Birthday Princess

Today our youngest {Princess Amada} turned 4 years old!  Where has the time gone?  It's hard to believe that 4 years ago today we didn't even know she would be joining our family.  We received the call and picked her up from the hospital all in the same day...December 14, 2008.  And my heart melted.

Amada - 4 years old

Birthdays are very important around our house.  Since we have a large family, we want to make sure that each of our children have that "special day".  Amada went shopping to pick out a new outfit.  We decided not to have a large, organized birthday party this year.  Instead I wanted to take her to Build-a-Bear Workshop with just the girls...mommy, grandma, Adriana (big sister), and Ashley.

None of us had ever been to Build-a Bear so we weren't quite sure what to expect.  Amada needed some coaxing to pick out her bear.  She is a little shy, especially in new situations, so I wasn't surprised.  We also picked out a giggle sound for her bear.  She helped with the stuffing.

{So precious!}

They really have thought of everything.  Next you need to give your bear a heart.  

Rubbing the heart to keep the bear warm.

Patting it to start the heart beating.

I think she had her rub the heart on her belly next, so the bear would never be hungry.

Kissing the heart so the bear will always feel loved.
{Amada wanted big sister to kiss it first.}

  

Then you place the heart inside the bear.

Here is her completed bear!  It's so perfect...her favorite colors are pink and purple.  Next you name your bear and Amada chose the name "kitty".  

Giving the bear a bath to get rid of any leftover fuzz.

Lastly, typing her name for the bear's birth certificate.

She also picked out an outfit {an Aurora princess dress}, a pair of pajamas, and a stroller for her bear.  It is a little pricey for a stuffed animal, but it was a fun "memory making" time.  And I am sure we will be back for more.

Then it was back home for dinner, cake, and presents.  You'd never know it's almost Christmas though...

Sleeping Beauty DVD {Aurora is her favorite Princess although she has never seen the movie.}

A dancing fairy musical jewelry box.

Pretend sugar cookie baking set by Melissa & Doug.

She also received a couple of new outfits from grandma; one with a very cute, pink, sparkly vest.

She requested a Cinderella cake.

And now it's time for bed.  Happy Birthday Princess Amada!  {She is already talking about her "Five Birthday".}

How do you celebrate your children's birthday?  

~Nicole~

Moments to Remember

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. 

The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going, the ones we need to remember.

Celebrate Good Times

We've done quite a bit of celebrating lately.  First of all we are celebrating the fact that our pool heater is finally up and running!  No one likes to swim in 70 degree (or below) water.  The pool is comfortable enough now that everyone enjoys it!

Alex turned 10 (double digits!).  He chose a "Cars" cake, and for his birthday dinner we ate In-n-Out cheeseburgers and french fries.  We started a tradition of taking the birthday child shopping with just mom and dad to pick out their own birthday present.  The kids love it!  Alex chose a Beyblade battle set.

And then we celebrated Father's Day with my wonderful husband!  I think James celebrated a little too much.

And now we are celebrating our upcoming Disneyland vacation.  This will be a first-time for most of the family and will definitely be a moment to remember.

This has been a link-up with Homeschool Creations.

This blog has been nominated for the Top 25 Homeschooling Moms - 2012 list on Circle of Moms!  Would you consider voting?  Thank you so much!

Moments to Remember

                         

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. 

The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going, the ones we need to remember.

We are in the middle of celebrating three of our children's birthdays during a 2 week period.  I love to make birthdays special.  The children each choose what is for dinner on their birthday (usually their favorite food I make) and we always sing to them.  We then do a combined party with a few of our family and friends.  This is when we do the cake and presents.  On the day I took these pictures, grandma had taken two of the younger boys shopping and to dinner for their birthday.  It was a nice evening outside so we took the bubbles out to play and...the cats decided to join us.  

I laughed so hard watching the kids and cats compete to see who could pop the bubbles first.  This is definitely one of those moments to remember.

Join the link-up this week at Homeschool Creations!