Sariah turns 4!!!

Sariah had her first friend birthday party this year. Most of the kids her age are boys, so we couldn't really do a princess party liked she wanted. So we did more of a neutral cupcake party. They decorated their own cupcakes, played pin the candle on the cupcake and a couple other games.

I did let Sariah pick out her own pinata though so she was able to have some princess-ness to her party.
Sariah is so funny when it comes to pinatas...she is NOT like most kids. She picks up some candy and then decides she has enough even if there is lots more on the ground. She is just not much of a candy eating girl.
After games, presents, cake and the pinata we had a little water fun. We had a small pool and some sprinkler fun. Overall, the party went really well and was lots of fun.

She had to wait for her actual birthday to open her presents from us and her Grandparents. One of her favorite presents was her tutu from Grandma Livingston.

Another birthday cake that she got to pick out from the store.

Sariah got quite the collection of Strawberry Shortcake dolls for her birthday. She LOVES them...this picture shows how much she takes care of them. She took them to bed with her for weeks after her birthday.

I cannot believe she is getting so old...it seems like she was born just yesterday. She is such a good girl and we are so lucky to have her as part of our family.

Water!

Jake's dental class had a party to celebrate their move to clinical practice. Sariah had a blast going down the slide...she is our little fish...she LOVES water.

Splashing into the pool at the bottom of the slide
Just a little wet
Kenzli was not as sure about the water as Sariah...she was a good sport the first time going down the slide, but cried everytime after that.

Happy to be out of the water and just hanging out

Happy girl!!!

We have been lucky to be part of such a family friendly dental program. It makes for some really fun memories!!!

First Day of Preschool

Sariah has been a little worried about starting preschool which suprised me because she has always been pretty easy going with change. She was worried about not already knowing her numbers and letters. To ease some of her worry, I decided to make it a really fun morning leading up to going to school. When she first woke up, she brought the strawberry shortcake dolls into bed with me and we played. We brushed their hair and just played.

Then, she got to pick what you wanted me to fix her for breakfast. During the week, we pretty much ALWAYS have cereal and we only have hot breakfasts on the weekend. She picked eggs and "toast"...I threw in some blueberries too. She got to color a smiling face and decorate it with stickers.

A new favorite...bagel thins
I made her a calendar so she knows what days she goes to school. I also made a photo/chore chart so she knows what things she needs to do in order to be ready to leave for school. She loves finishing them so she can take the picture off and put in the pocket up top.
We found a special place for her backpack so she can grab it on her way out the door.

We had a hard time finding a backpack "her size" but she was able to find this Dora backpack and she LOVES it. It is just the right size.

She KNOWS that she is cute...can't you tell!!!

At school, they got to decorate cookies to take home to their moms and dads. She was so excited and told me that I don't even have to share with her...so sweet!
She also drew a picture of her family and put her hand print on it to give to us.

She had a great time and is really excited to go back. She did make sure she didn't miss anything fun with us though...one of her first questions to me, "What did you do the whole time?" She is getting so grown up and I love watching her become such a sweet little girl!!! I cannot imagine my life without her in it...she brightens everyday!!!

Dance

Sariah took a Hip Hop/Tap dance class over the summer. She will be starting again soon since she LOVED it. She still asks at least once a week, when she gets to go to dance.

Here she is on her first day

Since it was only 6 weeks long, they invited the parents to the last class to watch their dance moves and a little performance. Here she is showing us her toe tap.
Another move...caught in mid-air
Another move

They had a little snack and got a rose after class.

Sariah and her teacher Ms. Becka

Her dance performance

Overnight Vacation

Before Jake had to go back to school in June, we took a short overnight vacation up north to escape the summer heat. Our first stop was Snowbowl in Flagstaff. During the off-season you can ride the ski lift up to the top. Sariah LOVED it. There was still some snow and it was COLD!!! (well relatively speaking)

Family picture once we got to the top.

Sariah having fun just hanging out
Me and my girls!
I love this picture of Sariah and her Daddy...what a cute moment.

Eatin' some snow

The ride down...it took about 20 minutes each way...with no real straps keeping you in, this ride would not be for wild kids...luckily, Sariah was content to sit still and enjoy the view. For some reason, there were necklaces (and other unmentionables) on some of the branches of the trees so she just kept looking for the necklaces.

After spending the night in Flagstaff, we woke up and drove to the Grand Canyon. There was construction going on so there were no lookout points with barriers. I was so grateful that my kids are chill or I might have had anxiety!!! There was a little path you could walk down but the edge was right there. Sariah was so good to keep close and hold our hands.

Another sweet daddy-daughter moment caught on camera.

Family shot

Kenzli was such a happy camper...I love her smile!!!

Sariah got tired so she kicked Kenzli out so she could have a ride.

It was a such trip but filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

MAY

I decided to just include a million pictures and let them summarize what our month of May looked like.

Daddy & his girls are the park

Sariah really likes to be with Jake whenever he is doing ANYTHING. So she colored while he worked on his teeth.
I love the way she is looking at him in this picture.
Discovering ladybugs

Getting a closer look

Sporting her new sunglasses

Sariah gave her first talk in Primary on May 16th. It was on Baptism and she did a fantastic job!

Kenzli's silly face

Sisters enjoying being outside with each other

Kenzli ALWAYS crossed her feet...ALWAYS...when she is eating, sleeping, cuddling, sitting...it is too cute!

More proof

So there you have it...May in a nutshell!

Kenzli in April

I am slightly behind in my blogging but am determined to get caught back up. Due to sharing one computer right now, it probably won't happen as quickly as I would like.

Kenzli has been crawling, sitting up, and standing up alot lately. Here is the proof...

Sariah was really good at helping show Kenzli how to crawl

poor girl...she could get up but couldn't figure out how to get back down

For awhile, she would not sit because she prefered to crawl....I would sit her down and she would automatically move to all fours...it was too funny!
"I'm gonna get ya!"

I had to include these pictures...I always waited for the day that Sariah would fall asleep in her highchair and it never happened. Luckily, I now have the "asleep in the highchair" picture with Kenzli. The best part is that she is still holding her bottle up...she woke up once I pulled it out of her mouth. She cracks me up all the time...I love her so much!!!