Dora Fiesta!!!

Kennedy had her Dora FiestaParty this weekend and lets just say it was a blast! We had sooo much fun - thank you to everyone that made it:)
We had her 3 year old check up today, and besides having a virus that she caught sometime yesterday (?) she is "really fine!" (that's what she told nurse Mary). Here are her 3 year old stats:
Height: 36" / 24th percentile
Weight: 25 1/2 lb / 3rd percentile - so lots of extra cheese/butter/ranch dressing - all of her favorites:)

Now. On to the party pictures. This is the RachaelCake! It was amazing to look at and even more amazing to EAT! OMG - it was soooo delish! I am sure she is taking orders too!!!

These are the cupcakes that pale in comparison to the Dora cake, but Kennedy was so excited to put the sprinkles on and the Dora/Boots decorations on them!

I think she is EXCITED!!!!

Listening to the mp3 that Rachael got her for her birthday - fully loaded w/ 40 Dora/Barney/Kid songs!!! What a great idea - will be perfect for in the car:)

Watching Toy Story 2 w/ Maya, after swimming, that is why K is naked...
Sitting w/ cousin Austen - I think the finger/thumb sucking runs in the family, don't you???

Addie and Eva sitting on the Shark Pool Sprinkler:)

Addie jumping off the slide in the pool.

On the slip n slide:)

Nolan jumping off the slide!

Kennedy sliding backward into the shark pool, showing Braedon and Maya how to do it.

Chillin in the pool w/ Savannah.

Friends in the pool!

The 3 (or 5) Year Old is HERE!!!

Happy Birthday to my sweetheart! She is sooooo amazing and wonderful and I honestly do not have enough words to describe her. She is our world and we LOVE her sooo much!

This morning told her it was her birthday (it was finally here, after 3 weeks of talking about it!) She said, "It's now?" I said, "Yes. It's now." Then later I mentioned that I was so excited that today was her birthday. She got a little upset and grumbled to me, "Mooooom, it's not today, it's now!" Guess she is a little confused about the difference b/c today and now:) Also confusing: She really insists she is 5. And she gets very upset if you tell her she is 3. Just trust me on this one!

Here is her birthday ice cream w/ candle for breakfast.

After singing Happy Birthday to You, she closed her eyes, waited about 3 seconds (making a wish of course) then blew out the candles. She was so pleased with herself.

Here is one of the most awesome cookies that Rachael made (I hear she is taking orders:)) for Kennedy to take to Lorie's house to share w/ her friends.

Grandma Julie and Rachael came over when we were gone today and decorated the house. Kennedy was sooo surprised and excited. Rachael was there to witness and let me tell you, that Kennedy is sooo sweet. She knows how to do it. Every step we took we heard, "Oh my goodness! Oh, it's really beautiful!" And she would put her little hand to her mouth in awe! It was adorable.

First present. Pulling the string. She was sooo excited!The play sink from Grandma Julie and Papa. I think the picture says it all about how she felt about this one!

First Barbie. Ever. Thank you sooo much Aunt Rachael! She held her Barbie's hand and walked her across the floor, up each stair, so they could jump on the bed together. She even bent the Barbies legs into sitting position when they did "seat drops" together! Ice cream cups with MATCHING spoons. She cried, "Open them. Open them!" Rex from Toy Story. It's a flashlight that roars.

Dolphin and Whale squirters!

The best cake I have EVER eaten. Ever. It is a chocolate mousse cake (made by Rachael herself) and it is to die for.

Singing Happy Birthday to You!

Blowing out the candles, after the wish of course!

This is the fun sink that Grandma Julie and Papa Brian got for Kennedy. By the time we (I mean, I) had it put together, she was sweating from the awful heat. I didn't have batteries, so the flow part of the sink wasn't in commission. She filled it w/ the hose and had a BLAST. Next thing we knew, she had her clothes off and was in the sink. Maybe it could double as a bathtub? :)

New Red Door and of course, Miss K.

