Lauren is Five!

 For Lauren's 5th Birthday Eve we checked into the Marriot in Bellevue for a fun night of swimming and hot tubing. Lauren was in heaven (this is of course after she realized her surprise was going to a hotel, not a Justin Bieber concert like she hoped.) 

 Ben kept saying, "My relaxing". His life is so stressful.

 After swimming we all laid in bed and watched "How to Train your Dragon". After the movie Lauren "trained" Ben to be a Dragon. She also named him "Blue Eye". He's very good at getting into character. 

 Teaching Blue Eye to fly!

 Then we headed to Bell Square where Lauren fell in LOVE with this pink beach cover up that she simply could not live without. Lucky for her she had some birthday money that was burning a hole in her pocket so she was able to pick up this little treasure that mommy would have never bought for her! (you can't really see but it has princess embroidered all over the bottom of it)

 Nana & Pa surprised her and showed up in the middle of the mall! She literally screamed and started running to them. Then they took us to PF Changs for dinner. (Later that night Lauren said to me, "Mom, that was a really great surprise to have Nana & Pa here, please do it again for my 6th birthday.")

 We love love love PF Changs because they have this amazing gluten free dessert! 

 Family shot out front of PF Changs. We forgot to get one with Nana and Pa- shoot! 

 New jammies from Aunt Pam! Lucky Ducks. 

 The day she has been counting down to for MONTHS is finally here! She was beyond thrilled to open her gifts! 

 The pink ring seal and otter she has been dying to have since January. Really she has been asking for these since January. This girl has interesting taste...

 Justin Bieber stickers picked out by Ben! 

 Opening her American Girl Doll!!!! 

 She is so thrilled with this doll! She has already named her Olivia and she is practically part of the family. 

 A Bop Magazine which she has been asking for. Look who is on the back cover...J.B. of course;) 

love. 

 A birthday wouldn't be complete without a birthday shirt! 

 and of course a new book! 

 Olivia really is part of the family, buckled in nice and safe. 

 These were delivered to our house today from John & Aimee! Seriously?! How amazing are they? Lauren is one lucky lady to have balloons like that delivered to her doorstep! 

 Off to meet Hadley Jane, Auntie Meg, & Nana for a birthday pedicure (which was all Hadley's idea by the way)! Notice Olivia in Ben's seat. 

 These two are so darn cute together (when they aren't fighting of course;))

 Hads & Auntie Meg also showed up with a giant 5 and balloons too!!! 

 We ended the day with Sweetcakes cupcakes, the best ever. 

May all your wishes come true Miss 5 Year Old Girl! 

Daddy & I love you to the moon and back again and again and again and we are so lucky you are ours. 

Clean up Ben

Ben loves to "do the dishes" and makes quite a mess. We told him to go clean it up and he did. The boy loves to clean! 

Preschool Moving up Ceremony

 Lauren had her last day of preschool on Monday and her teacher Miss Colleen called each kid up to talk for a bit. 

 They chatted about their favorite things from the school year and how they've grown. Lauren was giddy about the whole thing, it was darling. I had to hold back the tears, imagine what I'll be like at High School graduation! 

 The "graduate" with daddy

The whole gang! 

Baby Lauren

She insisted on sleeping in this the other night. We didn't think she'd really like it but she loved it. Stayed in there all night too, no 3 am visits. Maybe we should leave her in there all the time. Funny girl. 

Babysitting

 Last week we babysat for a friend and Lauren was in heaven! 

 She LOVED baby Kinzie and keeps asking when she can come back. 

 Ben got the camera out and took some pics of us. 

 Kinzie didn't lack for attention, that is for sure! 

Lauren gave her a bottle (I was sitting right with her the whole time, no worries) and thought it was the best. She asked if we can have Kinzie come to her baby shower birthday that she is having (girls only, so Carson won't work) so all the girls can have a real baby to change and feed! How funny would that be, I could make a sign, "Feed & Change a Real Baby" and all the girls could rotate through. I think dolls will have to do! 

Kayaking

 My parents got some new kayaks and we got to try them out today. It was super fun. Hadley was the first to go for a ride with Ryan. 

 Carson thought it looked super fun.

 Ben & I went for a ride too. He was a little unsure at first but then loved it! 

Can't wait to do it again! 

A few pics from the week

 Lauren & Braelyn played for hours on Wednesday. Braelyn came home from preschool with us at noon and didn't go home until 5. The second we closed the door Lauren said, "Mom I'm bored, can you play with me?" This girl needs a playmate 24-7 and she never gets tired! I love watching all the games they play. Here they are having a picnic with the 2 year old orphan they found and adopted. Such humanitarians;) 

 Ben got this new remote control truck. He LOVES it, he likes to sit next to it and buckle it in and they pretend to go driving together. He's already asking for a bigger one...what is it with boys and their toys?! 

Lauren is in love with this darling dress from Auntie Meg & Uncle Ryan. If only the sun would come out and she could wear it. 

That's it for pics this week, didn't take too many. I was too busy doing laundry, Ben has decided to regress in his potty training and he is peeing in his pants (and pooping if you really want to know) non stop! I'm about ready to put him back in diapers but he did so good for 2 weeks so I KNOW he can do it so I don't want to give up. And I thought he was my easy one...doesn't feel so easy when I'm cleaning up  poop and pee and washing 15 pairs of underwear a day!!! 

Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf!

 Braelyn was the big bad wolf

 Lauren was Red Riding Hood

And Ben was the hunter that comes to Riding Hood's rescue. 

It was the cutest thing ever to watch them act this out!