We combined the kids birthdays this year for one big (BIG) party with our very own petting zoo (courtesy of the awesome folks at Zoo-2-U).
We took full advantage of our nice, big backyard and invited both of the kids classmates, a few friends and neighbors. And while I've been Pinter-pressured into birthday party madness before, I kept it all nice and simple this time. We provided the place, entertainment, some snacks and cake. Done. Ahhh, so nice!
Seriously, I think we could have just provided the petting zoo and been done with it. They all loved the animals!
These goats were cracking us up… apparently they didn't like the damp grass and kept standing on the turtle to stay dry.
We already have the bounce house...
The only downside of a party so large (in my opinion) is way too many gifts. And it doesn't work to ask guests to not bring a gift. I've tried it. I probably wouldn't follow those rules either. But really - the spread was ridiculous. So I made the kids select a few at random to give away at Christmas time. Surprisingly they were very open to the idea.
But trust me, they are not suffering. They're making great use out of a lot of awesome gifts.
Although this one might have gone to someones head a little. The teacher is in!
Hard to believe this precious thing is four years old! I remember so well that first night we brought her home. The one when we thought, "oh my goodness, what have we done!!!" Thankfully we didn't send her back because she has been a treasure ever since. And I'm thinking four just might be my favorite age - so far. She's not a baby anymore - or even an unruly toddler.
She's a little person with whom we can do a lot with, share great conversation, play games and have good laughs. She is smart and funny and inquisitive. She's a leader and a helper. She loves a party and defines it as one anytime more than 3 friends (of any age) are present (must have something to do with those Louisiana roots). Equal parts girl and tomboy, she's just as likely to be racing boys on the playground as playing princess with the girls.
I was away on business for her actual birthday but her amazing daddy set up a grand surprise that might just have to become tradition in our house. All she really kept asking for were balloons and cake. So the morning of her birthday, she opened her bedroom door and got her own personal Balloon Drop! We'll do it again for Fletcher's birthday next week and I'll take pictures to show you, but really, it was the Best. Thing. Ever. in the mind of a four year old!
I finally pulled out my good camera to take a few official birthday pictures. I haven't really been using my big Nikon lately. Relying, rather, on the ease and portability of my iphone. I still love the idea of taking great pictures and think about all the fun shots I'd like to get but those things take time that I just haven't had lately. And I'm ok with that.
And while I did pull it out for this little shoot, time again has not allowed me to do much editing (which I stink at anyway). So here they are straight out of the camera.
She is LIGHT YEARS more cooperative about having her photo taken. But she sometimes has her own idea about what would look good. She kept doing some crazy dance move which gave me a lot of shots like this...
And don't dare ask her to smile or look happy. We are in the fake smile phase for sure.
And then sometimes the REAL Sydney comes out just to aggravate mommy.
I cannot end this post without sharing the story of this precious dress. A friend posted pictures last spring of her gorgeous daughter wearing this same dress for Easter. I became a little obsessed, asking where they bought it, looking up the designer, etc. It had come from a cute kids boutique in Seaside, FL but we were in the throws of moving from Houston back to Louisiana, so this mission would have to wait. The weekend of our move, in-between homes, staying at my in-laws in Gulf Shores, I got a call from this friend. She was at the boutique, they had another dress, it was on sale and did I want it.
This beautiful gown was the first package ever delivered to us in our new home.