After seeing the red door I have always wanted on *gasp* another door, I KNEW that I had to have it. Jon and I set out to Sherwin Williams, we got the last quart of extra super shiny exterior all purpose paint. I am not kidding about this being the last quart - it had an odd strip of old tape wrapped around it and a lot of dust on its lid. The sales person told us they didn't carry it any more - it was a red base, which allowed me to get exactly the color I wanted. I also decided to update the light fixtures - I had a can of black enamel in the garage. I really like it:)

Vacation week!

We have been on vacation this week and it has been sooo much fun! We didn't have anything planned, which was nice, so we have just been going one day at a time. I totally recommend it! The first few days we spent at Grandpa Ron's cabin near Dubuque. After that we have been hanging out at the pool, the mall and we went to our first movie in a theater - Toy Story 3!

This is a picture of Kennedy and her cousin Austen - he is soooo cute, don't you think?
We ate lunch at a burger place called Durty Gurt's in Galena. It really did have the best burgers - they were HUGE!!!! This is a picture of Kennedy and her new panda, named Panda. We got it stuffed in Galena and she was super content with Panda!

There was a beach at Grandpa Ron's cabin and someone was so nice and put a swingset right there on the beach!

Kennedy LOVED the water. She took right off into it and didn't stop. We had to show her that she couldn't go too far out or she wouldn't be able to touch!

Kennedy is not too much a fan of fireworks this year. We were able to get by with some black snakes and some small morning glorys - but I am nervous with the 4th coming up that we may have to skip the big show! We will of course make the attempt, but may end up coming home early...

Sitting with Daddy, watching the sparklers...from a distance.

Party Time!

Rachael graduated this year and we had sooo much fun at her party. Kennedy got this dress last year (thanks Lisa!) and we were saving it for something super special. She LOVED it, when she saw it she said, "Mom! Is that my princess dress? It's really beautiful!"The double bubble machine was awesome! Thanks to the Countryman's for sharing it:) Kennedy could pop bubbles for hours, and that is not a joke!Opening her denim purse made by Aunt Paula!She, in true Kennedy fashion, opened the purse - wide - and said, "MOM! I need monies!" So I had to go find her some coins. After noticing she was not out playing (I swear, it was only 5 minutes), I went into Rachael's room to find this. Kennedy had crawled into Rachael's bed and crashed. So, the graduation party was last weekend. This weekend was North Liberty Fun Days! WOO HOO! We actually had nice weather for the parade, a little humid, majorly sweaty and LOTS of fun! Kennedy had a great time playing with Addie and Della and her other friends. They played ring around the rosie! AWESOME:) and..... they all fall down!!!!!!!!

Happy Memorial Weekend:) Happy Graduation, Happy Wedding, Happy Birthday...:)

WOW! What a busy weekend we had. Lucky for us it was THREE days. To start - Friday, Rachael graduated from High School! WOO HOO for her:) We were able to walk around Carver Hawkeye on Friday afternoon while we waited for the ceremony to start. I snapped a few pictures of her practicing her balerina moves and posing:)snuggles with Grandma Julie:)Saturday morning, we were heading to HyVee to get some essentials for a trip to Grandma Faes when we passed a cool little park! Kennedy made a new friend at the park, a little girl named Fiona. It was a bummer that we were only able to stay for fifteen minutes, but it was still fun:) Walking in the field to our car after Tara's wedding. It was a hot one, but super gorgeous day out!

Sharing a seat in front of the fire w/ Garrett - just in time to roast some marshmallows for SMORES!!!!!This morning was a surprise party for Barb! Kennedy was sooo excited to go to Barb's house for a party! She couldn't stop talking about it all morning after we made the card! I am pretty sure that Barb's husband, Jorge, really pulled one over on her because Barb always knows EVERYTHING! So, I am super excited that it was such a good surprise - HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARB!!!!Lastly. For the big surprise at the end of the book! We finally moved Kennedy to her new room! Jon drove to Galena to pick up some WONDERFUL furniture for Kennedy from his Grandma Norma and we are soooo thrilled! Kennedy and I had painted the room about a month ago (just ask her - she will tell you that she painted green; I did let her help!) and she has been so excited to have "one, two rooms!" She shows them off to everyone that walks in the door. Well, now she can actually live in the new one! We also have a brass twin bed, that will be replacing the Dora bed but we didn't want the shock of new room and new big girl bed all on one night...:) Sleep tight!