Birthday and Backpack

Since Lyla has started preschool..she has developed two pretty awesome friends. Addison and Darah.
They all fight like sisters... but then can't function without each other. Recently it was Darah's birthday and she had her party at Chuck E Cheese!

All the girls were excited to spend some time together .. outside of school.. just playing and having fun!!

Here is Lyla and Addison.. ready for Cake!

Darah is turning 5! What an awesome cake!

Present time! Darah opened up Lyla's present first.. which was a big deal to Lyla for some reason. I guess there is some sort of status symbol in getting your present opened first! I did take quite a while wrapping it and putting all the curly ribbon on.. so I'm glad she enjoyed it!

We got her a HUGE coloring book of Doc McStuffins.. and a DVD.

After the party I had to run by Target to pick up a few things and they already had all their back to school stuff going up.. so we swung by the school section to look at backpacks...because we all know that is also another status symbol of school.. You HAVE to have a cool backpack.

 

I , being the uncool mom, went to the backpacks that had the princesses or Barbie on them..

Lyla went directly to this one!

OMG!

Rainbow Spikes!

 

and her daddy approved!!

Not that I have anything against rainbow spikes but I just can't see my lovely little daughter walking into Kindergarten with a Rainbow Spike backpack...so I told her "Let's look around"

 

*fingers crossed that a FROZEN backpack crosses our path SOON..

I think that will be the only thing that will change her mind**

Princess Lyla turns 3

Little ol' me thought that a $2,000 trip to Walt Disney World would be the best birthday party a little girl could possibly have...

well...

Her daddy thought differently...

He wanted her to have a birthday party...

So once we got back from Walt Disney World...I got on the ball to plan a quick...very quick birthday party.

It was of course Rapunzel because that is her above all favorite right now...

We had it at a new ice cream shop called Goody's.

All the kids got to make thier own ice cream sundae and it was tax free weekend in Arkansas so all the adults got 3oz for free!! Pretty awesome!!


***again...i typed out this whole long bloggy post about her birthday...and for some reason the computer didnt' save it..so when i went to pusblish it...it wasn't there!! ****

Here is her awesome birthday cake..made by Mrs. Jade Graves...she was amazing!!

And even delivered it to the party site ...thank God for her!!

singing happy birthday to my girl!!! She was a little embarrassed

Lyla's face when Rapunzel walked in!!

A day before her party I had the thought of asking Donna (whom I go to church with) to play Rapunzel...look at her hair below!...but I didn't have her phone number so I told Gregg to call other church members (because I also don't know what I did with my church directory) to see if they had her number. I knew Lyla would love it if I could make it happen....but I hadn't heard anything from Gregg and it had been a few hours...

So I had my students in the gym watching a movie and our director comes in to show new parents around and lo and behold it was Donna's sister!! I almost attacked her when I seen her!!

God is good ..isn't he?

I believe through this whole party process...he had his hand on me...he gave us an affordable but awesome place to party...the cake lady delivered the cake for me because Gregg had to work that day right up until the party...so I had no idea how I was going to travel with a three year old..a two tier cake with a towe and presents to the party all together and in one piece...and now he just sent Donna's sister to me!!

Anyway so I got Donna's number...Gregg left her a message...and when I got off work I checked my voicemail and there was a message from Donna saying she would love to attend Lyla's party!

I was so excited!! I think that I thanked her like a million times.

And if she is reading this...

I thank you Again!!

I know there is probably a hundred other things she could have been doing on a Saturday night than come to a three year olds birthday party...then not to mention ...even finding a dress to dress up and play the part!!

Such a sweet sweet girl!!

Of course I had to make my daughter cry on her birthday at her party because I was telling mom that Jade even put the special golden flower on the cake which was on Tynlee's piece....so Lyla was upset that SHE didn't get the special golden flower

Thank God for Tynlee...she gave it to her and gave her a hug!!

What a precious girl!!

This is Lyla's boyfriend...I am so glad they took the time to come to her party...she was so excited he was there!!

My brother and Rapunzel have a few things in common huh??

Play Doh...thank you cousin Brittany!!

waiting on more presents to be opened

my hunky husband

he is such a good sport and he puts up with me

i love him

I love this picture of my mother in law and my husband...so natural!

My mother in law got Lyla a Rapunzel birthday card that sang..and she LOVED it!

We had to remind her that there was a present to be opened

Polly Pocket Cruise Ship.

Tynlee told us "this was the motherload of toys!"

oh these kiddos crack me up!

