Addison's Pool Party

We threw Addison a Rapunzel pool party in Missoula on Saturday. Her grandparents, great grandparents, Uncle Jake, Uncle Jack, Aunt Jessica and Aunt Jaci, and a few close friends joined us to celebrate Addison.We only had the party room for an hour. The time went by way too fast and I was scrambling to get cleaned up and out of there in time for the next party to start. It felt really rushed, but Addi really enjoyed herself at the pool. Addison spent nearly two hours swimming with Kaidyn! 

Granny got a hold of Landon right when she got there and would not share him! It was adorable!

Ember and Will

Being goofy with Grandpa Jeff.

Ella, Aunt Jessica and the birthday girl.

Grandma Bobbi & Great-Grandpa Dave. Something serious going on here!

Happy Birthday Princess Addison

Make A Wish.

Addi's best friends, Ella & Kaidyn

Smiley boy.

The baby whisperer!

Addi's adoring grandparents watching her swim.

Addi & Kaidyn, the little fish.

Trying to talk Daddy into something!

The wise Uncle Jake!

Uncle Jack!

Out to dinner at a new steak house! Yum!

Happy 4th Birthday Addison

Our little baby girl is four. I really cannot understand how this happened so fast! 

Our good friend Julie posted, "In my mind she is still the sweet little 8 month old who looked at the picture of the wolf on your wall and would howl! And make all of her other cute animal sounds." I feel the same way. Right before our eyes she has morphed from that sweet 8 month old who performed for our friends on cue into a little girl who, most of the time, acts more like a 13 year old than a preschooler . I was there these past four years, I witnessed it all, but I still don't believe it.


The night before her birthday Addi was so excited in anticipation of her big day. Since the day she turned three she has been eagerly awaiting for the day she turned 4. It was a huge deal to her for some reason. The morning of her birthday I was eagerly awaiting her waking up! Her cupcakes were baked and the balloons were blown up and scattered throughout the house. Sometime early in the morning she had crawled into bed next to her Daddy. At around 9 am, I couldn't take it anymore and went in to wake her up. I started to say, "Wake up honey. Are you going to sleep your whole birthday away?" She snuggled closer to her daddy and said with a huge smile on her face, "I will wake up when my cake is ready!"

I made chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, we had ice cream at the carousel, we had sandwiches at the Brewery for lunch, we went out to pizza for dinner and then had cupcakes for dessert! We spent her day (besides eating) "finding" and opening more and more presents, playing with her new toys, decorating cupcakes and playing at the carousel. 

Her new Rapunzel dress and wig!

At the carousel.

Balloon dancing!

Playing with a gift.

Ice cream at the carousel.

Opening presents.

Decorating cupcakes.

Strawberry cake, at her request.

Trying out her new skates.

Blowing out her candle and making a wish!

Addi is so fun to spoil on her birthday. She is so appreciative of each gift and each card. She studies each card and has us read them to her. She gets genuinely touched by the words. She hugs gives big hugs after opening her gifts and says things like, "Oh, thank you. I just love it." or "You are so sweet." or "Are you serious?" She is such a sweetheart - so honest and grateful. 

Leafy Fun

What is it about a giant pile of leaves that makes a kid smile? Addi asked Papa to save her some of his leaves to play in. Of course he did!

Mr. Miracle

Our Aunt Shelly had these adorable shirts made for Landon. I was very happy that he was big enough now to wear them!

Landon, 15 weeks old

You made this? From scratch?

I know Dylan really enjoys something Addi and I make when he asks, "You made this? Like from scratch or did it come from a mix or something" That means, "Wow. It actually tastes good. It must be from a mix." Cooking and baking is a work in progress for me. We have been married for 5 years and probably at least one out of every five meals I make is not edible! As I tell Addi almost daily when she is working on writing her letters, "Practice makes perfect!" So I keep trying, learning and force feeding my husband my creations.

Dylan asked his famous question twice last night. I made Tortilla Soup and Soft Pretzels. Both were warm and delicious! Yah, me (and my sou-chef Addi). And yes, we made them both. I followed a recipe, kneaded the dough and everything! Thanks for keeping me honest honey! It might not always taste perfect, but I promise not to let you starve.

The recipes I choose are not difficult by any means. When I happen upon a particularly fun recipe for Addi I will share them. This soft pretzel recipe was easy and the dough was soft enough for Addi to work with and create her own fun pretzels.

adding flour

punching down the dough

personalizing her own pretzels

Addi's creations topped with cinnamon and sugar

The Princess and Her Frog

My little princess and her adorable little frog had a Halloween blast. We started off the day trick-or-treating at the downtown businesses. This year Addi, Landon and I (Dylan had to work) went "for real trick-or-treating" door-door. I randomly picked a neighborhood near the capital. We ended up at the governor's house. Our governor was outside his beautiful mansion handing out full-size candy bars to the kids. Apparently it is a public event that we just happened upon. Addi was totally into trick-or-treating. She had a great time and didn't want to stop!

Princess Tiana

The Frog

The Princess and the Frog

Trying to turn him into a prince

Trick or treating downtown

Talking a break for lunch

trick-or-treating

Ringing the "ding-dong-bells" was a highlight!

Telling Daddy about the whole experience.