More videos of Karla's 5th Birthday

Cake at Grandma Mann's house on her Birthday after her birthday dinner of something elegant: mac and chesse.Candles at her party (with mud and worms instead of a cake).After the party, the girls started checking out the presents. Karla loved this baby bottle candy...so did Kaylyn. It was funny to watch. Kaylyn knows what to do with a bottle. But she's never had one this good before!

Karla's turns 5

Afton searching for treasure in the rice box.

Putting the candles on.

Grandma was a big help!!

Cuddling with Daddy

Swing set!

Grandma got me this big button!! And this was Karla's attitude!

Flowers all in a row.

Finger painting!

This is the crown my teacher made me. It says Happy Birthday Karla!

I turned 5!

Karla loved turning 5. She took mini cup cakes to her class on her birthday. We did cake and icecream at Grandma's on her birthday. We then had a party a few days later. She felt like we celebrated her birthday many times over. She still wonders if she is going to have another birthday soon.

We had a mud pie party. We finger painted, planted daisys or forget-me-nots, played with clean mud or goop, playdough and cookie cutters, and decorated take home bags. The biggest hit of them all: the swing set. We also ate mud and worms (pudding and crushed oreos). All in all, we all had fun. And Karla is 5. We are so proud of you big girl!

Karla has grown up and changed a lot this year. She has started preschool and this has contributed to a lot of the changes. She loves to play on the computer, do homework, color, write or count, and read. She still loves to play outside, and she will be girly and play ponys or petshop with her sister. But when given a choice she will do homework! She is also all about going to her friends houses. She has always been very social, but with going to school, her socialness is blossoming and developing. She loves to go over to friends houses.

Big Birthday Present

So we have been looking for a 7-8 seatbelt car since October. Todd had a good feeling about this ad--on of all days, Karla's birthday party. So he wasn't as much help as I would have liked. But I told him if he felt directed by the spirit, he should probably follow that prompting.

So he looked into a Suzuki XL 7. It is a mini suburban. The trunk has two fold up seats making it a seven seater car. Which I desperately wanted because to haul kids around in. I have two part time daycare kids, plus my brother, plus my three kids. So we have been squeezing into my little car and walking when possible. When mom broke her arm...it was interesting to try and get everyone where they needed to be. Now I can do both without be hasseled by nosey parents at the preschool!!

We bought it from a family that was transfered her from Japan. They were suppose to live her for two years. But 30 days later, their company was bought out and they are being brought home. So they are quickly trying to sale the house and car they had just bought. So we got a great deal on it. When we went to the auditors office, they asked why we bought it for half price!! We didn't realize it was going to be that good of deal. And from what we hear, it should have 100K to 120K miles before we start to have problems. It gets the same gas milage as my car, so we won't even have that increase. Once we pay off the Kia (45 days and counting!!) insurance will be about the same too as we drop the Kia to liability. It's not worth enough to pay comprehensive on: atleast that's what we figure. With these vehicales we should be set for some time to come. Todd would like to buy a little trailer so he can convert the "Suzy" into a truck. And he wouldn't mind a motorcycle or a real truck or a boat...but these are all wants.

Since it's going to be my car, because I'm the one hauling all the people around at the time, and because my birthday is the 21st, and we spend all our money obtaining this vehicle, "Happy Birthday Cassy!!" Isn't my husband a sweetheart. I think I can even overlook that he ditched me to clean the house and prepare for Karla's party. Thank you hun. I've been driving the car for almost a week now, and I like it better now than last week. It manuvers well. It runs nice. Kylee hasn't ruined the CD player yet. And the kids are easier to buckle in. I'm excited.

My Kids

Yesterday, it was a windy day, so I took the kids to the park. And Karla got to fly her kite! She was so excited. At first we couldn't get Tinkerbell higher than abotu 10 ft, but this was great for Karla and Kylee. But before we left, we got Tinkerbell to the end of her string. Karla had a blast! She was so concerned when ever she fell. "Are you okay Tinkerbell? I will take care of you. You can do it Tinkerbell."
Kaylyn has started crawling on her hands and knees. Often she chooses to flop back to her stomach, but more and more, she crawls on her hands and knees. She has also weined herself from nursing. Since she no more nurses, she is not the momma's girl she use to be. She has started waking up at 6 am when I call to get Todd up. I think it is simply so she can see her daddy before he leaves. She weined herself because if she nursed, she'd doze while nursing and then not nap. 20 minute nap for my little 9 month baby was not enough. So I gave her a bottle so she'd nap. Then she didn't go to bed at night if she nursed. So she started getting a bottle before bed. She has not nursed in two weeks, and she hasn't seemed to miss it.
As for Kylee, she has been my big helper. I got a new small dresser we are using for toys. I labeled her Petshop drawer. She has been so excited about finding her pet shops and putting them in the right place. Now for labeling the my little pony drawer!
I have three wonderful girls. I have been watching as they grow and mature. They are beautiful. And I am so grateful that the Lord sent me these wonderful spirits!!