Little Mermaid Party

Today, our niece Allie turns 4 years old!  Happy Birthday, Miss Allie B! 

Over the weekend we traveled down to Des Moines to celebrate her 'Little Mermaid' themed party.  She loves, loves, loves the Disney princesses.  She gets very excited when she sees anything Disney princess. 

 

If you're going to have a Little Mermaid party, you definitely need to dress like her.  She wore her  mermaid costume all day!  She literally put it on in the morning and didn't take it off until she went to bed.  She looked adorable!

 

Such a sweetheart

 

Time for presents.  It was so fun to watch her face light up with excitement after every gift that was princesses!

"I really wanted this!"

Opening the gift from us.  One of the things we got her was the Disney Brave costume dress.

I also made her a  Little Mermaid 'Happy 4th Birthday Allie' banner.  Had fun using my crafty side once again.

 

My brother and his family

 

Time to play outside.  The twins played on the trampoline for the first time and loved it.  Kate couldn't get enough of it.  Once you stopped bouncing she would start to cry and move her body up and down to let you know to start jumping again.  She would sit there all day being bounced if you'd let her.

 

Matthew enjoyed running around on the trampoline.

Totally static hair!

She was laughing up a storm the whole time.  Big, deep belly laughs.  So funny to watch her!

Grandma Carol and Matthew

Princess Uncle Brian?

Aunt Melissa and Katers

Mommy and my girl

Trying to get a photo with daddy.

 

While we were in Des Moines, we also were able to visit two of our friends' newly born babies - Hudson Schmitz and Elaina Lehman.  Loved holding the new little babies and visiting with our friends.

 

It was a super busy weekend crammed with lots of stuff, but we had a lot of fun!

 

Happy Birthday, Allie!  We're so happy to celebrate with you princess style!

 



Refreshing

Daddy's teaching Matthew how to take a drink break from the hose. 

So refreshing on hot, summer day.

Daddy's turn

Tastes so goooood!

Helping Daddy with watering the yard.

And I even got a picture this time with Mr. Matthew. 

 Love this happy, go lucky, little man!

Foto Friday - Playing Together



Starting early

Daddy's already teaching the twins how to play golf.  The game he loves and loves to hate at the same time. 

 

One of their favorite things to do outside is chase the golf balls down after Daddy chips them in the backyard.  Matthew could spend hours hunting down the golf balls and carrying them around.  Sometimes hogging all of them so daddy has none to hit.

 We definitely need to get this little boy his own set of "little kid" golf clubs!

Helping Daddy find the perfect spot to hit the golf ball.

Loves carrying them around

 

Kates turn to swing

Little side tracked by the leaves...

 

Watch out Tiger Woods because you might see Matthew Willms making your pro-tour soon! Ha! ;)

 

Matthew's top 3 favorite outside activities:

1. Playing with water in the water table or filling up containers at the hose

2. Riding/driving his car all over the yard.  He waves good-bye to us when he hops in his car.

3. Chasing after the golf balls that Daddy hits or playing golf.

 

Katherine's top 3 favorite outside activities:

1. Being pushed in the swings.

2. Walking all around the yard picking up leaves, rocks, and grass.  She'll then carry those items with her the rest of her time outside.

3. Playing in the water from the hose.

(Kate would probably love the car, but brother won't let her have anytime with it!)

 

Birthdays

August was the month of birthdays for our families.  I celebrated my 29th birthday on August 8th.  Last birthday in my 20's.  Not sure how I feel about that. 

 

I celebrated with some of our friends a few days before at our house for a grill out.  Then on my birthday, Kevin and I had a date night out thanks for our friend Lindsay for babysitting.  We had dinner in St. Paul and saw the new Batman movie.  I'm a bit of a dork and love those Batman, Spiderman, etc types of movies. It was nice to get out and enjoy a meal and great conversation with my hubby...with no kid interruptions. ;)

Our friends surprised me with a birthday cake and sang to me. :)  Kate's enjoying their singing.

 

On the 14th, Kevin's Grandma Ilene celebrated her 80th birthday!  The four of us were back the weekend before for his uncle's wedding, so we weren't able to celebrate with her on her birthday.  And because of that no pictures with her.  boo!  But here are a few back from February when she came up and visited! 

 

 

Ilene is a wonderful Grandma and Great-Grandma!  Wow, 80 years!  You are such a special lady to all of us!  Someone who we admire and hope to be like.  Kevin and I thoroughly enjoy spending time with you and now love having the twins spend time with you so they can know how special of a great-grandma they have!

 

 

For 2 weeks in a row, my mom came up and stayed with us.  Kevin was super, super busy - like we for don't see him much at all busy - the last part of August.  Yay for my mom coming up and helping me with the twins!  She loved it and I enjoyed having the help and company.  We were able to make many trips to the park, run errands, and complete tasks around the house.  While she was here she celebrated her birthday, I won't say how old, on August 19th.  Since her birthday fell over the weekend, my sister and her two kids came up to celebrate with us. 

 

Of course I had to get some pictures with her and the grand kids on her birthday.

 

Kate loves to be pushed in the swing!

Great picture of Grandma and Katers

Allie (age 3) and Grandma

Silly Aunt Kelly making Kate laugh up a storm.

Aunts are the best!

Of course, Matthew is playing in his car.

Thought maybe this might be the only way Grandma was going to get a picture with Matty.

Cute picture of Grandma and Allie, but Matthew wasn't at all interested in posing. :)

Finally a good one with Matthew!

Playing together

Andrew (age 10) and Grandma

 

Grandma, we had a great day celebrating with you!  You're an amazing mom and loving grandma!  I couldn't be more thankful that God has blessed me with you as my mom!  We appreciate all you do for us and are always so willing to help out with whatever it might be.  Love you!

 

Thanks again for all of your help with the twins during your visit.  It definitely helped to make the days go a lot easier and smoother while Kevin was working the long hours.  And I know the twins enjoyed having Grandma around...someone else to play with and help take them to the park!

 

Then to end the month, Great-Aunt Mary had a birthday on August 26th.  She was just up here for Labor Day weekend and the twins had a blast with her! 

 

 

Happy August birthdays!