My K is 4!

Time flies was too fast! My K had her 4th birthday yesterday. K loves the color purple, Dora, playing babies with her sister and friends, acting shy, but talking your ear off once she feels comfortable. She is a very energetic girl and makes me laugh daily. She still likes sleeping in and cuddles with her mom. She recently calls FHE -Hamily Foam Evening- and likes having "lonely" baths. (A bath all to herself.) She also likes bossing around her older siblings and enforcing rules.

It was a celebration all day long for K. When she woke up she found her presents and decorations. She got to play with her new baby stroller and baby bottles right away. She had to wait a very long time until dad came home to open the rest of her presents. She was very meticulous when opening all her presents and would rip off each piece of paper and hand it to me instead of just throwing it everywhere.

She got a new dollhouse from her Grandma and Grandpa H. It was a big hit- and even Ethan and Erin wanted to play too. She also got some accessories for her dollhouse and a new alphabet puzzle.

The new favorite toy.


A very proud K with her gigantic dollhouse.
As birthday tradition dictates, Katelyn got to pick where we went for dinner. So off to the golden arches we went. (Because it has a playground that is inside and not hot and sweaty.)


Katelyn and McDonald.

After dinner it was back home for cake and ice cream. Katelyn loved all the attention and us singing to her. Aunt Kelly and Uncle Mark came over with cousins Davis, Jack and Kenadie. The Berrett's came too. (Natalie, Londyn, and Sophie.)


She requested a chocolate cake disguised as a purple Dora shirt cake with a numeral 4 candle. There was also chocolate ice cream for the birthday girl.

We sure love our Katelyn and are glad she is part of our family. Her crazy hair and personality to match keep life interesting. She will be a great big sister in a few more months!


**Katelyn had a hard time falling asleep last night. I heard her chatting with Erin past 10pm. This morning Katelyn woke up Ethan and Erin at 7am to play dollhouse with her. I woke up to the sound of giggles and talking at 7:20. They were trying to be quiet, but it was so fun to see them all playing together. Some kids will be going to bed a little early tonight. I can hardly imagine all the excitement that Christmas is going to cause this year...

Sidewalk of Fire

The annual neighborhood Sidewalk of Fire was a smashing success! Jeff and I were on the planning committee this year. Jeff made up an official logo that looked great on all the staff shirts. There were plenty of pre-dark activities including face painting, hair streamers, sidewalk chalk and bubbles, rockets, a candy launch, and lots of treats.


The kids decorated their bikes and scooters for the Children's Parade.
Erin made a star crown to wear for the evening.

Ethan in the parade.

Katelyn loved the glowsticks. Notice her purple 4th of July shirt- could it be more perfect?
Erin loved all the glowsticks and face painting too.

Some of the fireworks from the awesome 45 minute display. It was the best year yet!

Freedom Festival

As part of the Freedom Festival there is a hot air balloon launch. We went last year for the first time, but the balloons didn't launch. So we thought that we'd give it another try this year. No launch this year either. The winds were too erratic. There weren't very many balloons inflated, but here are some of our favorites:

The Bank of AF piggy.

The coke bottle. It started swaying so much that it was deflated pretty quickly after I took this picture.

Maybe we'll have better luck next year! I hear that it is really amazing when they all launch.