Addie's 3rd Birthday Party

We had Addie's 3rd birthday party at a local bouncey house place. I loved it because you rented the whole place - so it was just Addie and her sweet friends (and a ton of parents!). They all had a blast, so it was definitely a good decision. I was worried because Addie kept telling me she wanted a princess party. Well, planning the elaborate party that I had in mind just was NOT going to happen this year. I did, however, find a way to incorporate a princess into her family birthday party, more on that later.

Addie had such a good time, then I thought, I guess she did - she got to run and play and act wild at will, and she was surrounded by her friends! I forget how fun birthday parties are to a child, and I love it! 

Here's my little stinker, sporting her embarrased, "I don't want to smile" face while they all sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

Mom and I had to whip together a last minute birthday outfit, since in August, when she told me she wanted a princess birthday party, I bought her a princess dress. That definitely wouldn't have worked for this party!

I felt terrible because I always do the bouncey houses with her and I couldn't this time. Tommy, however, enjoyed it in my place! He cracked me up - he was sweating so badly - I went and rounded him up some papertowels! They immediately got started on one of the slides...

but Addie remembered a bad incident at Monkey Joe's and wigged out. He talked her into it though...

 and she loved it... and would not stop!

Some of Addie's sweet friends:

 And my girl with her rosey cheeks!

 Addie and one of her favorite little friends at the top of the slide bouncing and dancing:

 Some of the mama's tried it out too. I guess it's hard to just watch your child have fun!

 Addie and two of her favorite people:

 Apparently there was a little bump somewhere:

 

 The orignal three from the sitter from the past two years, now in preschool together, but the boys are a year older.

 The other little girl in my life, who reminds us all so much of my girl.

 And two daddy's and their girls - one being quite brave to take a 10 month old down!

 And this was the best picture, seriously, that we could get of Addie, Aiden, and Amelia:

 And everyone! What a fun group! We sure did miss those that couldn't make it though!

 On the way to the cake and ice cream:

 My Addie-girl's cake: (note - Addie has never had a store-bought cake. Mainly because I think they are yuck and because my mom always had me a homemade cake. However, it just wasn't in the cards this year for her, and she had two store-bought cakes and one set of store-bought cupcakes! I did get them from nice bakeries though, not yucky grocery stores!)

 This one was from the bakery in Columbia that did my mom's 60th birthday cake and my brother's rehearsal dinner cake. I shutter to think how much butter was in it, but man was it good! See the sparkles on it?

 A fuzzy picture, but these are two of the four girls that Addie plays with and talks about and loves on a daily basis.

 Again, with the scared face, while singing Happy Birthday:

 This was also the first year she actually managed to blow out at least some of the candles on her cake!

 Mmm, chocolate cake - hers and my favorite!

 The little "throne" Addie got to sit in while opening gifts:

What a fun day! I can't wait to see what year three brings!

Elmo Live... probably the last one for Addie!

Amber, Shannon, and I took the kids to another Elmo Live production when it came to town. Addie hadn't really made much mention of Elmo anytime lately, but this was the third of their live shows, and we had seen the other two, so I thought she'd still enjoy it. She did enjoy it, but nothing compares to that first time of taking her! 

 She still enjoyed a little dance time!

 Whew, please excuse how I looked. This was right in the middle of morning/all day sickness.

 AK passed out on the way home. So, she went to bed in her dress. She was OUT! I don't think I'll ever get sick of pictures of my sleeping girl!

The next morning! I had to take this picture, and put it on her, to still show her love of magazines. Pretty much any magazine, but she really loves the Fisher Price catalog, American Girl catalog, and the toy store Christmas ads. She also sometimes asks for a "Mommy magazine" as seen here. Cracks me up!

Addie's 2K Birthday Party

Tommy and I took cupcakes in for Addie and her sweet little class on her birthday. It was fun to see her interact with her friends at a time of day we don't usually see. Addie was eating her PB&J (which is soy "peanut" butter - it's a peanut-free school), happy as a clam, and quite surprised to see us. (I've learned as a teacher that you don't tell your kids you are coming, you surprise them. They are so disappointed if something comes up and you can't be there.) We are SO thankful for her preschool!

Her cute little cupcakes. I just told the girl to make them girly - and she did! Pink and purple - Addie's favorites!

 What a mess!

 And she got shy as they were singing to her! So sweet!

 She makes this face when she's acting shy and/or not wanting to smile. Already a little mastermind!

Punkin' Pickin'

This year I was SO excited to take Addie pumpkin picking because I had found a place nearby that actually grew  the pumpkins! I've never really understood how places that bring them in on palettes on the back of a truck can actually call themselves a pumpkin patch, but I digress.

It was a beautiful, almost fall day, that started out like this: 

I was talking to the man giving directions and looked back and Tommy had put Addie back in the car! This one must have proof - a simple threat will not suffice for this child!

Once the tantrum was over, we had a  great time looking at all the beautiful pumpkins. They had big and small and even huge ones! They had grey, white, green, yellow, and of course orange ones.

 Addie picked one out right away for Daddy to cut off the vine.

 Look at that big one! I love the color!

 Addie found another big one:

 And did a little posing to make Mommy happy!

 She needed a little one for school that week, and these were perfect, and precious!

 It was still too heavy for our little princess! Ha!

 Addie thought she could sit on all of them - even those that were not ours! Hope these people didn't mind a cute little 2-year old fanny gracing their pumpkins!

 Love her!

We will definitely go back to this pumpkin patch, and no more "patches" on cement!

Clemson's Homecoming 2010

I didn't attend as many Clemson games this year as I'd previously planned. Morning sickness and early games, plus sitting in the hot stadium, just did not mix well with pregnant me. However, we never miss a homecoming, and that's the guaranteed game that Addie Kate goes to each year as well.

She was really into the floats this year, which allowed for very few pictures and much more chasing her around! I did get a few pictures:  

I mean, who doesn't love running around on Bowman Field?

Poor girl - she had to wear last year's Clemson dresses all season. Totally NOT my style. However, even sewing has taken a back seat this year. She does have a new Clemson dress now. I started smocking it and had to get my mom to finish it, which she did right before the Carolina/Clemson game! So, we have a new dress for basketball and baseball season! Ha! That's the good thing about bishops though (and the ONLY kind of clothing Addie likes to wear - if you haven't noticed from the pictures!), they look good for years!

AK did not last long in the game. Our seats were awful, I felt bad and needed to eat, and was paranoid the entire time that she'd slip and fall down 100 steps. We left after the first quarter, went to get something to eat, then went up to the car, where we sat in the air conditioned car while Addie napped and I relaxed. I'm sorry Earth, but I had to do it!