Aleah's 3rd Birthday

Aleah had a great 3rd birthday!  She understood a lot more this year about what her birthday meant.  She was so excited, which made it really fun!  She wanted a "Dora Friends in the City party", which is the TV show when Dora gets a bit older.  

She wanted to help me make her cake:

I had a Dora pan from Hannah's 3rd birthday, so it worked out well!  This cake was not hard, but it was definitely time consuming with all of the colors:

It was worth it for my Aleah:

Aleah's birthday was complicated with all we had to do for Easter.  Since we weren't seeing the Downings for Easter, we had a birthday party with them at our house the week before Easter: 

We told Aleah for weeks leading up to her birthday that on her birthday, she had to throw her pacis in the trash.  She was totally ready.  On her birthday, she ran through the house and found them all, put them in the trash, and never asked for them again!  She was my biggest paci kid, so I'm glad it went so easily!  

On her birthday morning, I took her to Casey's for doughnuts:

Papa Steve got her a new bike!

Aunt Courtney and Uncle Jordan got her this cute dress, which she loves:

Grandma Teresa made cupcakes and brought them by on her birthday:

I made her this name sign:

We got her new, twin sized bedding!

We also got her an Elsa nightgown:

We celebrated with the Gurtlers on Easter weekend.  

Grandma Jody got her this cute Barbie cake in Elsa colors:

She got her an Anna doll:

We celebrated with the Sudlow side on Easter Sunday:

Cousin Hazel got her a matching dress:

We still have not mastered the art of the birthday party and trying to celebrate with our 50+ local family members.  We're still thinking about a plan that works for us, so feel free to send me your ideas!  But, bottom line, Aleah was none the wiser and had a great birthday and felt plenty well celebrated, I am sure!  We L-O-V-E our new 3 year old!

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was quite full for us this year.  Having two Easter babies (in their respective years) and being on staff at church will ensure that there will always be a lot to do for Easter!  We had our church services at the school this year which meant extra set-up all weekend; we had the library egg hunt; our church hosted an egg hunt; I had to run 10 miles to train for the marathon the following weekend; we went to Good Friday service; we had children's choir rehearsal; we had Easter and Aleah's birthday with the Gurtlers; we had Easter and Aleah's B-day with the Sudlows; we dyed easter eggs, I made sure the Easter bunny arrived, and I made food for our family's Easter lunch.  So yeah.  It was just a bit crazy, and I am just a bit stressed out reliving that list, haha!  So. Many. Details.  

Our Easter Eggs, which I pretty much let the kids do on their own this year!

Church Egg Hunt:

Rehearsal for Easter.  Hannah had a little solo and did very well.  She has a good, strong voice!  She was the only one we had to tell to back off of the mic just a bit!

Grandma Jody got these cute tulip dresses for Aleah and Lydia:

Easter at Gurtlers:

Easter Jammies:

Grandma Jody got the kids matching Easter outfits, which Hannah picked:

My two pink littles:

My boys:

My green big kids:

My Girls:

Aleah Carder and Aleah Downing:

Easter at the Sudlows:

The Easter Bunny brought everyone swimsuits that he found on clearance over the winter, as well as some summer clothes and other goodies: