Cupcake Wars 10th Birthday Party

I must start this post by saying that 10 years have gone faster than my mind could have ever imagined.  During those sleepless nights of infancy, you feel like the days creep by and that you will never leave that stage.  In reality, it all passes so, so quickly.  I am so thankful for Kamdyn's 10 years.  We learned together.  I know I made plenty of mistakes along the way as a Mommy and will continue to makes a lot more, but she has taught me so much.  She is the most thoughtful, sweet, humble, reserved, funny, smart, beautiful child.  I don't know how I got so lucky!  I do thank God everyday for this perfectly imperfect creation.  She makes me want to be a better person.  She helps me to be a better person.  Kamdyn Lucy, you are your Mommy's heart.  I love you more than your little mind can fathom.  I hope that you will always put God first, help others,  love yourself, and know how wonderful you are in your Mommy's eyes.  

Enter: Cupcake Wars!

I told myself that I was through with home birthday parties.  Alas, I found myself planning another one for my double digit precious kiddo!  It really wasn't that difficult at all.  I collected all of the ingredients.  Georgia sent her decorating tips and bags.  And, I was all set!

Kamdyn and I created the rules.  Georgia made the AH-Dorable aprons and baker hats.  The teams had two hours to make, back, decorate, and create a display stand for their cupcakes.  I was in disbelief at how well these girls got along and how focused they were on their task.  We had three judging categories: best decorated, best tasting, best overall presentation.  Each team won for one category.

We had our neighbor, Brian, come over from next door to help Richard, Karcie, and myself judge.  It really was a super fun party and the girls had a blast.  We had such a great time enjoying a cupcake that we forgot to sing Happy Birthday to Kamdyn....she didn't even realize it.  :)  We did eventually sing, but it wasn't at the appropriate time.  

Kamdyn has the sweetest little group of friends from both of her elementary schools here in Apex. I am so proud of her for choosing wisely.  Girlfriends are a wonderful thing to have!  I hope she always has special friends in her life to share, celebrate, and laugh with her.

Happy Birthday, Kamdyn!!

Everyone wanted to take home baby sister's cupcakes because she decorated the BEST and had A LOT of stuff on her cupcakes!

I like to refer to this photo as "Dumb and Dumber"

Dancing Beauties!

These two little girls were looking beautiful for their dance photos.  Wouldn't you know that their picture times were on two different days.  Karcie's was on a Friday night.  Kamdyn's was on a Saturday morning the same time as Karcie's soccer game.  And.....we were also have Kamdyn's birthday party that same night.  April and May are crazy busy months!!

Karcie's Last Preschool Picture

I can't believe that my baby will start Kindergarten next year.  I've been very careful to pay close attention to our "lasts" here lately.  These were her last preschool photos.  Ever.  I didn't purchase these photos because I got them in the fall, but I did get a class photo.  I love this girl with all of my heart and I am going to miss her so much next year!  She is my side-kick, my shopping partner, my lunch date, and so much more.  What excuse will I use to frequent Chick-fil-A next year?  Time passes so quickly.  I try to soak up every minute of every day, but life is so busy sometimes that I forget to pause to really enjoy the little things.  

Twelve Years of Happy

On most people's anniversary, photos are posted from their wedding day many years ago.  Well, we are very different from who we were twelve years ago.  While I adore those photos from long ago, we have grown as a couple and our family has grown since that day. April 3, 2004 was one of the happiest days of my life.  However,this photo most accurately describes our life as it is today. Our girls crawled into our bed as soon as the rooster crowed that morning.  We tried to prolong our lazy time before having to get up to play Mommy and Daddy.  We spent that Sunday hanging out with our girls at our house and it was wonderful!

We did get each other a card and gave them to each other later that night when the girls were in bed.  My funny-man husband gave me a card with the dates marked out.  At first I didn't get it, but he had given me the card that he gave to me last year. He just marked out the dates.  He thought that was SO funny!  THEN, he gave me the real card.  I started laughing as soon as I saw it.  It was  the SAME card that I picked out for him.  I thought he had found my card and had written in it because I had not written in it yet. All the anniversary cards in the world and we chose the same one for each other.  That made my night!  It was the perfect ending to our anniversary.  Proof that we were meant to be together....not that I need any! Inside of my card were the tickets to see Zac Brown Band at the Southern Ground Music Festival in Charleston.  I was so excited that he had finally purchased them!!

Happy 12 Years, Richard!! I am so proud of the life that we have.  I am thankful for you and all that you do for our girls and for me.  You are a wonderful provider, Daddy, and husband.  I love you!  

The loves of my life!!

Upward Soccer

Karcie started soccer the morning after Kamdyn's birthday.  Boy, was it an unpleasant weather day for soccer.  I still can't believe that they didn't cancel it. The cold rain and winds were almost unbearable.  Our poor babies were shivering.  Luckily the rain stopped soon after the game started.  They practice 30 minutes before the game and then play for about an hour.  Karcie was not happy.  At. All.  She had to borrow a jacket from Coach Jessica's son.  It wasn't raining when we left the house, but it was terrible by the time we got out of the car and on to the field.  Richard drove back to the house to get warm clothes and rain gear.  

Karcie started the season out slow and didn't seem very interested, but with the weather, it was very understandable!

Go Karcie and Go Falcons!!

Pep Talk before the game with Coach Jessica

We had our rain jackets and umbrellas, but we were still soaked.

Kamdyn's Birthday

My sweet April Fool's Baby woke to her door decorated with balloons and a poster documenting her ten years in photos.  I don't know where the past ten years have gone, but I do know that every second of those ten years has been better with Kamdyn.  She is such a special little lady and has made our lives so much better.

My birthday girl was following me around on her birthday morning before school.  I just thought she was excited about her special day.  Turns out she had been plotting an April Fool's joke for me.  Several neighbors helped her plan this joke and even gave her a rubber band to help.  Anyway, I went to turn on the water in the sink to clean up the breakfast dishes and the water from the sprayer sprayed all over me and the kitchen.  Colleen told her to rubber band the sprayer so it would soak me!!  She told Kamdyn that I couldn't get mad at her on her birthday.  Even Richard knew!!  They all cracked up when I turned on the water.  

Kamdyn wanted to go skating for her birthday.  Karcie had never been, but I knew it would only take her minutes to get the hang of it.  And, I was right!  She clung to the wall for a while with me and was comfortable enough soon after to take to the big rink with Kamdyn and Campbell.

Later that night we went to dinner with The Kirks.  Kamdyn chose Mexican...surprise, surprise.  

Then we came home so that she could open presents and eat her cookie square cake.  Mrs. Colleen made cookie squares for Kamdyn because she loves them.  I decided to arrange them like a cake a put a few candles in them instead of buying more cupcakes or a cake that we certainly did not need.  My little prankster forget that paybacks can be worse.  I bought candles that kept relighting.  She has never had those before so she had NO IDEA what was happening.  It really freaked her out.....to the point that she almost cried.  Richard told her that a ghost was relighting them.  Anywho, I shouted "APRIL FOOLS" and she knew I had gotten her back from her joke earlier.  SOOO funny!!

It was a fun night for Kamdyn!  I hope she continues to know how much she is loved!  

Kamdyn and Cade