Karleigh's 4th Birthday!

Boy, oh boy. Where does the time go? Karleigh Nicole will turn 4 on the 24th of March. This past saturday we had her birthday party. Grammy Cody and Papa Dave came to visit the weekend before and to share in the festivities. That was part one. We did a cake, went out to dinner, and just played around the house and outside. It was in the 50's and beautiful!

This past weekend on the other hand - 30's!

The theme you may ask - Princess of course. Karleigh is in love with anything Disney Princess
The birthday weekend preparation started out with the cake debacle. Yes debacle. I had asked Karleigh what the one thing was that she wanted for her birthday this year - and she said a castle cake. So , me being the supermom that I am -- I found this great 3D cake - with a castle, towers, flags and all. No big deal. I have a structural engineering degree - I can for sure handle cake. NOT! The cake when I was done, looked more like the ruins to a castle than the actual castle. Anyone can ask Brian, there was a lot of cursing going on in that kitchen. So - finally at 8:30 friday night, I realized that this was not going to work - and I got in the car to go BACK to the grocery store for more cake mix, eggs and frosting.

Looking back on the cake debacle, I would change a few things. One - not assume that I can be an "Ace of Cakes", two - I would make the cake earlier in the week, and FREEZE it to aid in the carving, and three - try not to be superwoman.

I must admit though - the cake Part II did turn out rather cute.

My friend Rachell and her husband came over to surprise Karleigh with their little dog Lola. Karleigh just LOVES her. And I think that Lola loves her too. I don't know if it is because they are both little, or the fact that Karleigh always has some sort of food remnant on her. Karleigh was so excited that Lola brought her a coloring book and a sticker book.

Then the family started to arrive. We did ham and cheesy potatoes, and I don't know if we were more excited for the initial dinner, or the thought of leftovers for the week!

Karleigh was spoiled. Had a great day. Too shy to blow out the candles though. I am sure that it will be a birthday to remember!

Children's Museum

Boy the Smith Family has been pretty "cultured" the past couple of weeks. Maddie was invited to Christina's 7th Birthday Party at the Children's Museum this past weekend. And - Karleigh and I went along to play too.

Here is a pic of Maddie and Macy on their "crunches". These were by far the hit of the party. I think I now know what to get Maddie for her birthday =0)

At one end of the museum they have a whole wall with all sorts of eyeglasses and sunglasses. It mimics an eye doctor's office. Here are the ones Maddie and Kar picked out!

Here is Maddie in the doctor's office getting fixed up!

Here is Maddie, Katie and Morgan being all crazy with the stickers from the party. Boy you should have heard them giggle. (I just love that sound!)

Here Karleigh is playing with the air hoses. She loved to point the purple hose at me to "squirt" me with the air. She thought it was pure magic that the beach balls were floating in mid air.

Lizards and Snakes ALIVE

At the end of February, we took the girls to the Midland Center for the Arts to see the latest and greatest exhibits on display. For anyone who lives in the area, and has not been here, I highly recommend it. The "regular" part of the museum is so nice and lots of hands of stuff for the kids....adults too! And every couple of months they have new exhibits to keep everyone's interest sparked. Here is Iggy on the roof of the museum. This month was Lizards and Snakes ALIVE and one all about motorcycles. I think that there were over 100 motorcycles to take a peek at.

Here Karleigh is trying to put the snake together.

Here is a pic of the girls trying to put all of the pieces together in the snake puzzle.

Here is the budweiser iguana =0)

A shot of some of the cool motorcycles.

2009 Father Daughter Dance

Maddie and Brian attended the Father Daughter Dance for her school at the end of February. She was so excited to go. Grammy Cody mailed her "special dress" earlier in the month. She loved the fact that she could twirl all around.

Brian let her pick out his clothes for the night.

And then they were off. Here are some pics of the two of them and their night out.

Look how grown up my little girl is! We twisted her bangs up and put little sparkly bobby pins in her hair. She had to go through my jewelry box to pick out a pretty necklace too.

Here Maddie is at the dance. Brian told me that there were two other little girls at the dance with the same dress as Maddie. A couple of times he almost grabbed the wrong kid!

Her favorite song is My Wish by Rascal Flatts. Brian said that when that song played - she raced across the dance floor to get to dad, and dragged him out onto the dance floor.