Chelsea is...FIVE!!!

Chelsea chose Hello Kitty as her theme this year. Our friend, Stephanie Holland made and decorated this beautiful cake for her. Everyone LOVED it both for it's cuteness and its tastiness. 

We had two parties this year to accommodate all the expected guests. There was a kid party in the afternoon and immediately following was the family party. I made these rainbow cupcakes (with rainbow chip frosting, as you can see) for the kid party and we ate the big cake with the family.

                         

 We wanted to make this birthday a special one for Chelsea. Last year we didn't have a friend party; we just had a family gathering. At the party she asked, "Where's all my friends?" Talk about a stab in the heart. We had lots of fun, but I felt really bad still. So this year we rented a bouncy house and prayed for good weather.

 Not everyone was big enough to jump, but I think Abby still enjoyed herself. I hope so anyway. I didn't see much of her I was so busy running around. 

I hope Brie doesn't expect this in October for HER birthday party. She had a ball! She also got to meet cousin Reed for the first time.

 Here is Zoey, one of Chelsea's very first friends. They've been buds since nursery.

 Cheyanne, another of her very first friends ever. Again, friends that met in nursery.

 Here is Grace, who in in Chelsea's class in our new ward at church. A new friend.

Here is Mayzie, Chelsea's favorite person from her class in our new ward. Mayzie and Gracie are good buds already, and I'm glad that they include Chelsea now as well.

 And Missoni! This is Chelsea's very best friend. They love each other so much. When we lived with Grandma Kelly, Missoni's family was just a hop, skip, and jump away and we had lots of play dates with them. Now, it's not as easy. But they still love to see each other!

Here is Alize, Missoni's sister. She is close to Brie's age, so it works out well to get the girls together.

 Here is a view of the slide part of the bouncy house. Jeff and Lois are up there on the deck.

 It was a smidge windy, but NOT raining. The forecast was kind of going back and forth. I like the overcast sky, otherwise it would have been HOT to jump and run around.

 I loved being able to just let the kids loose in the backyard and have at it. So nice!

 So cute!

 Blake! Neither Brie nor Abby had met Reed and Blake before this day. But now they are good buds, I think.

 Here is most of the kid crew. I think there was actually 14 kids between my own kids and the party guests AND their siblings. Then there weas a group of parents, but I didn't count them.

 My dramatic Chelsea went back and forth between, "This is the WORST party EVER!" and, "This is the BEST party EVER!" It was the worst the first time because she wanted to eat the kitty cake and I made her wait. Then it was the best when she got to open presents. It got worse again later, but I forget the reasons. No worries, I know she had a good time and loved all her friends. She's just a DRAMA QUEEN.

 The bouncy house was the main event, but Daddy did lead a couple races, which the kids loved. They wanted more races, but there was lots going on, and *I* was completely overwhelmed.

 I know my expression in these pictures is a little...not so smiley...but I was having fun. I was just squinting.

 My cousin Kinda was able to make it with her two boys Gavin (second from left) and Gatlyn (far right.) Gavin is just about exactly the same age as Reed. I love how life works out.

 Blake loved patting Abby on the head every time he passed her. It was so cute!

 So much to take in! Good thing there were Grandmas and Aunties to keep her entertained and taken care of, hehe.

 Chelsea didn't forget about her baby sister. She loves to entertain Abby by tickling her and blowing in her face. She even pulled her around in the little wagon a bit. (Picture a little farther down.)

 What a profile! My kids are so beautiful. I love the chubby toddler stage.

 We finally got sand in the sand box and water in the water table so the kids had more to play with. They were happy.

 Ah sisterly love. Again, I love my kids.

 Last, but not least, the Gimpy Grandpas. Both grandpas had knee surgery. G. Kelly had a total knee replacement one week before the party, and G. Heit had a second surgery (one day before the party) after a second torn meniscus. (same knee) Lucky for them there is no steps to get into the garage or backyard where the main events happened. We had a grill cookout for the family. What a BUSY and fun day it was. 

Happy Fifth Birthday to my Chelsea!

Click on the link

Cute Video of Abby Getting Tickled

Early May

 I don't take too many pictures with all three kids together. I don't NOT do it on purpose, but after this, I realize why. It's next to impossible to get them all looking at me at one time smiling or at least with a pleasant expression.

 Seven month old Abbygirl.  LOVE this baby! (and my others too, but they aren't babies anymore)

 The playground part of Oak Park is open now. They didn't have the wood chips spread out yet, but they were there in a huge mound near the playground just waiting to be spread out. The splash pad is still out of commission and will probably not be able to be used this summer at all. Sad. The rest of the park is still pretty messed up and I'm not sure it's open to the public yet.  The most important part to us is available though!

 Sandwich on the go. It is SO hard to get this girl to stay put while eating. She wants to graze, but I don't want food all over the place. She usually doesn't try to drag her food everywhere like she did here, so at least that's a relief. But getting her to stay sitting for one entire meal? Next to impossible.

 A kitchen floor is a good place to hang out, I suppose.

Some more Heits came to town! Jeff, Lois, Reed, and Blake are all visiting for a few days! Hip hip! We never dreamed they'd come all the way from D.C. just for Chelsea's fifth birthday! (Her birthday is TODAY by the way. Our celebrations will take place TOMORROW, so I'll have more to post after tomorrow. Hip hip!)

 The kids all enjoyed the Spinjas, which are old-time Bey Blades, as Reed described them.

 Daddy and Uncle Greg continue to take turns drawing panels of their comic. It's very funny, as you can see. Abby even likes it.

 Michelle's old room, which is Randy's current room, is a fun place to play.

 The kids set up a little fort in the corner.

 Reed in the fort. I'm sad it's blurry. He's smiling so cute!

 We had a spontaneous Google + hangout with Michelle and Allen.

You can see all five kiddos, though not all their faces. I realize I never took a picture of Blake's face yesterday...Hmm...We'll have to try to get a shot of them all looking. Think five kids will be easier than three?

Family Time

I was going to put this up awhile ago, but I forgot. The Heits minus Randy came over along with Auntie Beth and we played a game. Actually I worked on putting Abby to sleep, failed, and then just hung out waiting for her to tire out enough for me to try putting her to sleep again. Stinker.

Snowflakes and Ponies

 This was supposed to be a snowflake originally. But it looks more like a mask. So it's a mask!

 Our ponies eat well here. Even if they do it sideways.

This is not Chelsea. This is Rarity. See her cutie mark? Ponies play a big part of our everyday lives. I can never keep it straight which pony Chelsea is and who she has assigned the others to be.