Aidan's 5th Birthday Party

The day after Ella's party, it was time for Aidan's special day!

Aidan selected to have his party at Mike's fire station. Since Mike would have more ability to let the kids all have fun at his second job (Wesley Chapel Fire Department) as opposed his main job at the Charlotte Fire Department, we had the party there.

Everything was "fire" themed, from the invitation....

....to the personalized hats....

...to the fabulous cake....

and fun favors (cookies and specialized firetruck/hat crayons)....

I went low key on the overall decor, as I wanted it to still be a fire station and not "girly" in any way...

The Birthday boy, Ella and Lauren each had special shirts for the occassion....

The kids all enjoyed a lengthy tour of the fire station and got to climb in and out (and on top) of each truck in the station.

The kids even each got a turn to shoot water from the hoses....

Though she didn't get to take part in the main activities, Lauren had fun hanging out with Opa and Grandma Shushi, who came up from Atlanta....

After a pizza lunch, it was time for the main attraction - a ride around the block in the fire truck (something we could NOT have done had we had the party at Mike's station in Charlotte)!



This was such a fun party and all of the kids had an amazing time!

Ella's 5th Birthday Party

This year, we could not get the twins to agree on a joint party theme or idea, so we decided to have two individual parties and let them do whatever their little hearts' desired (within reason, of course!).

I have to admit, although it was a long and exhausting weekend, I had so much fun getting to plan a party for each of them that was completely gender specific and not gender neutral for once!

Ella chose a ballerina party theme, so off to the planning I went! It was all girly and twirly, from the invitation....

...to the food (pink lemonade, cake and cookies)....

....to the decorations and favors....

....to the adorable matching outfits (complete with tutus) for Ella and Lauren...

When all of the girls arrived, they each chose a dress up outfit and then all gathered around the instructor for a 45 minute ballet lesson and plenty of dancing, twirling and just plain fun girly time!

After a brief break for cake....

....the party concluded with one last twirl around the dance floor....



It was a fabulous party spent with dear friends! Ella loved every moment and is now begging for ballet lessons!

Lauren Crawls!

Today, May 4, 2012 (just three days after turning 10 months old), Lauren officially crawled for the first time!

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Happy 10 Months old Lauren!

Wow - what an amazing month you had! You are definitely so close to being "on the go" and our world will definitely change with a mobile baby on our hands - bring out the baby gates!

You are so aware of the world and your surroundings. You are an observer at heart, and sometimes tend to be on the quiet side, yet once you become comfortable, you are the life of the party!

This past month brought about your first short movie (during a visit to Discovery Place)....

....your first spaghetti....

....your first time pulling to a standing position....

....your first time being fed "on the go" in the Ergo....

....your first time trying to feed others....

It is so amazing getting to do this all over again, and I find myself just sitting in wonder with you as I watch you discover the world around you more each day.

You currently have seven teeth - four across the top and three on the bottom. You are fitting nicely into your 12 month clothing, and are fast approaching needing to change to a size 4 diaper. Your cute little thighs are so thick that we are having a difficult time finding shorts or pants that can fit....just check out those rolls....

Your hair is getting lighter in color by the day, but your eye lashes continue to amaze me!

Bless your heart, you are so easy going and are just as sweet as you can be going along with the flow of missing naps and messed up routines due to the twins' schedules.

The days may be long, but the years are short. Only two months left until we will celebrate your first birthday. I am not ready for that....not ready for you to walk, or become a toddler. Not ready for you to grow a day, or one minute older. I want to hold you tight and trap us in babyhood for just a little while longer. I want to gaze into those big brown eyes and remember this day, this time, and this life with you as my little baby.