Evie's Birthday Party!

We had Evie's first birthday party the day after the wedding reception at Clague Cabin. Her birthday isn't for another week, but this was perfect for our families and friends. Eve did really well, and it turns out that she loves cake! Happy early Birthday to the sweetest, calmest, easiest, most troublemaking baby in the world!

The birthday girl eating crackers.

Her party had a pinwheel theme, and we got this amazing cake from Becky Klein at Sweets and Stems. Clevelanders, this cake and the cupcakes were so good and so adorable.

Girl cousins. Ella, Kate, Annie and Mallory.

Evie and her godfather, Chris. She does like him. Really.

While we were getting ready to sing Happy Birthday, all the girls gathered around Evie and started to tickle her. She loved every single second of it.

Kate and Lucy being so nice to Eve. For two little girls who are so crazy, they certainly can be fabulous big sisters. Right, Callista? ;)

Eve was not sure about this at first.

So Annie and Kate guided her a little.

She tried it out.

And then just went right for it!

She was mostly eating just the cake, until Aunt Cathy showed her all the deliciousness she was missing.

She was quite grateful.

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate our little Evie with us. She had a great day, and no, we cannot believe our baby is a year old!!

Andy and Candace's Wedding Reception

Matt's cousin Andy and his wife Candace were married in December in Philadelphia. Aunt Judy hosted a reception for them this past weekend in Ohio. The whole family was invited, and it was such a fun night. It was great to see everyone, and the kids just about lost their minds with the excitement of their very first wedding reception. Congratulations Andy and Candace! (Who do not appear in one photo from the evening. They looked lovely and very happy, I assure you. My apologies.)

Pa and Evie.

The best one I could get before they moved of Mallory, Kate, Evie, Annie and Pa.

Kate, Annie and Annie Cahill. My girls love Annie Cahill. They followed her around and danced with her quite a bit!

GG, Madelyn and Evie. Maddee is so sweet with Eve; I love watching them. And this is an adorable picture of GG and Maddee! So happy!

Let the dancing begin.

No, she will not stop moving to take picture. Thank you very much.

Evie and GG.

And here is the best picture of the night. I tried to just take a regular pictuer of Adam, but he declined. I had already pushed the button on my crappy camera and just happened to catch him swing around a few seconds later.

How hilarious is this!? And how cute is he in his little sport coat?! Also, his sneakers lit up when he danced. It was pretty much awesome all around.

Finally, Kate dragged Grandpa Ralls out onto the dance floor.

Annie's Bowling Birthday

Annie's birthday party was a source of much indecision this year. We decided to let her have a big friends' party for her big fifth birthday. After much mind changing and calendar checking, she decided to do a bowling party the weekend before. She also had a lot of requests for the guest list. And for the cupcakes. She wanted Star Wars. I honestly never thought that, in my current position as the mother of three daughters, I would ever be calling Williams Sonoma to ask if they had the Star Wars cupcake baking set -- and that we would need the Rebel Alliance, not the Imperial Guard. But that I did. Luckily, they did indeed have it, and Annie's birthday wish was granted :)

Waiting for the bowling to begin. These are Annie's sweet little firends Mae, Andrew, Dane (in which order, I can never tell!), Kate, Kaela, Annie of course, Daphne, Ryan and Nicholas.

Ashtyn and Annie getting ready to bowl some balls.

It was a bit chaotic, but really fun. Aly obviously rolled a winner :)

Star Wars cupcakes. You can't tell, but even the paper cups have characters on them.

This photo is blurry (bowling alley lighting is not ideal), but here's Annie and two of her favorite little dudes, Steve and Jack.

Singing Happy Birthday!

Opening gifts.

Preschool friends! Annie, Kaela, Jack, Charlie and Nicholas.

And afterward Annie had to get some of her new toys out and have a tea party with Grandma and Grandpa Ralls!

Happy Birthday Annie!

Our baby is five years old today!

It seems impossible.

 This hilarious, talkative, friendly, crazy girl was just a teeny, tiny baby such a short time ago!

Really, she was.

Wasn't she sweet?

Even though it feels like we were just attending her first birthday party, Annie is indeed five. That's a legitimate kid. And as far as kids go, she's pretty great. Annie is the most friendly, confident kid I know. She LOVES making friends. When we go to new places with new kids, she is known to say "Mom! Look at all the new friends I can make!" I hope she feels like that forever.

A few days ago, I was reading a book to her and Kate about a girl who feels shy going to a party. I asked the girls if they ever feel shy. Kate said yes right away. Annie said no. She sounded almost confused. And I laughed because it was true. She doesn't have a shy bone in her body.

Annie makes us laugh every day. We love her energy and her take charge attitude (we won't say she's bossy). She loves art and crafts. She loves to color and draw. She loves Star Wars lately and her baby doll. She said when she grows up she wants to be a mommy. (Kate said she wants to cook food, if we're keeping track). She is loving and sweet with her sisters (always with Evie, mostly with Kate). She wants to wear dresses every day and is counting down the hours until she can go to kindergarten.

For her birthday, she asked that we go to a restaurant (she is obsessed with eating out) that "sings and claps and gives you an ice cream sundae for your birthday." Thank you, Red Robin.

With her birthday gifts.

Reading her new book to Barkly, the preschool class pet. (It's her turn on her birthday. Her five-year-old head nearly exploded with excitement).

She even shared her ice cream sundae with Kate. What a girl.

We love you, Annie!

Happy 5th Birthday!



Finally Some Snow

It finally snowed enough for the girls to go outside to play in it. It wasn't actually a ton of snow, but it was more than we've had all year. So far. I shouldn't have put that in writing. We're going to get dumped on until May now.


Anyway. Annie and Kate were so, so excited to get out there. Annie especially loves playing in the snow. She ran out and flopped right down in it.

Once the older girls and Matt were outside, Eve was so sad inside. She just stared out the window at them longingly. I can't refuse a cute baby, so I bundled her up and out we went. Turns out, Evie's feelings about the snow are closer to Kate's feelings about the snow.

She went from trepidation.

To confusion. (Also, she's wearing my mittens from when I was a baby. Thanks Aunt Ruthie!)

To I Hate This With a Burning Passion.

(Isn't her hat cute, though? Etsy. I love it)

(Also, to be honest, she is wearing a 3-6 month snow outfit. It does run huge, but she may be irritated in part by the fact that it was very snug.)

Back to the snow fun. The girls really wanted to make a snowman. This was not going to happen. There wasn't enough snow nor was it the right texture. They persevered nonetheless.

Matt took pity on them and tried to help them build a snow mound to make into a snowman. This made them just as happy.

Hey! The snow is way better in Daddy's arms!

And tired Mama's arms, too.

Kate actually really into this snow adventure!

Annie shoveling in an attempt to gather more snow for "Snowy," as they named him.

Pause for a sister picture.

And the final product. Snowy. That's my scarf, a strawberry nose and blackberry eyes. We had to use what we had :)

And, what is going on with Annie's hat?! What point is that thing serving in this photo? Certainly not keeping her warm! I have tried so many different hats on this kid. Nothing stays on! She must have her dad's weird shaped head. Maybe it's too small? I don't know, but it looks hilarious.