Carly's 3rd Birthday

Carly is now 3 years old! We just love her to pieces! The word that we use to describe Carly is "spunky." When looking at adjectives of spunky you will find the words determined and courageous. Perfectly describes Carly. She is spunky and strong-willed, but also cuddly and sweet. We also consider her to be very bright. She picks up on things very quickly, so you have to be quick on your feet around her. She likes to be a part of what everybody is doing and does not like to miss out. She still loves to cuddle and be held. She cracks us up all of the time! Her sweet voice is so priceless. Carly does not have a big appetite, and can be quite picky at times. Carly loves the colors orange and pink. She is also our little song bird. She is singing all of the time! She sings songs she knows and also makes up lots of songs. She loves her sisters very much. At times we still have to watch her around Claire. She loves her a little too much and maybe squeezing her a little hard. Or she gives her toys a little too rough. Kate and Carly are such sweet sisters. Zack heard Carly say the other day "Kate, I love you so much. I love playing with you." Priceless. Carly is really looking forward to starting preschool next year and really wants to do gymnastics like Kate. The other day she said, "Next year I get to go to preschool and gymnastics!" We often go to an open gym on Fridays where Kate also goes to Gymnastics, so she is really eager to be in class like Kate. If I making dinner I will often here Carly behind me, "Mommy, can I watch?" This also means that she wants to sit up on the table and watch. Carly loves the movie "The Lorax." We are thinking this summer Carly maybe ready to go to the movie theater to see a movie. Carly was having a rough day the other day and was really fussing in the car. I had already gotten on to her and I went on to say, "Carly, you are starting to upset Mommy. Can you please stop fussing." Carly responded with, "That is not my problem." Yes, she really did say that statement. Carly will say numerous times in the day, "Daddy, watch." or "Mommy, watch." Often times it is when we are driving and not safe for us to  look!

Waking up on her birthday! What is she holding? It is a stuffed animal from the movie "Brave." She calls it "Boy-Bear." This is because just like in the movie the little boy turns into a little bear. 

Here are some of the things that we did on Carly's actual birthday to make it a fun day.

We took pictures with the Easter Bunny at Stone Briar Mall. Aubrey, Ryleigh and Hannah did, too. Here we are for a group picture afterwards.

Played in the play area.

Went to Mcdonalds with Aubrey, Ryleigh and Hannah, too. Love this sweet picture of Aubrey!

Carly and Kate

Ryleigh, too.

Here is Kate with her class stuffed animal, "Zack the Zebra." We had to take pictures of  Kate and him for school.

Opening presents from us at home.

I like seeing Claire watching in the background.

One of her gifts was a Melissa and Doug sandwich maker.

We had breakfast for dinner, which Carly loved. We let her blow out candles for the second time on pancakes. She had already blown out candles on cake for her birthday party.

We had Carly's birthday party the Saturday beforehand which was Saturday, March 23 from 1:00-3:00 pm. Carly loves Easter and so we had an Easter themed party. It worked out great because this year her birthday was really close to Easter, so we did her party the weekend before Easter. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with us. We were suppose to have the party at a park and do an Easter egg hunt there. It was rainy and cold so we had to move the party to our house and do a quick Easter egg hunt in our front yard. The party was a lot of fun and the change did not affect it in the least.

Here are the decorations. Carly's 3rd Birthday Banner.

We bought her birthday cake from Tom Thumb. It was really yummy! Carly was with me when I ordered the cake, so she helped me choose the colors that she wanted.

Pictures of Carly throughout her life.

The party favors: An Easter basket for the Easter Egg hunt and bunny bubbles.

I had Easter M&Ms both chocolate and peanut.

Carly's first birthday party invitation and her birth announcement three years ago. 

Since we had the party at 1:00 pm we just did little snacks. Here are the cheese and cracker trays.

Little sugar cookies that are shaped like Easter Eggs and fruit.

Plates and napkins

Easter themed yogurt raisins. They were pastel colors and shaped like eggs.

The birthday girl is ready! Kate wore this shirt at her 2nd birthday party. It is size 2T but it still fit Carly. I liked it better for Carly's third birthday since it had three candles on it. Also,  when Kate wore the shirt it was when her party was at the park where we had originally planned Carly's party. I thought it would be neat to have the same shirt at the same location. Even though the location didn't work out, it was still special to see that they both had worn that shirt on a birthday.

Here is Kate at 2 years old with the same shirt.
It makes me sad that I am starting to forget what Kate was like at that age. Her curls were just starting to come out. Look at that sweet face!

Some of the kids eating their snacks.

Keari holding Claire at the party

Sweet Owen!

Owen enjoyed having a new exersaucer to play in!

Hannah Kate was enjoying our swing, too.

Opening presents with Carly.

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Mom Mom and Dad Dad gave Kate and Claire a  present, too. Kate loved her new purse and bunny ears.

The best picture we could take with all three girls in their bunny headbands.  I love Claire's expression in this picture.

Despite the cold the kids still enjoyed playing outside for a little while. Here Ian is with a hula hoop.

Sweet Olivia holding Claire.

Georgia, Ian and Kate looking outside while the eggs are being hidden.

Carly getting her eggs.

Isabelle getting her eggs. Laci was helping the little kids find their eggs. Such a sweet cousin and sister!

Harper found an egg, too!

Looks like Carly has a full basket!

Kate is on the look-out!

Carly finding more!

Kate is a happy girl.

The best part is looking through the eggs.

Aubrey and Kate picking out a treat.

Ian found his treat.

It's cake time! Carly blowing out her three candles.

Mom Mom and Jennifer were so sweet to help cut the cake and pass it out.

Carly really loved her cake! She talked about it a lot and really enjoyed eating the leftovers, too.

Uncle Rod, Aubrey and Kate enjoying their cake outside.

Michael and Dad Dad enjoying cake and coffee.

Caleb, Chris and Justine enjoying their cake outside, too.

Ian loved making Claire smile. So cute!

Hannah Kate, Chris and Zack

Dad and Mom

Uncle Rod and Hannah Beth

Russ, Jennifer, Dad Dad and Mom Mom

We had lots of babies at the party! Jamie and Chris holding Hannah Kate. Kamara with Ryleigh and Aubrey, and Erika holding Owen.

We had such a wonderful party! We feels so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends to help celebrate our children with us.

The girls also enjoyed the extra time they got with Dad Dad and Mom Mom.

Mom Mom taught Kate to sew. Thank you Mom Mom! What a special memory.

Carly was exhausted after the party and fell asleep while watching the Lorax. Sweet girl. I love to see my kids sleeping.

Carly, we love you so much!