We made this for Brian, the day after we had been to McDonalds.  Jane even mentioned McDonalds a third time but I edited that one out.  She told my nephew and my mom that she wants to go on a mission to McDonalds.  We maybe go there every 6-8 weeks, but she wants more!!

Happy belated Fathers Day Brian!  Our kids have it pretty good. 

While Brian was still in Poland, I took some photos of the kids down at the school.  I was doing test shots for a family who wanted a photo with the lovely mountain.  In the first test shot, it was so bright the big kids had to fall down.  It was also a day of a bad wildfire, as you can tell from the gray sky.

 

Kate is in a hard playground stage.  She wants to get out but that means she will just eat rocks and crawl on not so comfy things.  It will be nice when we have a consistent walker.  (She took her first steps on Brian's birthday to Colin!) 

 

 

 

 

Jane was not wanting to leave this park of the playground when we were ready.  She did a good Charlie Brown walk. 

 

 

 

 

Clever baby, using her leg to help her get a drink! 

 

I love the dimples chubby hands!  

At the DI a couple years ago, I found a Mystery Machine for about $1. 

When Brian and I were at Toys R Us the 1 of 2 times we have been there as parents, we found the whole gang who fit the van perfectly. (Is it so mean?  I am trying to keep my kids sheltered from Toys R Us.  I don't want them to know it exsists.  I LOVED it so much as a kid, but as a parent, do not want to take the kids there!)   Our kids have been very Scooby focused recently, it has been very cute.  Although I should maybe be a little worried as Colin is learning weird Scooby facts and picking up on some fashion details. 

 

Fred and Shaggy disregarding our "fingers only" on the piano.  Those crazy kids! 

We had a relatively elaborate party for our little 4 year old.  Is there any way we could get away with doing friend parties just every other year?  For the tea party, I got fancy cups at thrift stores and with porcelain safe paint, Brian painted all the little girls' names.  They then got to take the cups home.  I know how much Jane loves getting to use something glass so I thought they would enjoy their own glass cups. 

We set a fancy table outside.  Below, my mom made each little girl a bouquet of pansies, so cute!

We decorated cookies, which initially made Jane a bit moody when she could not control all the frosting. 

A little happier with the frosting tube. 

Colin made this cute 4 sign for his little sister.  He wanted to be a special helper at the party, and he was great. 

So maybe 4 year olds should not decorate their own cookies. 

I think they felt things were a little fancy and all the girls were super well mannered. Brian worried they were not having fun. It was SO different than any of Colin's parties.    

Our sweet birthday girl! 

For fun, I added streamers to the party hats.  They were wild in the wind.  Below, Jane contemplates the Cinderella cake.  Ok, so I had always wanted a cake like this as a little girl.  We got it from an awesome Mexican bakery, and the cake was yummy tres leches.  Go Rancho Market!!

 

 

Brian can't use normal matches when a culinary torch is an option.  It was pretty windy.  Cinderella did get her torso burned from the torch. 

Jane was doing a little Jane dance.  We had gone to a neighborhood breakfast in the morning and her name tag stayed on all day. 

I also got some fancy Mexican cookies.  The kids were a little sugared out (memo to myself for future years, LESS SUGAR!)  And below, some duck, duck goose. 

 

 

AND we had a pinata!!!  (Made by Daddy) 

 

 

Then Jane had to line up all her gifts (and she kept moving the line as Kate would crawl closer).  She has since kept most gifts in a large shopping bag she carries around the house.  Sweet, crazy girl, happy birthday!!