The Belle Cake

Kaylie asked for a Belle cake this year (last year was Mermaid). Shellie, a friend of ours, is an amazing cake "artist" so we asked her to put her skills to work. Kaylie (and Mommy) couldn't have been more excited and pleased with the beautiful princess that was delivered before the party started!

She was a little shy when Shellie came to bring the cake but I think this face says it all. Through out the day and even at breakfast this morning Kaylie said, "it sure was nice of Shellie to make that cake for me." 

 

Isn't she pretty?

The details on the cake were just amazing to me. (Have I used that word too many times) The color of the gown was perfectly matched to the golden yellow of Belle's gown. Down the back of the dress there were even tiny little yellow buttons. 

The white petticoat ruffles were one of my favorite details. 

Sorry Shellie I hope I didn't embarrass you too much. 

My baby girl is is 4!

Today little miss Kaylie Ann turns 4! Her entry into the world figuratively and literally scarred me for life, but that is a whole post by itself. It's ok though she is now the sweetest part of my life. I love waking up to see her every morning, talking to her and most of all listening to her. She has the most insightful and thoughtful mind. She is absolutely hilarious especially with her facial expressions, freakishly large vocabulary, and her infectious laughter. I am so glad that she was given to Ryan and I to raise, although I think she is here to teach me more than I could ever teach her. Her grasp of the plan of salvation and bonds of family that are eternal make feel closer to the Savior.

We had an awesome birthday party for her this afternoon with some of the girls from the neighborhood. I am absolutely exhausted from it all and will post all of the details tomorrow. For now I thought I would post some family favorite pictures of our little mouse.

A week ...or so in review

We went to the zoo with Grandma, Aunt Andrea & Karston, and Aunt Melanie. We all had a really great time even if I did take almost zero pictures and the one I did take... well you can tell they all look thrilled! 

Last week Kaylie and I had a couple of fun outings. We went to Red Butte Garden for their Arbor Day celebration. It was fun to walk around just Kaylie and I, especially with her 4th birthday now here it was fun to think about when it was mostly just her and I while Dad was busy.
Kaylie with her complementary Arbor day tree that we were supposed to go and plant... I had good intentions, maybe that counts for something. 

No more leaving the house without lipstick for me! (but aren't we cute together?)

Kaylie had her Teddy Bear Picnic at preschool last thursday. I was so bummed when we woke up to snow for what was supposed to be a celebration for the welcoming of spring! Kaylie and her "Cutie" both wore red dresses and black shoes. Kaylies black shoes are way too small for her but she insisted on matching Cutie from head to toe. 

It isn't the greatest photo job by any means but I was happy we got one taken before school and still made on time to do the curbside drop off!

Kaylie's week was finished off with a birthday party for one of her preschool friends. Kaylie actually made her Cutie bear that she sleeps with at night at build a bear when she was 2 so she kind of knew what was in store and was very excited! 

My little fashionista off to her party!

 

Kaylie waited in line to receive instructions...

 

She picks a bear with darker fur...

Then she stuffed her bear full of fluff!

When Kaylie started out the process of making her bear she had said that she wanted to make a  brother for Cutie, naming him Pepso (I have know idea what that is or means. She very creative when it comes to naming), but she later changed her mind and baby Leah was born!

Every bear needs a heart!

Leah's first bath

Kaylie and new baby Leah!

The party was for the girl in the center. 

I was a little worried/interested to see what would be come of Cutie with the new bear in the house. Kaylie can be very particular about who and what she is truly attached to. She never really took a binky, she had a few blankets she preferred but nothing that she had to have at night until she had Cutie. I worried for nothing. Leah got the "new toy treatment" but it was only 20 minutes before Kaylie came up to me and said, "Mom do think Cutie could wear Leah's dress?" And that was it Leah is toy who she does love and play with but Cutie is still Cutie.

Love It!

Kids love to see pictures of them selves and of their favorite things... I guess we all like to see our favorite things, that would explain the "favorite" part. Moving on. Kaylie's birthday is coming up and she gets to have a special spotlight done at preschool. I put this together for her. She was so excited. James was also incredibly excited, so I made one for him as well. It's kind of like your your own personal seek and find. I was hoping to use them as a quiet activity during church but so far James gets to excited to see all of his favorite stuff in one place and he becomes anything but quiet. He can say the words of all of the pictures on his "Favorite Things" page! I am going to print them off back to back on a piece of white card stock and then have them pocket laminated (the thick laminate). I used my Pages program, which is similar to Word for PC users and may work as well. If you make some of your own I would love to see what you come up with!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good

Starting with the good news first, its usually less interesting. I took a jump out of my comfort zone that was probably the equivalent to base jumping off a tall cliff for most people. I sang in sacrament meeting today. Not so bad you say, well there were 4 of us so that made it a bit better, but I had a solo part a whole whopping 4 words that I sang by myself and a couple of duet parts as well. Although this could be the good, the bad, or the ugly I am putting it down as the good. I am glad I did it. I am definitely not a great vocalist but I enjoyed the experience. 

