Happy Birthday, Hannah Marie!

FOUR YEARS OLD!  I can't believe it.  Our pumpkin has gone and turned into a "big kid" on us.  What a ride it's been.  

She elected to have a princess-themed celebration this year.  I believe this was done solely to annoy me, as I was pushing hard for a fun and more unique theme, such as Candy Land, only to be shot down by a rather insistent preschooler.  I digress...  We celebrated with her preschool friends on Saturday, and had her grandparents and Uncle Kent over on Sunday.

For the first time ever, I elected to outsource the kids' birthday parties.  Instead of running around like crazy awaiting the arrival of 8 preschoolers at my house, I took my girl out for [a gluten-free] breakfast.

She went in PJs, the only way she rolls.

After breakfast, and convincing a certain birthday girl to change out of her PJs, we headed to Gymco to prep for the preschool party.  (Gymco is a local gymnastics place where the girls have taken classes since last fall).

Princess snack bar 

Gluten-free cupcakes for a special gluten-free girl

Princess table

Ready to get the party started in the gym!

Hannah got extra bounces on the trampoline for being the birthday girl - score!

Big sister was there to help us ring in year four.

Hannah's favorite teacher, Miss Betsey, hosted the party - leading to one thrilled birthday girl

Hannah's friend Quinn

Completing the Princess obstacle course

Megan attempts to reach the top of the rock wall

After several attempts, she made it!

...and got to write her name on the Gymco Wall of Fame!

The Princesses await instruction for their next amazing gymnastics feat

Balancing on the snake pit!

Hazel crosses the dangerous snake pit

Hannah with friends Caley and Quinn

Fun with Quinn

Present time!

Hazel and Cadence in proper princess attire

Princess Partygoers

Birthday song time!

Opening presents with Vivi

Lots of great princess prizes to be had!

Thanks Gymco for a great party!

You know it's a good party when the birthday girl passes out on the way home.

We had a very special visitor arrive in time for a great Sunday morning surprise (her actual birthday):

Sparkle Teddy Bear!!  Complete with a birthday book and cupcake suit.

She had birthday surprises for Hannah, and even one for Megan.

Good surprise!  Good surprise!

Ready for a few more surprises from Mom & Dad

The surprises multiplied with the arrival of her grandparents and Uncle Kent

A true lady never reveals her age

New clothes sometimes necessitate an immediate wardrobe change

See? Told you.

Still working on our presents...

Olaf towel!  Score!

Birthday song time again - her last round for year 4.

Making her wish!

Our birthday girl

Trying to find that darn Waldo with Grandpa Purdy

Princess dress-up time with Hazel

Working hard at coloring her new cardboard castle from Uncle Kent (yes, that is another new outfit)

Taking up residence in her new living quarters

T-ball

Hannah's basketball class finished up last week, and now it's on to t-ball for our little sports nut.  The weather wasn't great for the first week of class, but she seemed pretty thrilled to be outside and running around - giving her a bat was icing on the cake.

 

Ready to get started.  This is the only time you'll catch this lefty on this side of the batter's box.

Dad and I both write left handed, but we do pretty much everything else with our right.  It was soooo weird to see this dominant lefty in action.

Action shot! She will not be accused of not putting her whole body into her throw, that's for sure.



Practicing her fielding skills.

Her turn to bat finally arrives - she immediately informed the coach "my name is Hannah and I'm left-handed".

Swing batter, swing!

Easter Fun

Easter weekend was BEAUTIFUL!  For the first time in a LONG time, we enjoyed warm weather and lots of sun!  We had a great time full of festivities.

Gathering for the fourth annual Easter egg hunt with the neighbors

Yes, Hannah is crying, but she quickly recovered in time to enjoy the hunt

Checking out her loot

Megan's friend from her first grade class, Isabelle, just moved into our neighborhood and was able to enjoy the hunt with us as well.  Welcome, Isabelle!

The kids decorated [gluten-free] sugar cookies after the hunt

Posing with Isabelle and Norah

After the hunt, we ducked inside to decorate our eggs

I'm always incredibly nervous letting Hannah near the not-so-washable dye

The finished product.

Sunday morning brought the appearance of the Easter bunny - and two excited girls

Still looking a little bed-headed

No Lacey, the Easter bunny didn't bring you anything

Cars!  Hannah loves her some Lightning McQueen

The girls and I caught Junie B. Jones the Musical at the Civic Theater after a wonderful Easter dinner

Critter Barn

While in Grand Haven, we made a little roadtrip down to Zeeland to enjoy the Critter Barn's Spring Fling.  Critter Barn is a very cute, very hands-on little learning farm and petting zoo.  Megan attended Critter Camp there last summer, and had a wonderful time.  This was a first visit for Hannah, who also got quite into the farming experience.

 

Just arrived and already have our hands on the rabbits

Little Sister's turn!

 

These baby cows were only a couple of weeks old [insert AWWWW]

Hannah's first try at holding a baby chick

"OMG there's a chicken in my hand!"

Next she tried her hand at duck-holding

The duck escaped pretty quickly

This pile o' cats cracked us up

Farm fashion icon

Farm swing!

Megan has requested that we duplicate this experience for her at home.  We'll see about that.

Showing Daddy around the farm.  If only I could get the porta potties out of this picture...

Grand Haven - our first spring weekend!

 After the longest winter e.v.e.r. we very excitedly returned to the Grand Haven house to enjoy some spring weather.  Hannah's birthday is right around the corner, and this year her big gift from Mom & Dad was a cute little pink kitchen set for her room in GH.  (Due to the volume of her possessions in GR, we had to get a little creative this year and make use of the extra space that comes with a second home).  Knowing we wouldn't make it back to the house until after her birthday, we let her open up her gifts a couple of weeks early.

 

Birthday surprises for our almost FOUR year old

It was a good surprise!
 

On Saturday morning, we took a trip to Critter Barn to enjoy their Spring Fling.  It was nice and sunny while we were there, but the clouds moved in on us in the afternoon.  Still refusing to give up and go inside, we made the most of it.


This girl perfected riding her scooter

And we rode our bikes to the beach

I don't think we'll be swimming anytime soon, but it was nice to see the lake still exists (and yes those are icebergs in the water...in April)

Daddy's Little Michigan Fan

Upon our return from Chicago, and completely unsolicited, Megan (aka Kyle Junior) changed into this get-up to help cheer the Wolverines on to the Final Four.  Though the outfit is cleary fantastic, it unfortunately wasn't enough to help the Wolverines get the win.