Layla's Birthday Party

After a couple of doses of antibiotics Layla was feeling much better so we decided to have her party today. It was just our family and Danielle and Harvey. Josh couldn't make it. We wanted to include them because well they are part of our family and basically aunt and uncle to our children.  Danielle makes amazing cakes so I asked her to make one for Layla. Without me giving any hints at all she came up with a Lady Bug idea which I thought was perfect since our nickname for Layla is "Layla Bug"! She did an amazing job as usual.  Layla loved the cake and her gifts too. You can see below all the fun pictures from the party.

 

This picture is classic Layla. The look almost says "Mom I can't believe it was that good!"

There is an awesome story behind the pig she is opening in this picture. I found that pig on Tao Bao ( Chinese's ebay). I was so excited about the deal I got on it. When it arrived and we tested it out we all busted out laughing when we heard the pig speak German. There isn't a bit of English on the thing! My kids love it and Zeb has already picked up some German words from it! 

Happy Birthday John!

I am sad that I have no pictures to remember this day by. Lately, my pregnancy brain has been in full effect. All in all we had a great day with our family. The kids and I made a pineapple upside down cake for John this morning. I am pretty sure they ate half the batter. Then we headed to lunch at the Wicker Basket with our good friends the Rupp's. Tonight we went to dinner at Bangkok Cafe, one of our favorite restaurants. It was a low key day but lots of fun. We have more fun planned for his birthday on Wednesday. I plan to make a lasagna and take it to our friend's Marianne and David's house. She is making yet another pineapple upside down cake and we plan to have some great quality time with them without the kids!

My Birthday

I don't think I have ever met anyone that shared a birthday with me until I met Justin Barber. What are the odds that in our small community of Americans that someone would have the same birthday? I think pretty slim. Not to mention that he was born in 1988 and I actually remember what I was doing in 1988! That makes me feel old. However, Kayleigh made me feel better when she guessed that I was 21! I thought I would take that offer. We had a great time celebrating together. We went to the Japanese steak house which is one of my favorites. Also, my mom friends had a picnic for me in the courtyard with a chocolate cake. It was a lot of fun! Later on this week, John plans to take me to a nice Thai restaurant, just the two of us.

My cake turned out a little crazy looking but it still tasted wonderful! Give me chocolate any day and I will be a happy woman!

Justin and I may have been born on the same day but we are complete opposites in how we like our desserts. His choice for a cake was a fruit pizza. It was good but doesn't beat chocolate in my book!

More Pictures from our time in Thailand

These pictures show you the last highlights of our vacation. I am mainly going to comment on the first picture. Notice the look on Kayleigh's face. Not a good one. She is eating ice cream cake which is her favorite food in the entire world but she barely touched it that day. I should have seen this as a warning sign since later that evening she threw up! Kayleigh has never been to Thailand without throwing up. I'm not kidding. Once she threw up on me on the way to Thailand while we were still in the airport. She has been to Thailand more times than I can count and each time as successfully fulfilled her duty by throwing up while we were there. We are not sure what the deal is. She seems to love Thailand so we don't think it is a dislike of the place. It has become a joke with John and I about when and where she will throw up on each of our visits to Thailand.

Zeb loved Nemo but Kayleigh kept her distance.

Zeb breaking it down on the stage!

Lake Norman Birthday Party

My cousin Kathryn had a little boy named Blake a little over a month after Zeb was born. She has been talking about having a joint birthday party for them and Kayleigh ever since she found out we were coming home. So we decided to have a triple birthday party for all three of them at Lake Norman. We had tons of family come! Zeb and Kayleigh met cousins they didn't even know they had or had never met. It was a lot of fun but I was exhausted by the end of the day. Kayleigh loved the boat and jet ski but would not get in the water at all. I am convinced that it is because she can't see the bottom because at a pool she jumps right on in. Zeb however loved the water and didn't want to get out.

Zeb and his 9 month old little cousin Bryleigh.

Me and my cousin Kathryn.

John, Kayleigh, and little cousin Joe.

The birthday kids: Blake, Zeb and Kayleigh.

Once again Zeb had no problem with devouring the cake!

Kayleigh barely touched her cake. She just wanted ice cream.

We gave Zeb a bath in the lake to wash off all the cake.

Family Visit Day # 3- Zeb's Party

Monday morning we decided to rest since our weekend had been so busy. We took Hayley and Charlie to one of our favorite Chinese restaurants. That afternoon we had Zeb's birthday party. Danielle volunteered to make the cake. It was amazing!! She even made a miniature train for Zeb to eat on his own. He absolutely loved the cake and had no problems digging in right away. Most kids cry during their first birthday party but this little man had a great time. He only cried when we had to give him a bath to wash off all the cake. It was a great party and I am so glad that Hayley and Charlie could be there to celebrate.

Here he is getting ready to dig in. We decided it would be best to let him eat in his diaper. In hindsight I am very thankful for this decision!

Cheers everyone! I've downed this cake no problem!

Zeb opening his presents. Marianne and David gave him this really fun truck that actually backs up and goes a different way when it runs into something. However, it plays this really annoying song that can drive you completely insane.

My Birthday

Today I turned 29 years old. I can't believe it. I am getting old. It seems like yesterday that I graduated from college and now I have two kids! All in all it was a very good day. John kept the kids while I met my very good friends Erin Ashley and Laura for a pedicure. Then for dinner we went to Danielle and Josh's house. Danielle made baked ziti which is my favorite of all her wonderful dishes. She also made me this amazing chocolate cake. It was so good. I got some really good gifts. One of which was a trip to get portraits made of the kids. So get excited grandparents you should have some great pictures of the kids soon.



Below I am opening some place mats from my friend Ellie. I have been wanting some since I got a new dining room table in the summer.

Lydia's Birthday Party

Today we went to our friends house to have a end of the summer cookout and to celebrate Lydia's 1st Birthday. Lydia is one of Kayleigh's friends. Our friend Erin Ashley had a great idea to buy a pool and have the kids swim before dinner. They had so much fun. Kayleigh's favorite part was pouring water over all the girls heads. We had a great meal of grilled chicken and lots of fun sides. We ended the night by watching the Olympics with everyone.









Below are all the women that were here in the city this summer. They are all very special friends.









Poor Lydia got a little overwhelmed at all of us singing Happy Birthday to her. She didn't know quite what to think.





Check out the serious drool on this boy's shirt. John jokes and says he has to be dehydrated from loosing so much water!