Side note: how did that guy get up there in the first place?

The Bad

Ok lets do the bad. James has an ear infection. It's the first since his tubes were inserted almost 8 weeks ago. I could see it coming but I have been waiting a few days for the "drainage" the doctor told me I would see. Well the drainage finally came today. It is kind of a bloody discharge though. Maybe all of you more experienced tympanostomy mothers know what normal ear infection drainage looks like. At any rate we are calling the doctor first thing in the morning to get stuff to hopefully clear it up quickly. 

The Ugly

The ugly is more like ridiculous. James did a

 little base jumping of his own this evening... out of his crib! The mattress is down as far as it can get and the little monkey still got out. He landed on his back and bit his tongue, but other than that he is fine. The ugliest part of the whole deal is that there is no way I am putting him in a bed yet, which means instead I may end up forking out the money for a crib tent. 

E-I-E-I-O

Last week we went to Wheeler Farm in an effort to enjoy this out of control weather. I mean really it's been in the 30's and the 80's and everywhere in between. It ended up being a little colder than the weather man predicted so we did all we could until we couldn't feel our finger or our nose. 

We got some duck feed.

Fed the ducks. This picture looks sweet and like the kids are having fun. Yeah that lasted all of about 1 minute and then the screaming began. The rest of the trip we had to shoo away every duck, goose, and chicken that came our way. 

We saw the cows.

Went on the wagon ride. To walk around the farm is free but you can pay $1.50 to ride the wagon. It's a great ride and you feel like you've gone back in time, when really you are in the middle of the Salt Lake Valley.

We saw the pigs.

We saw several other farm animals and then scurried back to the warm car. 

Happy Birthday to us!

April is a busy month for birthdays for us:

3rd- My Dad

5th- Ryan's sister Melanie

7th- Me

29th- Kaylie

On Friday the Brown Family got together and celebrated Melanie and I before JoAnn left town. We had fun eating pizza, cake, ice cream and exchanged a few gifts. I don't know of any pictures taken. Darn it! My family came into town just as the Brown party was breaking up. 

The Riedman family celebrated birthdays on Saturday night with more cake, ice cream and presents. This time Kaylie's birthday was included since Maja and Faja won't be here later in the month. 

 

Birthdays are so much more fun with little kids!

This cake is sooo yummy! We love to get cakes from The Glaus French Pastry Shoppe down in the highland  and 33rd south area. This is mint chocolate cake but they have several flavors that are just amazing!

Faja isn't a fan of the mint chocolate so we got him some little lemon cakes. James wanted a taste too. Instead of swiping at it or taking a bite he just stabbed it with his index finger.

Faja got his laughs too. James had no idea this bow was on his head. 

A couple favorite gifts that Kaylie received. 

Left: A princess sleepover kit with a sleeping bag, pillow, and night light. 

She slept with it for the rest of the weekend. We made a deal that we use it on special nights like when aunts and uncles visit. 

Right: Loving Family Dollhouse SUV. This item has been on Kaylie's wish list for quite some time. Both Kaylie and James have been playing with this toy all day for two days now. 

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes and gifts that I received from family and friends.

Bracket Busted

My bracket is officially busted with the ridiculously embarrassing loss of UNC to Kansas. The truth is I don't mind, yes Hansbrough is pretty, that still remains a fact but... Kansas is an excellent team. The Jayhawks have Darnell Jackson, an amazing guy with a great story of triumph over adversity (and he's isn't too shabby lookin' either). You really have to read his story. So it's Memphis vs. Kansas... put me down for Kansas. My brother, the "baller of the family" who's picked Duke every year since he was 12, says it ain't happenin', but I'm sticken to my pick. 

Elder Brown Leaves

The rest of the pictures of the MTC drop off... Thanks Andrea. There really isn't much explanation needed for most of them. It was a bittersweet day as the family was sad that we will not have Eric with us but so excited to see him serve the Lord. 

Andrea and I are vain over this picture. The 3 boys with their yellow and blue ties and mission tags.

Kaylie with her Uncle Eek. 

Ok, this picture is heart breaking and you don't get the half of it from this image.  Kaylie is bawling on Grandma's shoulder. From the moment they told us that it was time to say good bye until we had left the MTC and been driving for at least 15 minutes she cried on and off sometimes almost uncontrollably. I felt really bad. We had been talking for weeks about Eric going on a mission and what that meant and where he was going but I never thought for one second that she was going to react the way she did. She loves her uncle!