Bella turns 9! How did that happen?

I can't believe that Bella is nine. It seems like just yesterday that I was planning her over-the-top 2nd birthday that included finger painting for her and all her 2 year old friends and a bbq for their parents that I made stick around because I couldn't handle more than one 2 year old. Now I have been at this rodeo long enough to know that simpler is better. (well at least for me it is) So we kept the celebration small. Just our family and her Grandma Hallstrom and Aunt Chelle. But to make things special I spent the night before preparing her birthday request, a homemade cheesecake. It wasn't that hard but did take some time and kept me up late. Maybe that was the problem, maybe I can blame the catastrophe on my exhaustion. Here is the story in pictures...

 No cracks.  The key is to let it cool in the oven.  Just turn it off when it's done baking and crack the door.  Ii was so pleased with the outcome.

 Then I dropped it on the floor.  When this kind of thing happens you can either laugh about it or cry.  I laughed and Bella cried. 

Thank goodness for the 10 second rule.  Peter and I scooped it up off the floor as soon as we could and saved the day.  It was delicious!!!

My buddy Lilly turns 4

Happy Birthday to my favorite 4 year old.

Raspberry cream layer cake.  (Yes, it is suppose to look like that.)

 I love this little girl because she is passionate,

 fun,

 stylish,

 relaxed,

and kind hearted.  She also melts my heart when she sings primary songs, gives her little brother hugs and kisses, and runs whenever she gets the chance.  I am thrilled that I get to watch her grow up.

Misc.

Just a little hodge podge of what's been going on around here lately.
Ayva's Reflection contest entry won. She wasn't as excited about it as she could have been.

We ripped out the bench seat that use to be under this dining room window and all the flooring in the kitchen as well. Then we had some guys come in and lay down new flooring. I hope to someday have the wall repaired and the floor boards replaced. (Hey, a girl can dream.)

Another shot of the new flooring. (Excuse the mess, I am convinced I have mono.)

Or maybe this is the reason I am so tired. This little angel likes to wake up crying in the middle of the night to let me know he has rolled over on his tummy and doesn't like it one bit. He needs me to come to his rescue and roll him back over. Oh yeah, and could I change his diaper while I am up. He hates it when he's wet. (Gotta love him though. Just look at that smile. Couldn't you just eat him up?)

Speaking of eating...I have been eating these lately. They are delicious!!! Dangerously delicious. I should stock up.

And some other little tidbits that don't have pictures are:

-Peter got a new job. I am over the moon about this new development. He will be leaving the stress and long hours of oncology and moving to the ease and (hopefully) 4 day work week of orthopedics. Yeah!

-Just as soon as I can go to the fabric store without my kids I am going to buy everything I need to make a quilt. You'll want to stay tuned for this. If it works out you might be getting one for Christmas.

Halloween 2011

King Pig

Angry Bird Ayva

Angry Bird Lilly

Angry Bird Bella