My Little Mini - Me!

I am still trying to figure out how to add blogging into my already hectic schedule. I am hoping to blog more often and use it as a way to record and save memories of our crazy family life. Even if no one reads this blog, I think I will still take a stab at a weekly posting -- sounds easy and doable, but I'm certain it will slip by most weeks.

This week's posting is simply a brief list of some cute things Caroline has said/done lately:

• While shopping for a gift recently - Me: What do you think we should buy? Caroline: Let's look for sale items first and then we can decide (is she not a mini me or what?)
• Caroline's new form of interruption is - "I have a question" or "Can I ask a question?" What this really means is, I want to talk and tell you something.
• At her first day of ballet, the class learned how to leap frog in order to strengthen their muscles. Waiting outside of her class, I hear Caroline ask, "When are we going to really learn how to dance?" (This was said with total sincerity).
• Caroline has two best friends now, and she loves to talk about "me and my friends."
• Her bed is filled with just about every stuffed animal she can find. Her comment, "they were lonely and wanted to sleep in her bed."
• She is already planning her birthday party for next year (perhaps I did outdo myself this year) Ha!
• She asked if Ben and I remembered how we took her trick-or-treating last year and left Andrew at Gigi's...and then she said, "Can we drop him off there again this year?"

Well, that's all I have time to list for now. I'm sure I'll think of more. That girl is always coming up with something!

Pampered Puppy Party

This past weekend we hosted Caroline's 4th birthday party. Her birthday was actually on September 3rd, but we chose to drag out her celebrations for two full weeks (what were we thinking?)!

On her actual birthday, we took a quick two night trip up to the Appling cabin (located near Blairsville). She woke up on her birthday to several birthday surprises. I'll have to post pictures of her riding her new bike (with training wheels of course). Ben and I had a hard time enforcing the helmet rule (it's a wonder we survived our childhood without one). We spent most of the time up at the cabin prepping crafts and items for her "friend" birthday party.


As you can see from the photo, although a somewhat odd theme, The Pampered Puppy Party was a HUGE success!

The party included:

1. Pet Grooming Spa (pink nails, personalized dog tags, fluffy dog ears, face painting) Each girl was asked to where lots of PINK and a tutu.

2. Photo Session for each new "posh pup" out in a custom doghouse (made by Ben and the Mrs.)

3. Puppy Hunt (we hid puppies in the yard and had the kids hunt for them and return them to their kennel).

4. Puppy adoption Ceremony. In true "Baby General" style, we had the kids claim a puppy and name them. We then presented them with an adoption certificate.

5. Freeze Dance to "Who Let the Dogs Out" (I'll have to add this video clip)

6. Bead necklaces for their new puppies

7. And what party would be complete without CAKE & ICECREAM! The shaggy dog cake was purchased from Publix and I added the pink bow and candles. The kids ate their cake out of their own dog bowls personalized dog bowls (another craft we did at the beginning).

8. Gift Time - Caroline received lots of fun toys!

9. Free Time and then last but not least, Caroline gave out "Doggy Bags" to all of her friends. My mom helped her make bone shaped cookies.

The party was a lot of FUN, and it is definitely an idea I hope to redesign and use for Andrew - perhaps with more of a firetruck/dalmation theme.

I just still can't believe my baby girl is "FOUR!!"