Liv's Birthday Video

Birthday

Liv woke up bright and early to this surprise in her room.

She immediately woke up everyone in excitment proclaiming "I"m FIVE".

We went downstairs to find this...

Then she opened a few more presents from her brothers, and grandparents.

A little while later Shawn went upstairs to shower and I was working on the computer when we realized Liv was no where in the house.  I couldn't find her, but then I noticed her bike was gone.  So I looked outside and still couldn't see her, but I noticed the backyard gate was open.  So I went to look down the sidewalk.  Sure enough, there is Liv on her new bikes riding up and down the sidewalk.  I'm glad she is excited, but just not glad that she left without telling me :)

She spent most of the time looking at her new shoes while peddling

Liv's new Barbie that Ethan gave her came for the ride

After she came back inside we looked through her baby book.  I talked about when she was born and shared my experience with her.  She loved all the attention :)

Liv's requests for her birthday day were to:
-color
-play jenga
-have a play
-sing songs
-bike ride
-do a puzzle
-have a dance party
-paint nails
-birthday lunch

For Liv's cake she really wanted a princess cake, specifically Princess Belle.  While I can make a decent cake, I am NOT a cake master.  I did my best and we ended up with a decent doll cake.  Ethan told me I should add some bows, but I was worried if I touched it I would mess it up.  So here it is!

Olivia Jo

Today she is FIVE!!!

Yikes, my baby is so big.

Liv is my special little girl that I never knew I needed.

She is full of joy and smiles.

She is feminine and tough.

She is strong and sensitive.

She is passionate and kind.

She is bosy and helpful.

She is loud, oh so very loud.

She is brave and independent.

She loves adventures, dirt, sparkles, and ruffles

Some of my favorite things about Liv:
-she loves to dance (especially the booty shaking kind)
-she is the only five year old I know that loves to eat salads.  That is her most requested meal and she eats it all every time.
-she has a great imagination and always wants me to lay with her at night and tell stories.
-she loves shopping.  This will probably bring me lots of grief in the future, but for now its great.
-she always tells me that I am "the best mommy ever".
-she loves to run wild and free and is truly a free spirit.

When I was pregnant with Liv and I didn't know she was a girl, I remember thinking that it would be nice to have three boys and call it good.  But then the doctor told me she wasn't a boy and I thought..."hmmm, what do I do with a girl."  Five years later and I can't imagine a day without my little girl.  She completes our family and is the perfect little caboose!

*Pictures and Birthday Video to come.

Easter Weekend in Chicago

Our Spring Break official started Thursday after school.  We made a VERY spontaneous decision and took the kids to chicago after school on Thursday.  We always love heading down to Chicago for the weekend to take in the beautiful city.  It seems as though everyone else had the same idea and it was soooooo crowded.  The hotel swimming pool was standing room only, seriously we couldn't even get in and the kids were so disappointed.

This trip we were able to spend time at The Field and Science Natural History Museum.  It was amazing! I didn't take many pictures, but here are a few I got with my phone.

There are still a few more museums we hope to hit up before we move, but we are making good progress.

Birthday Outfit

We are approaching Birthday season in my family, with Liv's coming up in a few days.  I really want my kids to feel special and loved on their special day so I have come up with a few new traditions.  Shawn gets to go on daddy-daughter and father-son dates with the kids all the time, and I was feeling a little left out so my new idea is that I get a birthday date with each of my kids.  This date entails a dinner date and shopping trip for a special birthday outfit.

Thursday afternoon Liv and set out on our birthday date.  We went shopping first, and Liv was very excited.  She tried on lots of cute outfits, but none compared to the one she fell in love with the second she saw it.  It involves tie dye pants and believe me, I did everything I could to talk her out of this outfit.  She insisted and I figured it was her birthday outfit after all so she should choose.  This is the lovely outfit that Liv will be sporting on her 5th birthday.

After out shopping trip we went to lunch at Culvers (liv's favorite) and indulged in their delicious custard.  Liv chose chocolate custard with cookie dough balls, which is what she gets every time :)  Can't wait for Ethan's birthday shopping trip next.  He has an even more unique style, so who knows what outfit he will choose.

Riverbed

After a successful trip to the Dentist this afternoon with ZERO cavities or problems, I took the kids out on another adventure.  We hiked around a river bed that is not to far from our home.  The stream was really low in most places and the kids had fun trying to get across.

We found a tree that had fallen over and stretched across the river.  Ethan and Cole had fun walking across.

Liv mostly threw rocks!

We had lots of fun until Cole fell in the river and we had to go home.

During this adventure Cole was collecting "sea glass" to bring back to school for his art teacher.  I tried to tell him it was really broken beer bottles, but he would not believe me.  He also came prepared by packing two water bottles in his pockets.

Nature Park

Shawn had to attend a research conference this evening so the kids and I went to the park for a few hours.  It was a nature park with a small building run by the county that has weird animals.  We saw lots of turtles, frogs, snakes, fish, and even an owl.  But the weird thing was all the stuffed animals along the walls.  It actually freaked my kids out to see a huge stuffed foxed and badger jumping out at them.

After the nature center we walked around the trails and the kids hiked the highest hill they could find.  They were pretty proud of themselves!!

Ethan already told me he has big plans over spring break to hike every hill in Wisconsin!