This is very late but I still wanted to blog about this years birthdays!!! Bella turned 3 and Brady turned 1! That year went by suuuuuuuper fast but it was also a very exciting year. On their actual birthday we celebrated with some dinner, presents and cake at home. I made the cakes and they didn't quite look like what I expected but Brady made the most of it. A little tip for anyone who is reading this...DON'T make a crazy thick buttercream frosting to use on a smash cake! It was such a fun and entertaining evening until clean up time. The frosting just turned into a sort of wax on the floor, table, chairs, etc. YUCK - YUCK - YUCK! Even after the frosting incident though - May 4th, 2011 was much less eventful than May 4th, 2010! Bella got to celebrate her birthday at home (with Mom and Dad) and I'm sure my parents were happy to not have to fly all over the country in one day again! (If you don't remember - I sent them on a plane to Dallas for Amanda's induction with the twins and said I wasn't in labor...even though I guess when you feel like crap, are having sharp pains and stomach cramps, walked a ton in the morning and are exhausted and on your second pregnancy you should probably recognize that you are in labor). I think my parents knew but not to worry - they wanted to drive to St. Louis, fly to Dallas for a few hours, fly back to St. Louis and stay at the hospital till midnight just to fly out at 5 the next morning for the next 2 babies! LOVE YOU TWO!!!!
Bella is very 3 right now and loves dressing up in her princess gowns, dancing around the house, singing and bossing her brother "Rady". She likes to tell random people in stores that "I'm Bella and this is my little brother Rady - He's a stinker!!!" She also likes to get surprises (candy) and make deals (ways to get candy!) She loves all things Disney and has an infatuation with Cinderella's Tassel!!! I love her creativity, listening to her play in her kitchen, having our silly conversations as we drive and how much she loves seeing cows and horses! She keeps me on my toes and entertained all at the same time!
Brady is getting so big and wasn't walking quite yet by his first birthday. He is an excellent crawler though and gets around very well. That is until it is time to crawl away from Mom after bath. He doesn't realize I let him do it because his little tushy is so funny scooting through the hallway! He usually gets going too fast and giggling and trips onto his face! Brady LOVES Mickey Mouse and is his biggest fan! He also LOVES his Daddy and gets sad when he leaves. Mom will do if Dad is not around or he is really hurt. He also LOVES snuggling, soothie pacifiers and any silky white blanket. He looks like a 2 year old and snuggles like a 3 month old! I love his fluffy hair and the spike he gets after he has rubbed his head up against his bumper pad while he sleeps, his adorable cheesy grin and his infectious giggles. He is a sweetie pie!
Brady is trying to decide if he likes his cake and...
Turns out he does but where did it go???
Oh... there it is!
That weekend everyone came to town for the big Mickey Mouse Birthday Party! We had a blast celebrating with Colton and Carolina!!! Friday night was super relaxed with pizza, drinks, and lots of sitting around and talking as people made it to town. Papa volunteered to run bath time and put 5 kiddos through the bath. He even took a little one himself. He put his head in the water (Papa doesn't care that little boys pee every time they get in the tub) and totally freaked Brady out!
Molly getting some snuggle time with some her favorite people! A few of her nieces and nephews!
The next day we lugged all of our party decorations, food, activities, etc. up to the pavilion at our neighborhood for the party. It was supposed to start at 4:00 but since I was partially in charge it started at more like 5:00! Turns out Bella decided that she didn't like people right before her party and she just wanted to sit in her closet and eat gums with Lissy. I completely underestimated the challenge of getting the pavilion ready, my kids and myself ready, food transported and set out and so on right before the party. Thanks to EVERYONE who jumped in and helped out. My Dad and Andrew were shredding and heating the meat without even being asked.! They were hungry I guess!! :) I think everyone had a good time, we had more than enough food and the kids went home happy, filthy and full! Here are a few pictures Molly and I took of the party! They aren't in perfect order and Lissy had much better pictures than mine.
This is what these two little bits looked like when they arrived!
The party scene!
Thanks to the Criders for letting us borrow their great bounce house! The kids slept well!
We had two very special mystery guest at our party. These two actually provided tons of entertainment before, during and after the party! We had a blast telling the kids I had Mickey and Minnie in my closet, Briley was freaked out by them but eventually touched Minnie, We got to take pictures with them, Caroline liked walking with Minnie, Jackson had a new best friend with Mickey and got to take him home and then Minnie wandered the Sedlak house for a good month and Mickey enjoyed the Farwell home for awhile. They both eventually lost their heads. Not joking - they are separate balloons and are attached with tape.
So much for germ x and sanitary wipes!
Cake time! Here they come!
Colton, Carolina and Brady - Three little one year olds all in a row!
Bella chose to eat her cake in a more sophisticated way - at a table!
Actually all she ate were the polka dots off of her cake!
Watch out - I think they are escaping!
Little Owen is wearing a tie and wants to have nothing to do with nonsense going on on the ground! Actually - look at this guy! You know he would LOVE some cake!
Baylor and Brady enjoying what is left of the cake!
Ryan and I are celebrating our fifth anniversary this year. Haven't our little flower girl and ring bearer gotten so big. What is a little funny is that they are actually playing with some chiggars (I don't know how you even spell it) the found on that post! GROSS!
Don't worry little Carolina - Your Papa doesn't care how dirty you get. He will always help you get party hats off of your feet!
Caroline sporting the adorable Minnie ears Amanda got for Bella but she wouldn't wear!
Oh Ali and Andrew - Ali: "Hey Andrew, I think I'm pregnant?"
Andrew: "I hope it's not twins."
Ali: "Oh gosh, what are we going to do if it is twin boys?"
HA HA HA HA HA! We are going to have a blast! That is what we are going to do!
I'm sure this was a funny conversation!?!?!?
I dont' know if a kid has ever enjoyed leaving a party as much as Lincoln did here! He is parentless,
shirtless and shoeless (always signs of a good time) with a lollipop the size of his head and a big box full of awesome toys like bubbles, bugs and flashlights! Does life get any better?
These two crazy kids just wanted to say "See Ya'll soon! Thanks for coming to our shindig! Grab you a sucker on the way out!"
The post party parade! Not near as cute as the pre-party parade but MUCH more funny!
Papa has had enough of this party. He is taking Minnie and beef and blowing this Popsicle stand!
Next it is time to head home and watch the DVR'd Kentucky Derby that we missed while we were celebrating! Animal Kingdom won which I found very fitting considering we had this whole theme not only because the kids love the Mouse but also to get everyone psyched up for the Disney Trip! Andy enjoyed playing the horse for all of the kids! Here you see Briley, Carson, Ellie, our friend Maddie and Bella! Even Papa Ted almost joined in the fun! Olivia opted for Bob - Bella and Brady's horse!
Next it was time for presents and as evidence by these few pictures and the horrific thank you notes I wrote - you can see that present time was CHAOS and not the organized type! I will never forget it though - even though I am not really sure what everyone got!
What a party Brady - I agree! That was fun! Now let's clean you up and put you to bed.
The next day we had a yummy Mother's Day brunch with yet again, way tooooooo much food! We hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did!
