The Birthday Party

Kalea wanted to have her party at a spa for kids. It was ridiculously expensive though, so we decided to have one at home. I must say it was a lot of pressure. 9 year old girls are more particular than 4 year olds or something. I'm so happy to say that it was a total success. We had a fingernail polish/hot potato game to start, then we made fluffy flip flops, then had pedicures, then a pinata, presents, and finally, cake and ice cream. She had 9 girls there, and they were all really sweet and made her party a lot of fun.

This is my friend Jill Becko. She and her daughter Brigitte came early and helped me get ready, what a sweetheart. She even vacuumed and washed dishes! She calls Jackson her "boyfriend" to which he blushes every time.

All that was on Jett's mind was how he could get into that water!

Tom was our pedicure spa water changer. 10 changes in all, and not one complaint or eye roll. What a good dad!

These are the craft we made...fluffy flip flops. They were a hit. It's great because it doubled as the party favor.

The 8 1/2 months preggo pedicurist. Besides a few drops of pink nail polish on the carpet, the pedicures went over fabulously.

Cousin Bekah soaking her tired feet back to youthful rejuvenation at the Fobert spa!

And the other of the 3 musketeer girl cousins. What a blessing for Kalea to have girl cousins her age to grow up with. 2 here and 1 in CA.

My mom in the background taking a turn changing the water. She is always present at our family events and makes them easier and happier. Gotta love moms/nanas!

Kalea turned 9!

So my little Kalea Denise turned 9! I can't believe it. She is our "tax" baby, born on April 15th, but when people say that I also like to remind them that she was also born on Easter. Here she is holding a birthday sign she got on her desk at school. She is the funnest, cutest, spunkiest, sweetest, daughter you could ever have. We celebrated her birthday by going to lunch at Noodles, then dinner with Nana and Papa at Pan Asian Bistro. Then on the weekend she had a party with her friends.

Too close for comfort

This is what Tom and I found when we came in to check the kids one night. All squashed in Kai's bed. Apparently Kai was scared and convinced Kalea to snuggle him, then Jackson felt left out...so there ya go. Don't they look comfy?

Here and there

This is Kai and his best buddy Porter. Kai had a mohawk for "Wacky Week" at preschool in honor of Dr. Seuss. This next one is Jett getting his first hair cut at Snip Its. Not too happy as you can see! Afterwards he got a certificate with his picture on it that said he "met all the requirements of a first haircut with courage and bravery." Wellll...not so much. But he looked so cute after! It actually amazes me how much he looks like Jackson in this picture.

This was just a cute moment captured of Daddy reading to his little boys. I am a big stickler about making sure Jett gets read to every nap and bedtime. I read and read and read to my older kids, and sometime I don't feel like Jett gets the same attention being the 4th. So this is one routine I make sure and stick with. He loves it so much and this time Kai jumped in too. Jett's favorite book is a Star Wars book (no prizes guessing who picked that one out...Tom) that talks about spaceships, and Tom makes sound effects for each one. Cherish the moments.

My crazy kiddos using their imaginations...here they have dressed up as pirates...ARG! Yes, Kai is wearing unders on his head in case any of you weren't sure. Big Brother and Sister can be persuasive about what is "cool" I guess!

My new dining table

For Christmas Tom's parents gave us money to go toward a dining set. We got this one at American furniture warehouse. I love it so much. Now our front room/dining room isn't so empty. Thanks Pam and Norm!

More preggy photos

Pregger shots

I have a neighbor friend that invited me to be the "model" for their photography group. I don't see myself as being the most photogenic person in the world, but it was free and I wanted to document this pregnancy, being that it's the last. When I am towards the end and have an even bigger belly, they're going to have me come back with the whole family for another shoot. That will be interesting and fun. Here are some of my favorites.