One of our regular activities is going to a Walmart, Target or Meijer and playing in the toy aisle. A lot of times Josh will watch the girls and I'll grab groceries but sometimes I'll just take them to play. They LOVE it. And, the best news of all, we go so often they don't really ever want to BUY any of the toys. They don't throw fits (well...about the TOYS) they just assume they are the store's toys and they don't really know we COULD buy them. (probably since we never do.) Occasionally Brooklynn will throw some stuff in the cart (she is catching on) but most of the time they just have fun playing with the toys. This is a great way for me to figure out stuff to put on birthday or Christmas lists...stuff they play with the most or continue to go back to.
I decided to make Brooklynn a Barbie house. We still had lots of boxes from the move (which we are saving for our next move) and there is a surplus of extra wallpaper in one of the storage areas here (for this house).
This is our creation out of cardboard, tape and wallpaper. It's not super-sturdy...but hopefully it will last until our next move. Meanwhile, I'm on a hunt for a discounted Barbie house at a consignment sale or yard sale...those things are EXPENSIVE! Or maybe I'll just build one out of wood someday.
I decided to combine the girl's birthday parties this year (and maybe other years, too.) because not only are their birthdays close together, we have SEVERAL birthdays right around them in our family. I still wanted to celebrate her actual birthday, though. So ON Brooklynn's third birthday we tried to make it very special for her. She got to open 1 present at lunch time. She was VERY excited.
When Josh got home from work she got to open another present. She was very excited about another princess book.
Then we had dinner which was all her favorites: tacos, rice with black beans, and sugar pizza.
Then she opened the rest of her presents.
After presents we had cupcakes. She really wanted a rainbow cake for her beach party, but since I was making beach cupcakes I decided to do the rainbow one for her actual birthday.
I LOVE how she sings with us. :)
Then we had a dance party. Yes...Brooklynn got to wear her pajamas all day....since it was her birthday and all.
I thought it was fitting that since Brooklynn was turning 3, that I should cut about 3 inches of her hair off.
It REALLY needed it. She doesn't really keep her hair up or back when I do it and it hangs in her face. It was also pretty uneven. So I gave her a special night before her birthday haircut.
We left for Olivet Friday after Josh got home from work. It was so weird to only get there a couple of hours later. How nice not to have to drive for 10 hours.
Saturday was Kingsbury Christmas. We were excited to get to go now that we lived closer. We had a nice dinner at a church and then we all bundled up and went sledding.
Look at smiley Andrew.
I had to take another one when Adeline noticed I took a picture of just Andrew.
Gabby was asleep when we got there..(after about a 5 minute drive.) I was planning to take her out and just hold her but she was SO sound asleep I thought I would try lying her down so my arms wouldn't get so tired. She did so good sleeping there for about 5 minutes....until she rolled over. Then she was not so asleep.
We had a great time....and to think I almost forgot to pack our snow stuff, thinking we wouldn't have time to use any of it!
After sledding we went to Uncle Bill's house. I think this was one of the only moments we saw Brooklynn...after that she was off to the basement in toy heaven with all the kids.
Thanks for a great day, everyone! We so enjoyed getting to be there and spend time with you all!
