First Birthday

October 12.  The littlest Campbell is now a positive digit.  Her siblings have been counting down to this day for months.  And let's be honest, her parents might pretend they weren't ready, but they've been anticipating the big day also.  As is customary in our house, the birthday girl was met first thing with candles and singing.  (Maybe next year she'll be introduced to breakfast in bed...)

Big brother Benjamin had a soccer game, so our day started there.  It was a little windy and made our hair do funny things.

 Next up, an afternoon at the KC Pumpkin Patch.  It was a beautiful afternoon and we had a fabulous time.

 Even though we agreed we would not be buying any pumpkins there, you can't very well go to a pumpkin patch and not visit the actual pumpkin patch.  So, we loaded the hay wagon (with no hay).

 We also tried our hand at the corn maze.  Thank goodness daddy was with us!  Somehow he actually could remember which paths we'd already tried AND where we had not yet been.  He got us through in no time.  I'm pretty sure without him, we'd still have been there.

 Cutest scarecrows in the corn field.

 And what trip to a pumpkin patch is complete without donuts?  These were just the right size for the birthday girl.

 Another mini train ride took us down the Yellow Brick Road.

 Baby enjoyed watching the big kids jump on the giant pillow

 and snuggling with her daddy.

 We left the pumpkins are headed to dinner.  After all the activity, we needed to relax a bit.  She's a good rocker but with the music piped out to the patio she had her groove on and was a little disappointed that the chair didn't also go from side to side.

 The perfect gift for the birthday girl?  Her very own kitty.  

 She loved it.  Very much.

 And for dinner?  Hashbrown casserole, pancakes, and corn.  Mmmm!  She didn't even try once to throw her big girl plate on the floor.  She was too busy eating.  This girl loves her food.

 All that excitement was just too much and we lost her on the way home.

But hopefully she had a good day.  I know the rest of us enjoyed celebrating her!  Happy birthday, baby!

First Day - 2013

Summer has come and gone.  School is officially in session.  We started the summer with great intentions and a long list of things we would do.  To be quite honest, I am not even sure where the list is - it got lost in the move.  I'm pretty sure that we did not come anywhere close to crossing most of the items off our list.  But, I can say that is all in the past now.  Time to concentrate on the task at hand - school.  And the best part about the first day?  Everyone is excited about it.  New clothes...  New shoes...  New teacher...  New friends...  Some kids were so excited they even slept in their clothes so they would be ready to go even faster!

 As has been the case for the last couple years, our first day was met with rain.  It was really coming down this morning when it was time to leave.  Our pictures suffered because of it.  First-first day picture at the new house.  Gotta love that!

 My little Mary Poppins boys.  Noah tried to grumble about the sign picture.  I did threaten to make him take a picture every single morning so we could see how he grew throughout the year.  He agreed to a first day shot.

 First room - First grade.  Benjamin was super excited to have Mrs. Andra - the same teacher as Noah AND his daddy.  We have high hopes for this school year and we have confidence in the fact that she is just the teacher to get him on the right path.

 Next up?  Third grade.  It's so big, you have to go upstairs!  And he was not about to wait on us to get up there.

 He did humor me for one picture.

 I was pressing my luck asking for a second one.  I made him kiss me, too.  Right on the lips.  Poor Noah.

The kids got to pick their own seats at back-to-school night.  I am really curious to see how long they actually get to sit with their friends.

All reports from the first day were positive.  They both enjoyed getting to meet their teachers and learn a little more about what would be expected of them this year.  They also both assured me that they did not get in trouble today.  Oh, let's hope they keep that up!  We are all excited to see what this year brings.

Favorite Toy Day

(Originally dated 9/14/12)

Benjamin's class earned a special day. When they get a compliment from someone else in the building, they get a bingo square. When they get a bingo, they get a special day. The first time they had pajama day. Today they had favorite toy day and everyone got to bring their favorite toy. Benjamin spent two days thinking about what he might like to take - then it came to him. His notebook and a pencil, of course!! He does love to play waiter and ask us what we want for lunch. Apparently, that is what he likes to do best. As luck would have it, I was working in his room today so I got to see it first hand. After circle time, the teacher gave them free time to get out their toys to play. There were a number of girls that brought their dolls. One boy had a giant bug and several had beyblades. I was a little concerned about Benjamin and him regretting what he had chosen but it was all for naught. He took the time to check out what his friends had brought then went and got out his notebook. He very happily copied down all of his friends' names from their cubbies. Now does that spell fun, or what??

Celebrating Abby

A certain young lady in our house turned 5 this week. 5!  I've been through it twice already and yet I'm still not prepared for how big that number sounds.  Due to our summer plans, her celebrations were many and very spread out.  She didn't mind.  We started in June.  A Build-A-Bear party with her preschool friends.

 Abby picked a princess outfit.  A real shocker, I know.  She named her bear Snow.

 The second celebration came the week before her birthday.  A chance to celebrate with those closest to us. She and her brothers spent all afternoon working up and practicing this grand entrance:

IMG 3797 from Stephanie Campbell on Vimeo.

This was the cake I prepared.

 She loved it rainbow and sprinkley-ness.  I did, however, feel a small twinge of guilt that I never actually asked her what kind of cake she wanted.  Especially when she informed me that she wanted to help decorate her cake and she wanted it to have a picture of her eating strawberries with a cow behind her.  Maybe we can use that idea next year?  After dinner, her brothers and Eric entertained us with a magic show.

 Then it was back upstairs for the cake.  I've taken to using my iPhone 99% of the time for pictures.  It did not do very well in this instance.  

I love this video!

(She asked that we not invite her brothers next year.  Just kidding....)
 After the party, she opened each of her gifts and modeled them for us.

 And lastly, we celebrated her ACTUAL birthday.  Benjamin had her well-trained that she should expect breakfast in bed.  She doesn't usually sleep late and her daddy and I reminded her that to get breakfast in bed she actually had to stay in bed.  We told her we would be up about 4:00 in the afternoon.  She didn't think that was funny.  And wouldn't you know, this was the one day she actually slept in.

 Next up a visit to the farm with her good friends Sophia and Leo.

 I'm not sure why there are so many sour pusses in this picture.  But I do know a lot of people will be unhappy to see it when they are teenagers!  

 She got to chase butterflies - another favorite activity. 

Daddy met us for lunch.

And they got to play in the soaker hoses.  All-in-all, a perfect farm outing.

 After a quick stop home to change and freshen up a little, we were off to Target so she could spend some hard-earned birthday money.  Another pony to add to the collection.

She took her pony upstairs to her room and a nap sneaked right up on her.  As we had a late night planned, I thought it seemed appropriate.  Glad her little body thought of it.

Starlight Theater was putting on The Little Mermaid.  As her special birthday trip is on hold for the unforeseeable future, we wanted to do something special with her. This seemed like the perfect activity.  They had some extra activities set up before the show so we got there early for that.  Because of the long lines, we didn't get to do much but she seemed pleased.

She loved the show and all the singing and dancing.

It is hard to believe she is really only 60 months old.  I can hardly remember life before her!  She is such a joy and loves to smile and laugh.  She loves to cuddle and kiss.  She loves to help and to just be at your side.   She loves color and can brighten any room.  She loves to sing and dance.  We are so lucky to have her as our daughter!  We love you, Abby!!