Kate's Birthday Extravaganza

Well, last week was Kate's 6th Birthday! Can you believe it? I know I can't! This is the first year, I think, that Kate really "got it." She has always been excited about her birthday, but this year she was actually counting down and getting REALLY excited about turning another year older. A couple days before her birthday Kate said to me "I am so glad I am turning six, because I am getting tired of being 5" All I have to say about that is as much as I love seeing Kate grow and learn and mature, I just wish it wasn't all going by so quickly. The birthday celebrations started on Tuesday when Kate had her Daisy meeting. She was the assigned snack person, so we decided to make a special birthday snack for her troop. Kate chose to bring cake pops, and I decided to venture out of my baking comfort zone and make them. How hard could it be? Well, let me tell you, it is harder (and much more time consuming) than it looks. At least they turned out okay and tasted really yummy!

Pink and purple cake pops. Just what the 6 year old wanted.

The cake pops ready to be handed out to the Daisy's.

We got to the meeting and the leaders announced the meeting was canceled because of a tornado watch. Kate ran around handing out the pops to all her friends before they left, because a) she was so excited to share them, and b) I did NOT want them left in my house. The temptation of chocolate covered balls of cake and frosting is just too great to resist.

On Thursday (Kate's actual Birthday) she wanted to bring cupcakes to school for snack. She chose half vanilla and half chocolate cupcakes with brightly colored flowers on them. (No, I did not make these...)Kate had dance class that evening, then we went out to dinner at Mama Mia's (her choice because she really likes their bow tie pasta with cheese sauce.)

After dinner we went home for the customary 6 "spankings" and a pinch to grow an inch.

She didn't seem to mind.

The singing of Happy Birthday and a candle in a saved cupcake....and the opening of the family birthday gifts. This girl made out like a bandit!

She wanted a "real" camera. On Friday there was a half day at school, so I took Kate and a few of her friends from the neighborhood to paint some pottery. They had a great time, did a fabulous job and were very well behaved. (thank you Amy for coming along!)

Madelyne, Libby, Kate, Lillian and Max The Kindergarten pottery painters...

Then we went back to the house for some cake, ice cream, presents and play.

The kiddos singing Happy Birthday to Kate.

Kate LOVES her Rapunzel birthday cake (I definitely didn't make this one either) Mommy and Daddy got her tickets to see Toy Story on Ice for her birthday. Here is Kate and Cole ready to go... "Yee-Haw" and "to infinity and beyond..."

Kate's friend Libby came along with us. They all LOVED the show! I (as usual) loved the looks on their faces! Priceless.

All in all I think Kate had a fabulous, fun-filled, "non-party" Birthday extravaganza.

Believe it or not, Kate is already talking about when she turns 7! I am SO not ready for that!

The Daisy's invade the Great Wold Lodge

Kate has done some really fun things with her Daisy troop, but I think this was the most fun by far. The Daisy troop and all girl scouts in the Kansas City area got together at The Great Wolf Lodge for a evening of FUN! We left right after school on Friday and headed to the lodge. After we got there we headed to our room and put on our swimsuits. Kate LOVED it! We spent a few hours in the water park then headed out to the lobby for story time, the dance party, and a hula hoop contest. After all that we got together with the troop for a pizza party. Then, FINALLY it was bed time! I can't believe she lasted as late as she did. My little party animal! We got up bright and early the next morning, had breakfast with the girls then spent a little while longer in the water park. And believe it or not we were home by noon. Here are some photos of the highlights of the GREAT trip!

Kate must have gone on the water slides 50 times a piece and wanted me to stand at the bottom of the slide and take a photo EVERY time. I pretended to take the picture after about the 25th time. She was VERY proud to be in the pool without a vest. She was very cautious though (which I was happy about)

I do believe the BIG BUCKET was her favorite part... She liked to lay down as it dumped it's 1,000 gallons of water on her.

Kate with most of her Daisy troop.

Kate and Lillian at the dance party. You can see Violet Wolf in the background. Kate really thought Violet as super cool. Kate danced her little heart out and went crazy when the Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus songs she was familiar with came on. You can only imagine the screaming that came from the older girls. WOW and OUCH!

The Hula hoop contest. Kate didn't win, but I was proud of her for giving it a whirl...Kate chose a Violet Wolf as her memento and a Wylie Wolf for Cole's present (He and Daddy had a boys night in--pizza, games and a movie). Here is Kate all snuggled in the bed. She was SOOO ready to go to bed. It was QUITE the evening!Getting ready to leave the next morning Kate wanted one last photo on the balcony to show the building. She kept saying "It looks like REAL Lincoln Logs" Actually that was the first thing she told Daddy and Cole when we got home too.

A great time was had by both of us. I had a sad realization that my baby girl is growing up! And fast! It is great to see her having and enjoying new experiences. I just need to figure out a way to slow the growing up down just a little bit. It that possible?

Christmas Day

Well, I posted Christmas Eve, so I guess I need to post a little from Christmas Day. We had a very nice Christmas Day, Kate woke up around 5:30 (even after not getting to sleep until after 11:30 on Christmas Eve) and Cole was soon to follow. They came out yelling "It's snowing! It's snowing!" Kate ran around saying "It's a Christmas miracle!" I was really excited to have a white Christmas as well, as it has been many many years since that has happened.

