Elizabeth Turns FIVE!!!

It's been such a busy time for all of us here so, I am just now getting around to posting about my precious little girl who turn two weeks ago. We all had so much fun at her birthday party with her friends. But that wasn't the only celebration she had. We also celebrated again on her birthday a couple of days later as a family.

Elizabeth had been telling us that she wanted to have her birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. So we finally broke down and sent the invites to all her friends at school and several of her neighborhood friends. As it turns out, 4:00 on a Friday evening is the perfect time to have a party at CEC. We had to place pretty much to ourselves until about 5:00. And at that time we were in pizza and present mode so the crowd wasn't bothering us any. Everyone had such a great time and Elizabeth absolutely loved doing the ticket blaster.

Gabe and a couple of boys from the party enjoying Skee Ball.

Abby, Elizabeth and Elizabeth's best friend from school.

Elizabeth opening her presents.

Elizabeth in the Ticket Blaster. She had so much fun gathering tickets. She got over 1000!!!

Elizabeth blowing out the candles on her cake.

Group picture time!!

Elizabeth, Mommy and Chuck E. Cheese.

Elizabeth also had lots of fun celebrating with all of her family.

This free picture collage made with Smilebox

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY, ELIZABETH!!!

Happy 9th Birthday, Gabe

Today my baby boy turned 9!! Nine I can't believe it... That's 1 year from double digits, 2 years from middle school, 4 years from being a teenager, and 6 years from learning to drive. My baby boy is growing up so quickly. Just nine short years ago my baby looked like this...

And now he looks like this...

Great picture, huh? He might not appreciate this one but I loved it!

Gabe had an awesome birthday. His birthday started on Friday with cupcakes for his class, and last all weekend. He is really into Pokemon right now so I made some Pokeball cupcakes to take to his class. Here is what they looked like. And boy was he excited!

On Saturday, Gabe invited a couple of friends over to help him celebrate. Gabe and his friends enjoyed pizza, laser tag, cupcakes and ice cream. Because of a weather delay Elizabeth and I headed to the ball fields instead of the party. But Matt, Abby and the boys had a great time! Here are a couple of pictures that highlight all the fun the kids had.

Because I had already made Pokeballs for Gabe, I decided to go a little further for his party. So I took some of the most popular Pokemon and made those into cupcakes. Meet Pikachu, Jigglypuff and Charmander.

And then today we had our traditional birthday pancakes. Gabe also got to open his presents from us and his sisters. All in all I think he had a great 9th birthday.

Happy Birthday G-dog!!

Happy 7th Birthday, Abby!!!

Today Abby turned seven years old. I really wish that time would slow down so that I could enjoy moments with her like the ones today. She chose to have a very small party this year with just a couple of friends and then to visit the American Girl doll store in Atlanta in a couple of months. Her theme for her small party was a tea party and in Carmom style this is what we did to celebrate...
The party guests were treated to tea and pink lemonade along with tea cookies, fruit and cheese, finger sandwiches and cupcakes. They had a blast having tea and were such polite ladies during their tea luncheon. But before starting their tea they had Bubble Gum necklaces to make. And yes, they are really made out of real gum balls.


After the Bubble Gum necklaces the girls had hats to make. What is a tea party guest without a hat full of flowers to wear on her head.

The girls posing for a picture before sitting down to enjoy their tea.


Abby's little butterfly cupcakes were almost too small for all those candles. It made it almost look like she was turning 70 instead of 7. But she blew out all those candles and then the girls enjoyed their cupcakes.

Aunt Kim came up from Chattanooga to help celebrate Abby's birthday. It was so great that Abby's cousin could come as well. The girls had a great time together. Thank you so much Aunt Kim, you are A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!

Happy 6th Birthday, Abby!!

Today was a day of celebration. Abby turned 6 today and we celebrated it in our traditional ways. Last night Matt and I stayed up to decorate the kitchen for the birthday girl. I think it so much fun for the kids to come down in the mornings and see all the decorations.
This is what Abby saw when she came downstairs this morning.
Because Abby is really into horses right now we got her some figurines to play with. Eventually her room will have a horse theme to it as well. But the bedding was back ordered so we opted for some other gifts for her. She also was able to open one gift this morning. Can you guess what was inside this pretty pink box?
Don't you just love the look of excitement over a couple more pink boxes? What was in those cute little pink boxes you ask? We small dangle earrings and a cross necklace, or what Abby calls a God necklace. Abby had been asking for dangle earrings and I happened across a perfect pair for my little princess.

