Happy Birthday Kylee!!!

I can't believe my baby girl is 5!!!

When did this happen?

Time is going by way too fast and I really just want to slow it down. 

Kylee is such a gorgeous girl.  Everywhere we go people compliment her glasses and tell me how beautiful she is.  She is shy, but once she gets to know you, she never forgets you.  The other day out of no where she asked me about a friend of mine she only met a couple times more than a year ago and I was amazed she still remembered him.  She is so caring and kind. 

And so full of spunk!  She makes me laugh and knows just how to cheer you up.  Her personality is just adorable and she is as smart as a whip. 

She is such a wonderful big sister and always wants to make sure Cannon is included and happy.  She always thinks of him at school or where ever she may be, making sure she can bring him back a treat or draw him a special picture.  She is always so thoughtful. 

She just makes everything fun. 

I can't even begin to say how much I love this girl. 

She is most definitely one of my best friends. 

I would be lost without her. 

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY

 Kylee Amanda!

I love you so much!!!

Kylee's Party

I decided long ago I wouldn't do friends birthday parties until my kids were old enough to really care or ask for one.  Until that time, we just spend as much time together as a family celebrating that person.  So far, my kids haven't seemed to mind.  They get to pick what we do, what we eat, what their cake looks like, and the whole day is all about them. 

Kylee wanted to go to Lagoon and have a party at Grandma's. 

About a week ago Kylee came to me and we had a conversation that went something like this:

Ky: "Mom, I definitely want a Barbie cake for my birthday this year."

Me: "Ok!  Next time we're at Macey's we'll look and see what they got"

Ky: "No, I want a Barbie cake where the cake is the Barbie's dress and there is a real Barbie in the cake that you can play with." (She must have seen one somewhere, because I don't know how she knew they existed)

Me: "I'm sure they will make us one like that"

Ky: "No mom, I want YOU to make it for me."

Me: "Oh Kylee, mommy is not very good at things like that."

Ky: "Yes you are mom.  You can do ANYTHING! I'll help you."

Who can possibly say no to that?

So after finding some very helpful videos and tutorials online, we set off to make a cake for Kylee's birthday. 

She decided she really wanted the cake to be pink, so a strawberry cake is what we made. 

She was a very good helper.

Cannon was excellent too - especially when it came to licking the bowl. 

Much to my surprise - the cake turned out GREAT!  It was so dang cute and delicious too. 

Kylee was so happy with it and she helped me every step of the way. 

It will be something I will remember forever! 

Kylee's other birthday wish was a sleepover at Aunt Em's.  She loves her Aunt so much.  They have been BFF's since the day she was born. 

Kylee got lots of great gifts and was super excited after she opened each and every one.  (Can you tell?) 

Her exact words were "holy smoky guacamole!"

We had to improvise with the lighted candles - and Kylee thought it was funny that we lit the Barbie's bum on fire. 

We had a very fun party at Grandma's.  Kylee is very lucky to have wonderful Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins who love her. 

What a fun day. 

Mary Poppins

To start off Kylee's birthday celebration I took her on a mommy daughter date.  We went and ate dinner at Olive Garden (her favorite place) and then went and saw Mary Poppins at Capitol Theater.  It was the first time either of us had seen a play there (I once saw Ballet West there).  Mary Poppins is one of Kylee's all time favorite movies.  She can sing all the songs, so we were very excited to see the musical. 

We got dressed up and tried to strike a few poses for the camera. I can set the camera on the piano, set the timer, and get a pretty good picture.  That is why so many of our pictures are in front of this wall.  :)   

Kylee is getting really into "posing" for the camera. 

She cracks me up!

Then we headed downtown. 

(The rest of the pictures were just done on my phone so they aren't that great)

Kylee was so darn cute the whole night. 
I am not kidding - at least 7 different people told me how cute they thought she was and just made me so proud. 

Everything made her so excited.  When the lady handed her the program you would have thought she had just made her dreams come true or something.  She thought it was so special and neat. 

She was glued once the show started and she just watched in amazement. The play didn't even start until 8 (which is Kylee's bedtime) so it was a very late night.  She was out before we even left the parking garage, still clinging on to her program. 

 It was really magical and I will cherish the memories we made that night forever. 

Are you ready for some...SOCCER?!?

Kylee and Cannon are part of the BLUE DRAGONS this year.  I was a little hesitant to sign them up for Fall soccer because Kylee is so gosh darn shy and Cannon is only 3 and has a very short attention span.  I went into the city offices with the intent of just signing Kylee up since Cannon wasn't old enough to play yet, but the lady took one look at Cannon and after talking to him assured me he would do great. 

I was even more worried that I had wasted my money on this soccer sport - especially after the following conversation with Cannon.

Me: "Cannon, what did you do at soccer practise today?"
Cannon: "I picked my nose. And then my soccer coach said, Cannon, stop picking your nose."

I'm really glad they both are able to play and on the same team.  Cannon really misses Kylee when she is in school and loves that he gets to be on his sister's soccer team.  I will admit I don't know much about soccer and wasn't expecting much from my little babes and their tiny teammates, but I was extremely proud tonight as I watched my little kiddos play there little hearts out. 

Kylee had a great shot on goal - even if it was right at the goalie.  Hopefully you will click on this picture and make it bigger and check out the goalies face.  It's priceless.  (Yes that is her COACH on her phone during the game.  I am not impressed by her at all)

Cannon always amazes me.

And I am so thankful that even though Kylee has my long legs, she is not as clumsy or uncoordinated as I am.  She is really talented when she isn't being shy. 

On the bench together. 

Making a new friend - Cameron. 

Cannon getting a high five after the game.  I'm not sure if I just got him blinking or if he is flinching - I mean, look at the size of #12!  I am sure he has to be over 5 years old. 

Cannon said to me "I love Soccer, mom!  You get treats!"

According to Kylee - the proper way to eat a fruit roll-up is to wad the whole thing up into a ball and eat it all at once.  She cracks me up. 

My kids always have a sweet cheering section with Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Em.  I'm glad they come and support them.  It means a lot to us all. 

I'm so proud of my kids and love these moments.  Even if everything else in my life seems hard - moments like these make them worth it!!!

I'm so excited for more games! 

Goodbye Summer!!!

Dear Summer 2011,
You were AWESOME! We had so much fun together. Thanks to our season passes to Lagoon, summer passes to the Syracuse Family Fun Center, a free swimming pool, camping trips, lots of hiking, and NO SCHOOL - summer was just about perfect!  Just a glimpse of the fun we had...

Now school has started back up (for both me AND Kylee) and some of the fun will end as the weather starts to cool - but there are more fun things in store and we are hoping FALL will be as wonderful to us as SUMMER was.  THANK YOU SUMMER!!!