The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Our very hungry caterpillar turned 1 on Saturday and celebrate we did! When I first started thinking about her first birthday, I thought maybe I would just do something small but then once the planning started and I searched on Pinterest, the theme grew and we had a big fun shindig. And why not, our little caterpillar is the sweetest girl around and deserves to be celebrated in a big way!

The entire idea came from the Very Hungry Caterpillar book and we included almost all of the food that the caterpillar ate. I was lucky enough to have my mother in law in town and she was a huge help in pulling everything together.

This cupcake/cake was a labor of love and I think my fingers are permanently stained green but I love how the final product turned out.

My mother in law made that adorable sign!

One of my favorite pictures of the four of us.

She was ready to dig in and eat!

 The cake is a pretty funny story. The caterpillar's head was Maddie's "smash cake." However, she didn't exactly smash it like Ella did. In fact, she wasn't really sure what to do. She tasted some frosting and didn't love it and kind of sat there just staring at this large pink cake. But then once I cut it into smaller pieces, she gobbled it up so I guess she loves the cake part and not so much the frosting. Like Mike said, "she is the first child ever to not like frosting."

Just not so sure about this whole cake thing!

Starting to get into a little more! Frosting on the face and eyelashes.

I ordered this onesie with a number one on it with a caterpillar crawling across and Madeline below it. And of course our princess needed a matching tutu!

The big kids enjoying the green cupcakes!

Below are some pictures of the party!

 Uncle Court and Miss Laura made the trip for the party and Uncle Court got Maddie this new toy! Her very first ride on toy. With a little help and assistance, she can cruise around.

 But the one who REALLY loves this present is the big sis. She has been on it non stop since we opened it. We were blessed with a beautiful day on Sunday and she cruised around in the back yard.

It was such a special day and weekend. Madeline Grace came into our lives a year ago and truly completed our family. She has such a happy disposition and her smile melts my heart each day. I love going into her room and getting her up from sleeping and she flashes that huge smile. She is biggest cuddler and when she is tired, she lays her head on your shoulder and sucks her thumb and cuddles  right into me. I know she is growing up but I truly wish I could freeze her in time right now and keep her this sweet baby forever. But I know time marches on and she is growing and learning new things each and everyday and I do love seeing her little mind at work.

Happy Birthday sweet girl. Your Mommy, Daddy and big sister could not love you anymore!

Life in 2013 in iPhone Pics

2013 has gotten off to such a fun (and sometimes stressful) time and with two little ones and a dog to chase after, I don't have my big camera always with me but I always have my iPhone. Here is what we have been up to in 2013 iPhone style.

Our weather has been CRAZY this winter, one day freezing, the next warm and 70. This particular day was cold and there is nothing cuter than a baby in a winter hat!

And then you can see, it was warm and sunny a couple days later and we enjoyed the swing in the backyard.

Enjoying her new chair and Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa. PS-5 seconds after this photo was taken, she face planted on the floor.)

The night before my birthday, Jaime and went to Wine and Design and drank wine and painted our canvas. The actually turned out not too bad and it was such a fun night.

This winter we signed Ella up for gymnastics at the Y. She loves our trampoline at home and she is a little tentative when it comes to just about everything so I thought this would be a fun. She couldn't wait the first morning and then of course, scardy cat came out. It drives me a little nuts that she won't try anything in class but she sure loves the trampoline!

After the trauma of the stitches, her Daddy wanted to treat her to something special and it just so happen that the circus was in town that weekend. So, after she got the stitches out (which was worse than getting them in by the way), they had a Daddy/Daughter date to the circus and no trip is complete without cotton candy.

Mike actually said it was pretty neat and Ella raved about the whole thing.

She loves her baths

We met one of Ella's besties and her family for some bowling. Ella loved  it but it was  pretty much a disaster. Maddie wanted to get down and crawl which I would never let her do and Caroline's little brother running down the lanes. I don't we will be going back for another 5 years.

Since it doesn't look like gymnastics is going to be her sport, her Daddy bought her a real tennis racquet.

Grandma and Grandpa stopped by for the night on their way down to Florida and of course brought lots of fun presents for the girls. They loved playing in their new castle!

She loves warm days and swinging!

For Valentine's Day, one of Ella's classmates (and her boyfriend according to her) John had the class over for some fun and then they hunted for hearts around the yard.

John and Ella comparing their loot.

This little one is on the go lately. You turn your head for one second and she had crawled away and trying to play with something dangerous and now pulling up on everything. I seriously can't believe she is turning 1 in 3 days. This has been the fastest year and I am so excited to celebrate all things Madeline Grace this weekend.

Some days she naps, some days she doesn't but when she does, she likes to have 15 things in her bed with her. Today she napped with Ariel, monkey, froggie, her blanket, two babies, a book and a flashlight. But once she falls asleep, she sleeps hard and I sometimes have to wake her up but I love that sweet face when she is sleeping. It reminds me of her when she was a baby and not the 3 1/2 old she is.

So, that has been our life (mostly) in 2013. I still have to blog about their first Father/Daughter dance and our trip to Mexico sans kids but those deserve their own posts so hopefully more on those soon. Now, onto more party planning for this weekend!