And then this afternoon Elizabeth and I picked the birthday girl and her brother up from school in the party van.

After we got home we ordered Abby's choice of pizza and then had cake. We couldn't find a horse cake anywhere so we made due with this. I think it is pretty cute and Abby seemed to like it.
After cake we had presents to open. She loved both her brother's and sister's gifts to her. They both got her stuff to use with her American Girl doll. Angelina now has her own bed, chair, and pet. Abby will have lots of fun playing with all her new stuff tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be a continuation of today. Matt's parents are coming up for Abby's party and are bringing most of the cousins. All three of the kids are looking forward to the visit. There will be a lot of bouncing around tomorrow afternoon once we hit the bounce place.

Gabe's Birthday Interview Age 7

Kids change so quickly that there are times you just can't keep up. I wanted to remember what my kids were thinking about, enjoying and doing. I thought an interview of each child on or around his/her birthday would be fun and something we could look back on together. Here are Gabe's answers to his questions. I am sure I will come up with more and better ones later.

What is your favorite book? Stars Wars Epic Battles
What do you like the most about it? The light saber fights and the stories

If you could go anywhere where would you go? To Tennessee to see a Tennessee football games. Because Tennessee rocks!!

What is your favorite thing to do? Play my DS. At least when my mom isn't playing with it.

Who are/is your favorite sports teams? Tennessee Volunteers and the Colts and the Jets and the Giants and Green Bay Packers

What is your favorite color? Orange, Blue and Green
How does that color make you feel? Good.

What do you like best about your family? That we sit on the couch sometimes together and spend time together.

Do you like your name? Yes.
What do you like being called the most? Gabe and Gabriel
Do you know what you name means? No, I think it means God, angels.

What was your favorite thing about school this year? Playing with my friends and learning things.

What are you looking forward to doing this summer? Swimming in my pool, playing in the sprinklers and getting all wet.

What are you looking forward to doing in school next year? Learning. And doing Math facts.

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad? Helping Dad around the house. Mom? Give her hugs. Abby? Play with her. Elizabeth? Chase her around saying "I'm going to get ya." And listening to her scream.

Gabe's Birthday part Deux

I believe that Gabe had a great birthday. Not only did he wake up to his doorway and the kitchen decorated for his birthday he got to open one really cool present from us that morning too. He got a Star Wars t-shirt that he had been eyeing for a while.

Gabe loves this shirt so much he has asked several times in the last couple of days when I will be able to do laundry again so that he can wear his shirt.

One tradition in our house is that the birthday person gets to choose the dinner for their special night. And what other food would you choose for your birthday that pizza. We've been making homemade pizzas for several years now and this is what Gabe wanted. Matt has brought him over to the darkside with his pepperoni, banana pepper, black and green olive, sausage, and cheese pizza. I am so glad we have graduated from just cheese. After the pizza was consumed we all enjoyed Gabe's football cake.

It's too bad we couldn't get orange or blue football guys for his cake. But he didn't seem to care.

While the pizza was cooking we opened presents. And Gabe was certainly not disappointed. He got some new sports decorations for his room and a Nerf game for his Wii. He also got a Nintendo DS which his mom keeps taking so that she has something to do while she is stuck in bed. He's even said he's going to save his money and buy his mom a DS so that I will stop taking his. All in all he had a great birthday.

Gabe and his Daddy shooting it up in Nerf N'Strike for Wii. They had a balst playing together.

Abby and Gabe enjoying the DS. Everyone wants to play with it.

Abby's 5th Birthday

On Thursday we celebrated Abby's birthday pretty much all day. She took cupcakes to share with her class. After school she chose Bob Evans for her birthday lunch. As Matt and I sat there talking we realized that we have taken Abby to Bob Evans every year on her birthday since we moved up here. It's a nice tradition. Abby's birthday hat provided her with lots of attention, which she really enjoyed. Then around 4:00 Matt came home and we started her family party with presents, the dinner of her choice, pizza, and cake. She said she had a great party. Now she is looking forward to Sunday afternoon to her friend party. Enjoy the pictures of her special day. She is so sad that it is over.