Birthdays!

My babies aren't babies anymore!

This last Thursday, Erica turned one.  ONE!  Wow.  And tomorrow, Logan will be four. 

Let's take a moment to get to know the birthday boy and birthday girl:

Logan
1)  My favorite thing to eat is pasta and meatballs.
2)  My favorite outdoor activity is kicking the soccer ball.
3)  My favorite shows to watch are Kipper and Curious George.
4)  My favorite subject at school is the alphabet.  I love to sing an alphabet song that I learned from school.  "A-a-achoo!  B-b-boo!  C-c-Crack!..."
5)  My favorite indoor activity is playing with my train tracks, but play-dough, bubbles, and the iPad are a close second place tie.
6)  I am really good at cleaning up after myself.  I wash my hands, and wipe my face, and I'll even pick up my toys if properly motivated.  (Treats).
7)  If I could go anywhere in the world, I'd go to Nana and Grandpa's house every day.  Or over to cousin Chandler's house to play.
8) I don't think Mommy and Daddy know what my favorite color is; I've kept it a very good secret.  But I think I like dark colors the most.
9)  When I grow up, I'm going to do lots of things.  Maybe I'll be an architect because I like to build things.
10)  My current favorite song is the alphabet song I learned from school.
11)  The book I love most right now is The Jester Has Lost His Jingle.
12)  Three words that describe me are:  Observant, Teachable, and Enthusiastic.
13)  My favorite thing about having my birthday in the winter is the snow - if only there was some.
14)  The snack I like the most is Larabars.
15)  One food I refuse to even try is blueberries, among many, many other things.

Erica
1)  My favorite thing to eat is applesauce.
2)  My favorite thing to do outside is touch everything I can see and put leaves in my mouth.
3)  My favorite thing to watch is the ending song of the Baby First TV videos.  Other than that, the TV just isn't all that interesting.
4)  My favorite thing to do indoors is climb the stairs and play in Logan's room.  He's hilarious.
5)  I am really good at being demanding.  I command and attract attention where ever I go.
6)  My favorite stuffed animal is Logan's Curious George.  But I just got a dolly for my birthday that I really like too.
7)  When I grow up, I am going to be a professional cutie pie.
8)  My favorite song is any song that Mommy sings.
9)  The book I love most right now is 10 Tiny Puppies.
10)  Three words that describe me are:  Adorable, Persuasive, and Loud.
11)  My favorite word is "hi."
12)  The snack I love most is whatever anyone else is eating.  I want it too.
13)  I don't like peas.
14)  My favorite toy that I shouldn't be playing with is Mommy's iPhone.  It stops tears instantly.
15)  I love to tease my brother. 

I spent the morning getting some dinner stuff prepared, and baking their cake.  Tyler blew up a bunch of balloons and had fun entertaining the kids.  For anyone who needs a cheap and fun kid activity idea, I highly recommend balloons.  Blow 'em up and let them just run around kicking them.  Blow up a balloon and let it fly.  They'll love it.

He was all over the place.  There's no way I could have caught a still shot.  iPhone cameras are pretty good, but not amazing.

They got spoiled.

Logan reading the notes in his new piano books from Omi and Opa!

Erica playing with a piece from Logan's train set.

Cake time!  It took him two attempts to get the candles blown out.  And he didn't spit on the cake!

Whole Wheat (soaked flour/only sugar in this is honey) Chocolate Cake with home made Maple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting (the frosting tasted just like a cinnamon roll, I kid you not.  If you want either recipe, let me know).  When you don't give yourself enough time to eat breakfast before church Sunday morning, this is a fantastic cake to come home to...just so you know.  It's also a good cake to eat on a full stomach.  Either way.

Erica's first taste of cake!  She did great, haha.

Watch the video.  I love how she takes such grown up bites out of the cake and then just sorta throws the rest on the tray, haha.  Can you spot her ONE tooth??  Probably not.  The video is so small.  If anyone knows how to enlarge that, please let me know.

Logan "setting up" Settlers of Catan for us.  I have never seen him so attached to anything the way he is to those little game pieces.  He loves playing with them.  Putting the game away is pretty much the end of the world.

It was a nice combined birthday.  They had a great time, and so did we.  I've never been very keen on the idea of doing big huge birthday parties, at least while the kids are so young.  But now, I almost can't wait until next year.  Logan will be 5 and I think it would be so fun to do a theme and invite tons of his little friends.  Not to mention, watching kids try to beat up a pinata is pretty much one of life's special little gifts to adults amidst the chaos.  Haha, I can see it now.

Happy birthday Logan and Erica!!  We love you!!