Since we had a house full of family who needed to wake up, the kiddos passed some time by opening their stockings. This took quite a while and kept them occupied, so that was good. After everyone else awoke from their long winters naps we headed in to see the tree. Kate's and Cole's eyes got big as saucers seeing how much the gifts had multiplied since they went to bed. The first thing they ran to was Santa's sack which he had left. Kate said "You were right! Santa did find us in Alabama!" We then spent the rest of the morning opening presents and playing with toys. (I was having a heck of a time keeping everything straight as I was keeping a list for the thank you notes...) Later that afternoon Uncle Jason and Aunt Randi got there along with baby cousin Leah. We were all so excited to see them and finally meet Leah. That evening we went to Grandmama's Family's annual Christmas get together. Which, despite the snow, had a great turn out. It is always fun getting together with them.

All in all it was a wonderful Christmas Day, it was busy and chaotic at points but we were so blessed to be surrounded by loved ones. Christmas is so much fun with little ones around too. I think Cole and Kate's eyes were lit up ALL day long.

I guess Santa couldn't finish that final bite. But he left a little note...The tree in the morning. I think it exploded. Good think the tree is so big.

The stockings were filled...Cole digging into his stocking.Kate with all her stocking loot.

Cole with Stinky the Garbage Truck. This is the only thing he consistantly asked for for Christmas. Good thing Santa brought it to him...

Kate got her DS. I think she is glad about that.

In their great Christmas outfits from Grandmom Deb.

Kate and Cole with their Baby cousin Leah. I know being with Leah was one of Kate's favorite parts of the whole Christmas trip to Alabama.

It was a beautiful, fun, magical day. Both Kate and Cole are still talking about it (and the whole trip for that matter) This will be a hard one to top. I believe we are up for the challange next year though. We all hope everyone had a Very Merry Christrmas, and are having a wonderful 2011!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is now and has always been one of my favorite days. This year it was as well. Anytime we get to spend with family is always special. We started the evening with a short visit to church with Grandma Mary, Grandpa Mike and Uncle Matt. It was a candlelight service, and Kate held the candle for us. Cole slept the whole time in Daddy's arms. We then headed on over to Grandma Wagner's house. Uncle Gary and Cory were there too.

After warming our belly's with the yummy soup and deserts the kiddo's put puzzles together with Daddy and Uncle Matt.
Kate and Cole opened some great Christmas gifts.

Then we played some fun games, that Grandma Mary had organized, and visited. It's always a great time with family!

Next, we headed back to Grandmama and Granddaddy's house to get ready for Santa.

First Kate and Cole opened their new Christmas Pajamas.

Then they put them on. How cute do they look? Having a girl and a boy I don't have much opportunity to coordinate their outfits, so I take advantage of the situation when I can.

Next Kate and Cole sprinkled reindeer food in the yard, put a "Santa Stop Here" sign outside, set out a plate with carrots for the deer and cookies and milk for Santa. Kate also wrote a little note for Santa.Next the kiddo's climbed in bed for a couple books. First we read "The Christmas Story" about the first Christmas, then we read "The Night Before Christmas" After reading our books Cole fell asleep really fast, but Kate climbed into her bed and tossed and turned for a while before finally falling asleep after a couple hours and MANY visits from Mommy and Daddy to assure her that Santa would still come. This is the first year she was too excited to sleep, and I was hoping that since she was up so late she would sleep in a little bit. No such luck, but I'll get to that next time...

Pre-Christmas activities

Well, we kept ourselves so busy the days and weeks leading up to Christmas that I never got to tell everyone about all the cool things we did over the season. So, I decided to do one special blog post highlighting all of the activities we participated in. I hope you enjoy...

Decorating the Christmas Tree. Decorating the house...What a wonderful hubby Oliver is. Even with his fear of heights he climbed up on the roof to make the house pretty and festive for us.
Kate went with her Daisy troop to see a musical/play version of the Nutcracker. She was VERY excited to get to meet the actual Nutcracker. She also earned a special patch to put on her Daisy tunic.

Another activity Kate did with her Daisy troop was to lay wreaths at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. It happend to be the coldest day of the year, but it was a very special ceremony to be a part of. Kate got a patch for this one too.Kate attended a class on post called Santa's Workshop. In the class she got to pick out, make and wrap two gifts for anyone she wanted.We went to visit Santa. Santa was very good with Cole even though Cole wasn't too sure. Santa talked to him and was so sweet. The line was really backing up since it was taking so long, but Cole finally sat on Santa's lap and asked him for Stinky the Garbage Truck. Kate asked for a DS and a scooter. Kate and I had a Mommy/Kate date to see the Nutcracker Ballet. It was fun to get dressed up and go to something special together. Kate liked parts of it, but was wondering when they were going to start talking (like in the play she had seen earlier in the month.)We got lots of packages in the mail from many generous loved ones. Kate and Cole enjoyed stomping on bubble wrap and playing in the packing peanuts.Kate and I make LOTS of yummy goodies (Cole helped a bit too)!

Kate made an awesome Gingerbread Christmas Tree.Cole was an Ox in his schools Christmas program. He practiced his line for a week. He said "I stand in the door and see the little child" I'm not sure that was supposed to be the actual line, but he sounded so cute saying it.The Christmas Party in Kate's class room. They made bird feeders, ate some yummy food, read some stories and got goodie bags. Kate's ballet class had an observation day. It was great to see how much she has improved. She is really growing up! (she's the one in the middle with out ballet shoes on--she has outgrown hers...)

The day before we headed to Alabama for Christmas, Kate went out to deliver the goodies we made to the neighbors. I hope they enjoyed them...

With all thes great activities it's a wonder we got our shopping, wrapping and packing finished. Not to mention getting ready for out trip to Alabama. This was a fun Holiday season and I really hope that along with everything else we made some great memories and started/continued some fun traditions. Next to come will be highlights from Christmas in Alabama...