My baby is 4

Juliet turned 4 last week.  Its crazy!  I know all mothers think it, and its true-how do our babies grow up so fast!  Even Jonathan said "I can't believe our baby is 4!"  

That morning, Jonathan got up early and woke Juliet up to go get donuts. She chose chocolate with rainbow sprinkles.

Then they came home and brought everyone else home treats.  This was donut # 2 for her.

After a morning of playing, we took the girls to, where else but Chick Fil A, and then to the park to play.  We had to be heading back to Vegas that afternoon, and good thing because Juliet was exhausted from her long weekend of partying and after a weekend of junk food, her stomach was DONE!

 

Aunt Heather came over before class to wish Juliet a happy birthday and play with the girls.  She never misses a chance to come over!

No CFA love in Vegas

 

Oh Juliet, how we all love you so much.  You are the most independent little girl! You say you love, well everyone you know, and you have the funnest little giggle.  You are teeny for your age (30lbs exactly) but are not lacking in jokes, smarts or sweetness.  You are only in a sour mood if you are tired, but other than that you are always flashing your giant toothed smile.  You are a cuddler and a snuggler and always try to keep up with your big sisters.  Kylie and Ava always say how cute you are and they are right!  I'm so blessed to be your mommy and am grateful God gave me a 3rd little girl to raise.

Joint party for my October babies

Last weekend, we traveled to California (of course) to have a birthday party for the girls with our families and a few friends.  We picked up Jonathan on Friday at the Vegas airport since he had been TDY all week, then we continued home for our drive.  

On that note, Ava hates that I call it home.  She's been correcting me recently every time it slips out and reminds me that its NOT home...just like my Aunt Gini does.

Friday night, we surprised the girls with a visit to Disney On Ice!  I took them shopping a few days sooner to pick out something fall-ish for outfits they thought they'd be wearing to the birthday party.  They had been bugging us the entire car ride about putting on their outfits to do a fashion show, but we kept telling them "later".  That drives them nuts....they hate when I say "later" when they ask to do things!  They were excited to put on their new matching digs for a show that they had no idea what to expect. 

 Of course we get there and the arena is littered with vendors selling Disney paraphernalia.  Oh the joy it brought Grammy to see her son bombarded with "daddy PLEEEASE" for all the cute stuff.  They used to take him to soccer games at this same place and he just had to have pennants for his bedroom wall as a child.

 When distracting with candy didn't work, Jonathan told them they could get something on the $10 to $15 rack of toys.  Those Rapunzel and Tiana and Naveen plush dolls you see were $24 each.  I wanted to get them, but I was turned down flat just like the girls were.

 Getting out the forms of payment.  Don't worry, I blurred out the numbers.  

 Of course we still did get treats after buying toys.

 Jonathan thought of this as his delaying another trip to Disney. 

 Waiting for the show to start.

 Kylie in the Incredibles hat they gave with cotton candy.

 If you look closely, you can see she is popping cotton candy laced with popcorn.

We did take a bunch of photos of the ice skaters, but the cards from Alice in Wonderland were quite impressive.

Intermission hugs.

 Look who had a melt down and fell asleep.

 Ooohh, a princess!

 I did wake Juliet back up for all the princesses and their individual shows.  This was at the end when they all came out...jackpot!

Saturday we did some last minute birthday shopping and went to Jonathan's cousin's wedding, then met up with friends we were stationed with in Florida who happened to be in San Diego that weekend for other events.  

 It was a great coincidence and a fun reconnect with them!

Thanks Marin for the picture steal.

Sunday after church, the Tinkerbell party began!

 Thank you Albertson's for your cute cakes, and for Target having a blister pack of all the fairies in Pixie Hollow that fit nicely on our quarter sheet.

 The girls love Grammy and Grandpas back yard.  I told the girls it was Pixie Hollow-they thought it was so cool.  No extra decorating needed!

You can't hear her, but Juliet is giving her best roar right now.

 Cake time!

 Don't bother me....

 Aunt Heather getting a bite.  Notice how Jonathan is "helping" Ava's arm.

My friend Angie (which we just relized this past week we've been friends for exactly 25 years!) has two sons.  Her eldest, Christian, is 3 weeks older than Kylie and she and I were commiserating on how both our kids continue to put their hands in their mouths!

 Cards and presents.

 Oh dear....this spells injury!

So excited to finally have her own scooter!

 Ava got a Razor Rip Rider from Uncle Jeffery.  It has casters for the back two wheels that make it so you spin in crazy circles while riding it.  Jonathan tried standing on the seat and making it spin.  I din't end pretty and I did NOT get it on camera!

Thanks to all who came!  The girls just love their family and are always excited to see everyone.

Camping at Zion

The last weekend of September, we took a camping trip with 10 other families in Jonathan's squadron to Zion National Park.  We were not able to book a group site soon enough, but we did all manage to get single campsites pretty much next to each other.  We even had an extra "hospitality" site where all the food and fun took place...as well as the nightly "quiet hours" ticket warnings when we weren't being so quiet.  With all those kids and even a few dogs (not Bailey---she's too much to handle with the girls) there was much fun had. 

 One family brought bikes and scooters, so our kids mooched.  We shared our frisbee.

 Mmmm, a yummy camping breakfast.

Juliet's little buddy, S.  They are 1 month exactly apart in age.  Both have blond hair, blue eyes and are both little peanuts.  They are nicknamed "twinsies".

They found this log and made it into a teeter totter.

 Oh yeah, its really pretty here!

 Just a few of the kids getting ready for a hike.

 Kylie and Ava waiting for the bus to take us all to hiking trails.  We must have had like 40+ people from our group pile onto the bus.  Noise followed us everywhere!

Still pretty!

Family pic by the Virgin River on a hike.

 Don't fall in girls!

 We took a paved hike (for all the strollers) to this point, where you can continue on up the river. 

Ava being brave.

After this days hike, we went back to the lodge for ice cream.  I think Juliet is enjoying hers, what do you think?

 Kylie doing hair of some friends.

 Scenery.

 More.

 We took another hike with one other family the day we left.  We didn't want to rush home to unpack and do laundry.  The rainbow was a hit with the kids.

 Juliet just couldn't keep up.  Yes, that's her toosh hanging out!

 Another family pic.  We are all a hot mess!

 Eating lunch at the Emerald Pools.

Looking up!

 Back to the grass for ice cream and play time.

The girls and their buddies, S and J.

I love being in squadrons where we take trips together!  We did a lot of camping when we were stationed in Idaho and its so much fun, especially for the kids.  Can't wait for next year!