Step Right Up.

Kylie's 3rd birthday party was a success! We totally lucked out with the weather and had a beautiful day... sandwiched between 2 cold and rainy days.

The little birthday girl had an absolute blast, as did all of her friends.

I took a lot of photos... this post will be dedicated to the details. I enjoy details. :)

The food table:

Favor boxes for the lil ones:

Duck game:

Garage/Big Top (Photo Booth to the left): - Matt transformed the garage by hanging red table cloths all around ... I have big ideas and he is such a good sport to humor me :)

Ky, before her party, pointing to the ice cream truck driving down the street... little did she know that she had a TON of sugar and treats waiting for her.

The main attraction... the bounce castle!! The kids LOVED this thing... and so did the parents because it entertained the kids for the entire party! Kylie got to enjoy her castle the entire day... daddy set it up in the morning so she got to jump in it all by herself for hours and then jump in the company of her friends later. And then a little more jumping after the party, before bed, in the dark!

The clown cake

The popcorn cupcakes turned out so cute (not real popcorn- mini marshmallows :) )!

Clown cupcakes... can never have too many cupcakes!

The balloon guy that came and made AMAZING balloons for all of the kids (guitars, swords, chainsaws, monkeys, etc)!

And for a couple big kids, too!

It wouldn't be a carnival without carnival food and thanks to Pat and Debi we had some deliciously authentic carnival food. Hot dogs, corn dogs, popcorn, steak on a stick, funnel cakes, lemon shakes, snow cones, and cotton candy (straight from a real cotton candy machine)!

It was an incredible day for our incredible 3 year old. Now we just hope she remembers it! :)

Fun to be 3.

Actually, she wasn't quite 3 when these photos were taken... but close enough. We had to include some balloons in her 3 year photos because she LOVES balloons!

(Click to enlarge)

When we were finished, daddy asked her if she wanted to let some go... I was shocked when she said, yes!!

Goodbye red balloon...

And blue and white...

She is 3.

It's SO hard to believe but our little baby girl turned 3 YEARS OLD yesterday! We can't believe it... where has the time gone?! Seems like she grew up SOOO much from 2-3.

Here is the big 3 year old wearing the pretty beaded necklace she made (this was a bday gift her little neighbor friend brought over for her... and told her she could even keep it forever!).

Momma and her not-so-little baby!

And every birthday girl needs a birthday crown. A ballon guy at Rockne's made it for her!

Her ice cream cake. She loved it! Before bed we asked her what her favorite part of her birthday was and she said, the pink on my cake! Awwww

The big birthday celebration is on Sunday... hoping for nice weather!!

And now for some fun facts about Kylie at 3:

~She is awesome, plain and simple, just a really cool, fun happy kid.

~She loves her baby brother SO much.

~She's got an amazing bond with her daddy... they are best buds. She loves her one-on-one time with him.

~She is a good mix between tomboy and girly... likes to look cute but really likes to get dirty.

~Is a little sponge. So observant. Never misses a thing. Has an unbelievable memory!

~Loves to play with her little plastic animals or any little toy... insists on carrying many of them to bed with her.

~Has a collection of stuffed animals, toys and blankets that she must have with her to sleep.

~Still LOVES her blankie.

~Favorite shows are Little Bear, Dora, Diego and WordWorld.

~Favorite movies are Shrek, Finding Nemo and Happy Feet.

~Loves playing outside with the neighbor kids.

Still loves homemade popsicles.

~Loves gymnastics

~Loves to help in the kitchen.

~Still a really good eater but starting to get that inconsistent toddler appetite- can eat like a horse one day and then not so much the next.

~Loves to paint, color, draw (smiley faces and shapes)

~Can almost count to 20 (usually forgets 14,15 and then repeats 17 a couple times before moving to 18).

~Loves to sing songs.

~Has started imaginative play with her little people and animals... so cute! She uses a really high-pitched, quiet, pretend voice. But doesn't like attention when she is pretending... gets embarrassed and says, "I just peetendin"

~Loves ice ceam! Blue Moon, Strawberry, and Raspberry are her current faves. And whatever mommy and daddy have.

~Loves to hit balls with her Dora bat and is really good- makes contact about 50% of the time.

~Has a silly sense of humor and loves to be goofy and make us laugh.

Can't wait to see what new adventures she takes us on this year!

A Happy Soul.

35 months (and counting) old and oh, so happy!

I am so happy I have this next shot... this is SO her at this age. We don't know why but for some reason she loves asking people if they can "roll their tongue." At some point, a few months back, she discovered that "Pa" (G'pa Craig) cannot roll his tongue... well, he has yet to live that down. Every chance she gets, she is ever so sweetly asking him if he knows how to roll his tongue? She then waits for his answer, NO!, and proceeds to show off her amazing tongue-rolling skills. He then usually attacks her with tickles and she giggles and asks him again about 10 more times. It never gets old!

Gotta love the sense of humor!

Blue-eyed baby girl

Sibling love.

They like each other. A lot. He absolutely lights up when she walks into the room. He stares at her, smiling from ear to ear, from his car seat the entire time they are in the car together. And she spends most of her day entertaining him, making him laugh, talking to him ("hiiii buddddyyy"- in a very high-pitched, overly-cheery voice) and loving on him.

I'll be sure to pull out these photos a few years from now when they are not so friendly towards each other! :)

One of the countless number of kisses her receives throughout the day.

20 perfect toes.

The 2 little guys.

Pa and Grandma looking quite happy with their hands full of chunky babies.

Pa with JJ... Gram with Gavin.

Showing off their physiques...

Big sister, Syd, and baby brother, JJ.

Pa with JJ.

Last night at the beach... me with 2 (out of 3) of my favorite guys.