Happy Half-Birthday, Jadee!

Yesterday was Jadee's half-birthday. She shares her actual birthday with our Savior, so we celebrate with friends and make a very special day just for her six months later...on her half- birthday. If you ask her how old she turned yesterday, she will tell you, "Four-and-a-half!" We had a day packed with fun and friends...and the party continues tonight with family. Here are some pictures of the big day.
Jadee decided that she wanted a Barbie birthday party this year. Well, she doesn't have any Barbies, so we had to use Gabriella for her doll cake. Did you know that you can't just take the legs off of dolls like this and replace them later, like you could when we were kids? Oh, no! We had to break the legs off of Gabriella...meaning that I owe Jadee a new doll! The cake turned out beautifully, despite all of the little obstacles we had to tackle...another post for another day!

We painted fingernails...Hazel, Jadee & Aspen. We missed Abby. She is in California with her grandma this week.

We colored and stickered Barbie pictures, but we didn't get any pictures of that. Then, we had lunch with pink milk...the most important part of any girls' party at this age!

Jadee opened presents and LOVED every single one!

We put candles on the cake...if you count from the back forward, there are four and "a half" candles on that cake! You can just see the little stub in the cupcake on the bottom right of the picture.

Finally, we sang and Jadee blew out the candles. The kids played and everyone went home (did I mention that Jeron had all of the brothers of the two little girls over to play, too?). It was a lovely afternoon.

Jadee, we love you! You are such a sweet, caring and thoughtful girl. You take such good care of your little brother and other little kids. Your smile and laugh light up the world. Your passion for fun and for living are infectious. Thank you for loving us. We are so blessed to have you in our family! Happy Half-Birthday!

Two Teeth, Two Dollars?

Cher asked in the comments of the Two Teet post if Jeron got double dollars for his two teeth. Funny story... Jeron and I were riding and running, respectively, and he was telling me about his friend, Deacon, who believes that if you lose one tooth one day and another tooth the next day, the Tooth Fairy will bring you double money on the second day. I asked Jeron if that actually happened to Deacon or if that's just what he thinks should happen. Jeron said that Deacon just thinks that's how it should work, but that he, Jeron, would write a note to the Tooth Fairy to ask. So, here's the note Jeron wrote, with a side note from the Tooth Fairy.

At our house, it pays to write a letter and ask! Jeron was pleased as pickles to put one of his dollars in the Disneyworld jar. In his journal the next day he wrote: "2$ man that is osom!!!! i am lukee the toth fare must like me a lot." Yes, Jeron, the Tooth Fairy DOES like you A LOT!

Rain, Rain Come to Stay

Little children want to play!

We have LOVED the rain we've had over the last 11 days. Last week, the kids wanted to just sit on the porch and watch it come down. It was better than a movie! They made up perfect seats of pillows and blankets, and I served up popcorn and hot chocolate. What more could you ask for?

Festivities

I think I promised this post over a week ago...better late than never!

This is the cake that inspired last Memory Monday...almost as good as Big Bird! I took this picture on our way to Norma's to invade their bbq and make it Davis' birthday party. We have a habit of celebrating our family birthdays at Norma's. Earlier this month, we celebrated Jeremiah's birthday at her husband, Bryan's, birthday party!

Jeron and Jadee helped me make a pinata for Davis. He enjoyed batting at it, but lost interest when the other kids took their turn.

Happy as a clam...with the ONE sucker he got from his own birthday pinata!

Pretending to be shy as we sing to him.

Blowing out the candles...amazing things happen between one and two...he could actually blow them out! Happy Birthday, Davis! We love you!

P.S. If you haven't read for a while...scroll down for Jeron's teeth pulling post...

Two Days...Two Teeth

Jeron pulled his left lateral incisor yesterday and got a dollar from the Tooth Fairy...she was right on top of things, awesome, huh? I think it was just yesterday that he told me that tooth was loose...then it was gone...amazing! Even more amazing...he pulled his right lateral incisor this afternoon! There were no tricks this time, he just yanked them out.

Right Lateral Incisor

Two Days...Two Teeth

Side note...we went to the dentist last week...no cavities for any of the three...and I was delighted to find out that Jeron will most likely be a one stage braces kind of guy (as opposed to two stages, one at 8 and the next at 12)! Yay for us!