Showing posts with label Birthdays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birthdays. Show all posts

Monday, February 11, 2019

Tirzah's First Birthday









One month ago, we celebrated Tirzah's first birthday!
It's hard to believe that if she had arrived on her due date, we would have had a party this past weekend instead!


What's even harder to believe is that this tiny 5 pound 12 ounce bundle of pure sweetness is now an active, determined curly-headed toddler!
This first birthday celebration always contains so many emotions for me.


But the strongest emotion I always feel is JOY!
These little ones are such a gift, even though not every moment of that first year feels like it.
There are plenty of highs and lows, sleepless nights and milestones to celebrate.


My husband always jokes with me that the party is more for me than for the baby!
I just smile and say that he's probably right.
Getting through the first year of life with a baby feels like a pretty big deal to me! 😄


I had some (unrealistic) dreams of making a naked smash cake for her party.
It looked incredible...in my head!
Turns out, cakes have to be basically perfect if they're not going to be covered with icing. 
And mine never are!


I ended up just frosting a simple cake and adding flowers and this gold topper that my sister-in-law loaned to me.
I think Tirzah was just fine with it! 😊


This "first year stats" board was so fun to create!
After making some for a friend's twins, I decided I wanted the same thing at her party.


I made these vanilla cupcakes with strawberry buttercream frosting, and Eddie declared they were the best cupcakes he's ever had! 
I call that a win.


We planned a big party with both of our families and some friends.
The day of the party, there was a big snowstorm in the forecast.
And snow it did!!
After having two birthdays during the summer/early fall season, I'm still getting used to the challenges of winter celebrations!

Thankfully, my parents were able to make it here safely before the storm hit us.
Judging by the photo, you'd never know that some of us were happy,
but we really were so glad to have both sets of parents here to celebrate with us!


I love this picture of our happy little birthday girl! She was clapping her hands and enjoying all the attention that a one-year-old gets at their party. 😍


Earlier in the day, she was taking quite a few steps, to the delight of her grandparents and family!


Tirzah loved the icing on her cake, but she didn't actually do much smashing...
...not until she had some "help"!


I think her siblings ate more of it than she did!
(Notice the fingers in her brother's mouth!)


As you can see, she's often the center of attention around here! 
  

This is her "Why-did-you-take-away-my-cake" face!


It's amazing how much extra love one little person can bring to a family!
She's our feisty little snuggle-bug,
so determined, yet so sweet.


She's fearless, which has caused her mama more than a little stress.
She loves to climb the stairs, clean out the cupboards and go fishing in the toilet. (Why??!!)


She loves to dance, play the piano, and "sings" loudly when she hears us singing.
It's so fun to hear her say "Mom!" and chatter "Papa" when she hears his voice on the phone!


She's the delight of our family, and we love her so much!
Happy birthday, Tirzah Anne!

Monday, September 19, 2016

Hadassah Turns Five!

Last week, we celebrated Hadassah's 5th birthday!
Five years...since a tiny little 6 pound baby girl was placed into my arms and I entered 
the world of motherhood!
I just love watching her grow and learn and become the person
that God uniquely created her to be.


She is our artist and is constantly coloring and drawing.
She loves to dance, and was excited to start her second year of classes.
She has a servant heart, and will often say "Let me do that for you Mama, so you can just relax!"
And she is our official family doctor. Got a scraped knee? She'll find you a band-aid in no time at all!
So a Doc McStuffins party is what she requested.


In our backyard, there was a perfect spot under a grouping of trees
 to set up the party.
Even though the decorations were simple, Hadassah thought it was beautiful!




Fun fact:
We've had perfect weather to host outdoor birthday parties for all five years!
Here's hoping the trend continues.
And these three little girls have been at each party, too! 
It's so fun to watch them grow up together.



Hadassah and I had fun making these cupcakes together!
I was going to just make purple frosting, but no; there had to be pink too.
With sprinkles, of course!





Getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time
is like Mission Impossible.
But I love the way this captures their personalities!


The best part of a birthday - according to Hadassah - is opening the presents!


I took the children on an "adventure" one evening and snapped a few pictures of the birthday girl.


"I love styling, Mom!"


She's equal parts sweet and sassy!


Most of the poses were her idea! haha


And I was sneaky enough to get a few pictures of them both! 


Nicholas' hugs never last very long :)


The highlight of the evening: collecting "special" rocks.


Sweet daughter,
May the light that shines out of you only get brighter as you grow.
And may you always live life with the same passion
and joy that you do today!


Happy birthday, Hadassah Jo!

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Nicholas Turns 3!


This little guy had a birthday a few weeks ago,
and I think I'm still in disbelief that my baby is 3!!!


His birthday landed on Bible school week, and I felt bad that we couldn't have a party with his friends because of that. But he didn't seem to notice!


He helped me make the icing for his birthday cake. It had to be blue, of course!


Grandpa & Grandma celebrated his birthday the day before when we were in PA
and they gave him a tool set. 
He was so proud of that gift, and he wanted those tools on his cake!


It may be the plainest birthday cake a child has ever had,
but he was happy!


Papa bought him his gift, so it wasn't wrapped.
He was told not to peek,
but I think he may have just a little! :)


He was so happy with the farming toys he got!
Honestly, I think Papa had as much fun buying and giving him the gift as Nicholas had in getting it!


                           A few days later, we were at the river with the Showalter family, 
                               and they celebrated his birthday, along with several others.
He was quite pleased that he had 3 birthday "parties"!
I shouldn't have worried about him missing out :) 


Nicholas is our busy little guy,
and loves to help!
Working with Papa is his very favorite, and he often gets to ride the tractors
and "fee-wheelers" as he calls them!


He was so pleased about this bowl of mint tea that he cut all by himself!
(And I can't get over how different he looks with long hair on this picture!)


At the beginning of summer, he didn't like the water at all.
But after Papa spent some time swimming with him, he started to love it!


 He's fearless, and you'll often find him jumping off the diving board!



He adores his sister, but he's often the one to get them in trouble!


He keeps us laughing with his crazy sense of humor! 


He loves the outdoors, playing with his friends
and riding tractors.
He's determined, and tender-hearted, and we couldn't love him more!
   Happy 3rd birthday to our Nicholas Edward!