Birthday Bash

August was pretty much birthday central around here!  Our baby Bella turned one August 4 and our first baby Jayden turned the big three August 20.  We decided to have a double party this year at our house on August 11.  I have SO many pictures from the birthdays and party, so here is your warning that this is a picture heavy post of SOME of the pictures!

On Bella's actual Birthday, my family came to our house to spend the day with us.  We had dinner together and a special birthday cookie cake I made! 

"i think i like this cookie cake thing"

After celebrating, we started working on some photo opp props for the party!  Good thing my mom is artistic and could draw Thomas, James, and Percy on these posters.... thanks, mom! 

And thank you to Norm and Kristen for helping us paint!!!

My next project was to make a train track out of graham crackers and oreos for the wheels to go around the dining room table carrying the cupcakes.  This was a fail.  I couldn't get the oreos to stick well enough, so I scratched that project and made a train track out of construction paper... you will see what it looked like in future pics the day of the party!

The day before the party... my little cupcake baker helper!!!

And the night before the party, Stacy was a huge help making fruit kabobs with me and J.  =)

this was taken before jayden poked his hand with the stick..... oopsie!

 Finally, it was party day!  Here are a LOT of pictures from the party!!!!

Thank you to all of our family and friends who helped make Jayden and Bella's birthdays a success!  We had a great day!!!!

On Jayden's actual birthday (August 20) his Sprout Birthday card was on TV again!  I will try to post the video later, but if you are on Facebook, it is posted on there!  How awesome is that!!!! 

Happy Birthday to Jayden and Bella!!!!  =)



My Babies

Yesterday I did a mini photo shoot of my babies.  I put a flower bigger than Bella's head on her and we headed outside to snap some pics! 

Our Little Preschooler

Jayden just finished his first week of preschool!  He is in the two day a week program in the mornings.  We drop him off at about 8:15 and preschool is from 8:30-noon.  He loves it!  We were so nervous about how he would react because he is such a routine child and he really typically does not like anything "different."  It takes him a while to get comfortable with new things, etc.  The preschool was really good about giving us serveral opportunities to come in and visit/see the classroom.  First, we had our tour.  We toured four different preschools.  Once we chose his school, we went back for an "interview" where we got to ask whatever questions to the director and she (the director) sat down with us and went over the handbook and routines of the school.  The third time we visited the school was for Open House.  This was when Jayden got to meet some friends that would be in his class and also his teachers.  Finally, we had his Orientation.  Each of these opportunities to meet the teachers and classroom really helped Jayden because by day one he was ready to go! 

It works out really well because he goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Tuesdays Jared closes at work so we are both able to drop off and pick up Jayden.  When you drop off, there are teachers waiting at the door to walk the kids to the classrooms.  You can either walk your child by yourself or you can have the teachers walk your child.  We chose just to leave Jayden at the front door and let him walk with the teachers.  We did not want him to cling and not want us to leave if we went into the classroom with him.  We did not know how he would react, but he went away with no problem at all! 

His teacher is SO sweet and great with little ones.  She gave us her cell number so we could text or call.  She texted me his first day and said he was having an awesome day and no tears at all!  When we picked Jayden up, he was talking nonstop about preschool and how much he loved it! 

The second day (Thursday) I told him I wanted to walk him to his classroom so I could say hi to his teacher and he would not let me!  He said, "No, Mommy!  It is my preschool!"  hahaha

Day 2 was great--when I picked him up, he was happy and had had another wonderful day!!! 

We are loving preschool and think it is going to be so good for Jayden!  :)