The weather was perfect, the kids had a lovely time, and I even got to soak my feet in the cool river water and catch up with the ladies.  It was definitely a win/win for everyone.


   These two seem to be entering that stage of being too cool to smile.  Oh a please don't miss Madison's little ziploc bag of very special rocks that she collected from the water.



   There was a stuffed Piglet in one of her gifts that has hardly left her arms since.


   It warmed my heart so much to see her sharing in her sister's moment in the spotlight.  They are truly becoming the best of friends and I feel like a broken record with this but it is just seriously a dream come true.  They are so different.  They look different, they respond differently, they react differently, they approach life differently.  But they share something so much deeper than just "having things in common".  They share blood and parents and a room and soon, a little brother, and they are SISTERS.  I can't wait to seem them walk throughout life together.  Ups and downs, highs and lows.

  I will fight for them.   I will fiercely work to maintain this bond, this kinship.  I will try my best to prevent people, or situations, or things tear them apart or drive a wedge.  I will try to always steer them back to their love for each other.

  And now I guess a post that should have been about Fathers sort of ended up being about sisters, but I guess that's what you get from hormonal, 41 weeks-and-counting pregnant woman.  Not a whole lot of predictable consistency emanating from this one's head these days.

Just ask my dear husband.

    Birthdays around here are a cause for much fanfare and celebration.  I have always loved them, but they cause even more excitement now that the girls are getting old enough to grasp a little more of what is going on.  Jocelyn was so excited about her daddy's birthday, it was the cutest thing.  Walking around the house talking about it and randomly bursting into Happy Birthday refrains. It is the most excited I have ever seen her for ANY birthday, including her own.  So I have high hopes she will actually enjoy her 4th, rather than the deer-in-headlights response she has had for most of her other parties.  Granted there's only been 3.  Whatever.

   I love throwing big parties and so naturally, this being Randy's 30th I was determined to plot a huge extravaganza, including all of our family, friends, and perhaps even our Sunday school class and the mailman.  But wouldn't ya know we are different? ;) Randy actually prefers to keep things small, and he just wanted his family over for dinner and games, and so that's what we did.  We definitely missed the "out-of-staters" (Byran & Amy, Xavier, Nicolas and Chris)....but are looking forward to spending time all together this summer!

   The classic "sleeping in the back of the car" and picking flowers ones are two of my all-time favorites.  You just can't beat that flaming head of curls.


    Jocelyn got a "gift for daddy" ready, which was a bunch of her doll clothes stuffed inside of a gift bag.  It's the thought that counts.  She also changed about 3.5 times before settling on her party attire. She was NOT taking this whole birthday party thing lightly.


 
    I scoured Pinterest for printables, and before finding these gems I was getting a little discouraged.  Everything I found for a 30th birthday said things like, "30 Sucks!" or "30 blows!" And you would attach it to a jar of suckers or balloons or something.  I mean, come on.  He's not dying, he's turning 30! I mean, I guess he is a little closer to dying than he was last year, but.....whatever.  Let's have a little positive thinking on a BIRTHDAY for goodness sakes.  So then I found these that said "Thirty is refreshing" and I snatched them up for my pop can "cake".  I found them quite punny, because they almost look like they say "Thirsty is refreshing".  Were they going for that?  Am I just OCD with grammar?  We may never know.  In any case, he will get to enjoy them all to himself because let's be honest....who likes Diet Pepsi??


 Charlotte followed me around the house saying "Cheese! Cheese!" And so I obliged her.  How could you not?  I was in such a hurry I just quickly snapped one and now of course I wish I had taken many more.

  This cake....ohhh this cake.  It was decadent and delicious and fulfilled all of Randy's birthday wishes and I didn't have to make it.  If that isn't the ultimate perfection of cake dreams, I don't know what is.

 
  This picture was apparently right before the girls swiped a bunch of frosting with their fingers and I never even noticed until we were lighting the candle and cutting the cake.  I know, it's so obvious now!  With them both intently staring and Jocelyn's finger going right for it....but like I said, I was in a rush and I was barely even looking while I was snapping.







       It was such a fun evening, I may have been converted over to the "small party" fan club.  A lot less work, a lot less planning and a whole TON less stress, and still just as much fun as anything else would have been. So who knows?  Maybe we'll have to keep the small party tradition going around here.

I know Randy would be happy with that.