My mom and stepdad..along with me and Gregg...went in halves and got Lyla a Leapster Exploring System with a Tangled game

This angry bird drove Rapunzel to Lyla's party...his birthday is the same day as Lyla's...or Lyla was born on his birthday (since he is just a tad bit older than she is)

so he got his picture with Rapunzel too!!

Then after her party she wanted to go drive around and look for deer

yes...she did

she is her father's daughter for sure!

We seen some..

about 30

And these were my Thank You notes

I think it was a pretty good party

I think everyone had fun

I am very blessed to have such good family and friends who make occasions like these seem so special. I can't thank them enough for being apart of my life ... I am so grateful to have them!

**disclaimer....this was completely pieced together from the parts that saved and didn't save...so please excuse if this sounds choppy or makes no sense at all...***

the fastest two years of my life

This past Sunday we celebrated Lyla's 2nd Birthday!


I , like every other mother, can not believe that my baby is two years old! It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, waiting for her belly button to fall off, excited to try out the first baby foods. Now we are singing songs, and ABC's, potty training, talking in full sentences.





Where did the time go?





Did I treasure it all?





Did I record everything I wanted to?





I have to say in two years..she is a beautiful, mature, and smart cuppy cake!

There has been hair pulling times and times where I laugh so hard my jaws hurt. Being a mom is the best thing I have done in my life. I know now why I looked forward to it all those years as a child...it is like nothing else.





It is extremely hard but greatly satisfying.





Nothing compares.





I have to admit ...it is sometimes hard on your marriage..it is stressful and you take things out on each other. It is times like these though that you gather the family together, enjoy each other's company and when the chaos is all over Gregg and I pull together and say, "Look what we have done!" and we bask in the pride and joy that we have raised and nurtured for two years.

Celebrating Lyla's Second Year of Life!!

This past Sunday we celebrated Lyla's 2nd Birthday!

I , like every other mother, can not believe that my baby is two years old! It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, waiting for her belly button to fall off, excited to try out the first baby foods. Now we are singing songs, and ABC's, potty training, talking in full sentences.

Where did the time go?

Did I treasure it all?

Did I record everything I wanted to?

I have to say in two years..she is a beautiful, mature, and smart cuppy cake!

There has been hair pulling times and times where I laugh so hard my jaws hurt. Being a mom is the best thing I have done in my life. I know now why I looked forward to it all those years as a child...it is like nothing else.

It is extremely hard but greatly satisfying.

Nothing compares.

I have to admit ...it is sometimes hard on your marriage..it is stressful and you take things out on each other. It is times like these though that you gather the family together, enjoy each other's company and when the chaos is all over Gregg and I  pull together and say, "Look what we have done!" and we bask in the pride and joy that we have raised and nurtured for two years.

Summertime is time for Birthdays!

I never realized how many birthdays there are in the summer!
Wow!
We have been to two in two days!
Wow!

But we have had a great time doing it! Lyla got to swim and play...I have had fun enjoying time with my friends!

I wish we had more time to hang out ..and just be girls!

But I had to post the presents I got them...they are so supercute!

For the first birthday...our friend was turning six! the big 6!!! Going into the First Grade!
So I made her homemade playdoh in a jar! Supercute!

don't you love it?

For the next party, which was today, I got her a funky Photo Album. She is turning Five and going into Kindergarten so i thought it would be awesome for all those Kindergarten memories..for her and for mom! I didn't make this...although I would love to try! A woman that lives near me made it and sold it to me! So here is her photo album..

isn't it just as cute!!?

I have to say...I think I am a pretty good gift giver! and if I'm not...don't tell me..it will hurt my feelings!

****Here is the good part!***
We get home...Lyla and I extend our evening out in our driveway with a parachute man that we got in the party favor and a popsicle. I had pink..she had blue ( and most of my pink)!

It started to get dark so we decided to come inside and take a shower...I jump on Facebook really quickly to tell the woman that made the super awesomely photo album that I loved it! and then off to start the water.

In between the quick message and turning on the shower ...I check on my lovely little daughter.

She is fine! Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. What a good little angel!

Starting the shower...got us some towels...found some PJ's...called for Lyla.....no answer....

called again......no answer......uh oh?

took off down the hall to look for Lyla....and found her ..........

sitting in the middle of my dining room floor ............

covered in SPF 100 sunscreen ................

and fingerpainting with it on the floor.

*take a big freakin deep breath Nikki*

OK...at least we haven't had our shower yet...

I did just buy new floor cleaner....and a new mop head

She wasn't in good clothes...still in her swimsuit...

nothing was in her eyes or mouth.....

.............and I just kept thinking of positive things until I guided her to the shower...then couldn't help but laugh....then cry....then laugh.....

and stole a kiss!

I am so exhausted!

Have a great night!