said "Happy Birthday Princess" or "Happy Birthday Reese" to her...she grew to love it...pretty sure she thinks she is famous!
 Confirmation that 4 days of Disney with Bryn at 2 years old would not have been good...we took her to the Fantasmic Show and 2 minutes in she was crying and screaming saying it was too loud and scary!
 So, mommy and Bryn spent some quality time here!

Because you just never know what you will get with this one...we turned around at one point while in Animal Kingdom to see Hadley without any pants on!  She just decided she was too hot and took them off!  I would have been embarrassed but it was "Fat Tuesday" so I think she was tame all things considered!
 Another one of the many princesses the girls met...They were great...actually got down and talked with the girls for about 4-5 minutes!  Hadley made a point to make sure Rapunzel knew that she was wearing her shirt.
 The Castle View
 Another lost Princess Sister
This Trip was really magical...the joy and laughter from the girls was worth every bit!  I wish I could have captured it all in a bottle!  It was the perfect weather, perfect amount of time and for us the girls were at the best ages to be there!  We are so grateful to have been able to do this fun trip...not sure when it will happen again...but we are grateful for it!  

Thursday, February 14, 2013

6 years ago

I can't believe our Reese was born 6 years ago!  I had a small breakdown yesterday morning as I was lying beside her...talking to her about the day she was born (they all love to hear the story about the day they were born...how they cried...how we held them...ect..).  I had tears coming...and so did she...she has a sensitive little heart
This year's birthday will be one she won't forget...and sadly I am not sure the next few years will live up to the magic of this one!

 Princess Cinderella Reese
 Reese has grown up so much in the past year!  She has grown in maturity and I am amazed!  People often don't realize that she is only 5 (or 6 now), she is so tall and her face does not look like a 6 year old...and honestly there are moments that she acts so old. (and yes moments that she does not)
 Reese loves every moment of school and really looks forward to going.  Next year will be a big step as she heads to full day first grade...but she is ready!  She has become such a big help to me...always helping her sisters do things at home...helping Brynlee go potty, helping Hadley put on a princess dress and always wanting to help me cook.

 Reese had grown in her reading ability this year!  I love watching the excitement when we are looking at something and she can read the words...or when she now knows how to spell so many words on her own.  She has always loved being read to, and now we enjoy listening her to read at least one of her "easy readers" each day.
 We are so proud of Reese. She has such a tender heart for her sisters and for God.  She is so quick to tell when someone at school was sad and tells me how she tried to show them love.  I pray that God continues to keep her heart soft and that her compassion for others only grows.  I am sad to see my baby grow so fast, but I am excited for the amazing little lady she has become.