Parker's 4th Birthday~

We had a pretty special birthday boy, our Parke turned 4 years old! How can this be? Those who know us well, know we are at our best on laid back-jammie sort of days. Something about {no agenda} that is so refreshing, and perfect for a celebration...

The opening of the gifts~ this boy is obsessed with Lego Ninjago, and that is all he wished for!

So donning his new Ninjago jammies, and building his new Ninjago Lego set he was happy as a little lark!

And who needs cake, when you can have a cookie? Parker's one request was homemade chocolate chip cookies, his favorite! As promised, here is the recipe~ it's a good'n!

{fyi~ this makes a huge batch, i usually half the recipe,

or make it and freeze half the dough for later}

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 lb. butter, softened

2 c. brown sugar

1 1/2 c. white sugar

2 T. vanilla

3 eggs

5 1/2-6 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 pkg. chocolate chips {Guittard milk chocolate are my fav}

1 c. nuts {optional}

Cream sugars and butter for 10 minutes. Add vanilla and eggs and beat 3 more minutes. Combine all dry ingredients and add. Beat 3 more minutes, and drop onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. You may also add oats, or coconut for variation;)

Enjoy!

And the remainder of his day was as follows...

Sportin his new bike helmet, shades, and flip flops that he hand-picked himself.

He is one cool kat! ;)

Rylie playing with bugs again...

You don't have to smile for pictures on your birthday if you don't want to, we decided:)

Parker is adventurous, full of zest, fiesty, stubborn, loving, tender-hearted, and sweet to the bone. Can't imagine our family without him in it:)

Happiest Birthday wishes angel boy~

You make us smile every day.

~xo

Christmas 2011

Christmas morning was magical.

Santa found our house, and delivered wonderful gifts~

of the toy variety! ya~

He gobbled up his cookies, and left some awesome homemade doggy bones for the furry one!

Oh, and some beautiful oranges. You know I'm a sucker for fresh citrus~

Rylie was the first to wake up...

3:30 people!?!

Luckily, Santa had just left;)

She snuggled in our bed until 6:00, and then it was game on!

Kaden in his new magic hat... he is going to be a real "madician." I think I'll leave that one alone for a while, he has the rest of his life to call it a magician:)

Parker got a shiny new Buzz Lightyear {obsess much!}

And our big daddy of a birthday boy! After minimal amounts of sleep:)

After we played our little hearts out, and ate a fabulous breakfast of sugary treats... we got all gussied up and headed to church.

Then up to Mimi & Papa's house we went~

Mimi & Papa always serve up the most amazing brunch. Quiche, Christmas morning casserole, and pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon syrup~ yum-o!

Opening a few gifts...

Birthday time~

We were spoiled, what more can I say?

Then off to Gramy & Papa's house for some more holiday fun~

Gift opening craziness!

Ty & Steph and their cute little family.

And the newest addition to the Sparrow clan~ Rhett. We love him to piece's already.

Gramy and Papa sure spoiled us with a delicious Christmas dinner~

It was a fabulous holiday, indeed.

And a Happy Birthday for my baby!

Here's to ringing in the new year!!

Me and my peeps are going to grub, and dance our way into 2012!

Happy New Year's to you all!

~xo

Kaden's 8th Birthday

Every year when my kiddos have a birthday I think to myself, 'They can't really be this big. Where is the time going?' It is such a happy celebration of another year of their lives, but also such a heart wrencher to think they are one more year beyond that precious moment you first laid eyes on them. Enjoy it, savor it, love the living daylights out of them...repeat.

It is all I can do at this point. Here is a little recap of Kaden's 8th birthday~

His birthday was on a Sunday this year, and we have early church. Needless to say, we didn't quite make it to his gifts before we scurried out the door. Kade was such a trooper, and waited patiently until we got home to open them up. A little heavy~heavy~hang~over...

The top of his wish list~ the Alien Conquest Mothership.

He was so pumped when he opened that bad boy up!

Kaden discovered Diary of a Wimpy Kid books this summer, and can't get enough of them!

I love those baby blue's more than anything...

Silly faces~

The remainder of the day was spent building his new Lego sets.

A little help from his brother, maybe a little too much help~

but how do you say no to that face??

Garlic jalapeño chicken for dinner, and then we were a little caked~out from all of the birthday parties, so we busted out the ice~cream sandwiches...

Happy Birthday...dear Kade~man!....

Then we dolled Kade up in his shiny new suit and took him out to the nature park to snap some pictures for his upcoming baptism...

When we got there we gave him a gift~

His first set of scriptures...

These pictures melt my heart~

And then we watched the sun set over the bird refuge. It was such a beautiful night.

Kaden came home and immediately dug into his new scriptures. He has been so cute about reading them completely unsolicited by his parents.

He is such a good boy, and we are so proud of him!

Some Kaden trivia:

Favorite color: Blue~ he has never wavered

Favorite food: Steak, chicken on the bone~ he's a little carnivore

Favorite place to eat: KFC and Chic~fil~a

Favorite things to do: Build legos, read, play video games (the wii at his grandparents'), sports, hang out with friends, anything outside, play with his brother and sister.

Favorite holiday: Halloween

Favorite toy: His Nintendo DS and Legos

Favorite treat: Twix, Reeses peanut butter cups, Hershey's kisses~ the boy loves chocolate:)

Kaden is such a little stud muffin! He loves his family, and is quite a home~body. Kade is super sweet with his little brother and sister. He is a great friend and very sensitive to other's feelings. Kade sets an awesome example for his family, and always keeps us in line. He is hilarious, and extremely fun to be around. He can be quite a drama queen (cough! just like his daddy) but we love him just the way he is:)

Happy Birthday Kade~man,

Thanks for being exactly who you are!

~xo

The Pirate Party

Well Ahoy there me hearty's!

For Kade's "friend" birthday party this year he requested a pirate party~

and let me tell you, it was some swashbucklin' good times!

Aye! It was a delicious sight~

First there was a pizza picnic, some friendly bouncin', and gramy snugglin'. That Gramy is quite a lass for comin' to help!

Then a pirate style treasure hunt~

The treasure hunt was a mission to gather all things needed to become a real true pirate. The first thing they needed was some pirate scruff... Arrg!

Then they all got a goodie bag along with their first clue...

Which led them to the garden, a pirate compass, and their next clue...

The little buccaneers scurried around the neighborhood following clues, until it led them back to their final treasure in the playhouse...

Arrg! A miniature scurvy pirate on the lookout for some loot~

A party is not a party until you bust out the piñata! It only took a few whacks! until that thar pirate's booty was being devoured~

And then some singin' was in order...

All ye matey's brought some serious good booty~

Love all these boys to piece's...

Well shiver me timbers! If that isn't the cutest group of pirates~

The only thing I didn't make them do was walk the plank! Yo ho ho!

Maybe next time me hearty's, maybe next time...