Carmen Turns 5!

This little Bug has been counting down the days until her Fifth Birthday for weeks (or maybe months!) She has been so excited to have a party and get to be completely spoiled- I really can't blame her. 

We made plans a few months back to go to the Cabin on her birthday with Randall's family, since we have to book the Cabin a month or so in advance I didn't think much about it- it was available, we didn't have any other plans, done. But as it got closer she wasn't very excited about it! She wanted to have a party with her friends and cousins at "A birthday place!" I tried to tell her that we would do a fun party at the cabin and everything, but it didn't really work. Finally just a few days before her birthday she decided that she wanted to have a fire and roast s'mores for her party- and she was pretty excited about that. (Phew!) I told her I would make it extra fun for her and she would love it! And she did. 

We had a great time- most importantly we had a very restful weekend.  Grandma Cody rode with us and we met Richard's family there late on Friday night. The kids were so excited to run around and just be together. 

We didn't see much of them- they just ran and played and played all weekend long. 

We ended up celebrating her birthday Saturday night, so later that night the kids helped me set up Carmen's party- they blew up balloons while I baked a fun tie-dye cake. 

She was so excited she could hardly handle it! 

The Men cooked dutch oven chicken while Cody and Nancy made the rest of dinner. 

And now for a overload of pictures!

I always let the kids pick out what kind of cake they want- she chose tie died! Im not really sure where she came up with it! But thank heavens for Walmart and cake mixes!! I found this one and it was pretty fun to make, and it tasted really good! (I'm no baker or cake decorator!!!) 

 Poor thing is still suffering from allergies- she has a hard time breathing and they make her face all red and swollen! Hopefully we can get that figured out soon!

It was delicious. 

 Grandma Cody brought some little crafts for the kids to do. 

We took all the little nuggets on a ride through the gorgeous green mountains. 

We came back to the Cabin  and decorated the trees. (The next day the kids used these balloons as target practice!) Anyway, Carmen opened presents and then we ate a big dinner. 

 She was spoiled rotten! She loves clothes and her Next Generation Doll and got lots of fun things to play with- and a new barbie scooter. (Hopefully that will solve some of the fighting that goes on over the single scooter we have at home!) 

The kids loved just being together and played non-stop. 

Not long after dinner Miss Leighton had a meltdown so I went and put her to bed- and also ended up putting myself to bed! The kids stayed up and roasted s'mores and went to bed late.  (At least that's what they told me! I was dead to the world!!) 

 This Bug really is such a sweetheart. She's my little shadow. She is loving and thoughtful- and very stubborn. She reminds me a lot of myself! She loves to be with her brother and sister and is always willing to help me with anything. She is a little momma and loves to play with her baby dolls and play pretend. She is getting a lot braver and catches on to most things really quickly! She is so excited to go to school and can't wait to ride the bus! (Im not so excited!) She loves to be with her cousins and grandparents and is always singing and dancing. I feel like over the last year she has grown and changed drastically, she no longer needs constant help or care, it's so hard to realize that your children are becoming independent and growing up so fast. I love her to pieces and feel so blessed that I was able to have her five years ago- where has time gone?

It was a great weekend- and this was only part of it!