Sammy and Helene's Birthday!

Motherly guilt moment.

Apparently I never blogged about Hannah's birthday. I don't even have pictures. As if the poor girl doesn't already have a middle child complex--I just realize this as I'm about to blog about Sammy and Helene's birthday.

We had it back in Pasadena at the Pirate Park. In my defense, it was a crazy day. And since I was the one hosting the party and making sure everyone had food and drinks and cake all while watching kids on the playground and then running a quick trip to Vons for more drinks because we ran out and it was super hot--and I had no one designated as photographer. 

Ugh. I'm a crappy mom. So so so so sorry Hannah. I'll make it up to you this year, I promise.

As you know, Sammy and Helene are 5 years and 1 day apart and since Helene is only three...I can still get away with a joint party. For now. 

Yes, we had it at Chuck E Cheese. Was there any doubt? It's easy. They do it all. They clean up. We just show up and hand out tokens to the kids. Done and done.

I'm 8!

I'm 3!

 

Birthday girl!

 Cake!

 More cake!

Yeah...I'm still a crappy mom...because that's all the pictures I have. 

sigh.

Happy birthday regardless kiddos!

More birthday stuff!

Since Sammy was having his birthday party on Saturday at...yep...you guessed it: Chuck E Cheese's (again)--I didn't do a cake or anything on his actual birthday. I know that may sound mean, but I had spent the night before making 26 cupcakes to take to his class. And I was also making the birthday cake for the party. And I was planning to make a cake for Helene's birthday the following day.
And he doesn't even like cake.

Anyway. I digress.

So, Helene helped me make her cake on Wednesday.
OK--she just licked the beaters, but that's really the best part anyway.

Group pic. So love it.

And yes, that's Christmas wrapping paper...cause that's just how I roll.
(and she's only 2 so I can get away with it!)

My adorable girls

She couldn't have been more excited about her Cinderella and Little Mermaid figurines. I wish I could have captured her face the moment she opened them, but you get the excitement.

Poor Hannah was so jealous...and I really don't blame her. It's hard to sit by and watch everyone else get presents while she has to wait until July for her birthday.

Luckily, Helene was willing to share.

Sweet girl.

CAKE!! AND PRESENTS!!!

I don't have a ton of pictures from Sammy's party. It's just too crazy to take any while keeping track of kids, ordering and distributing food, giving out tokens, changing Helene's diaper, and trying to socialize.
I did manage to get a few.

Air Hockey!
(Mom's favorite!)

Stephanie and Riley and Danielle and Michael

Sammy's cousin, Jon, was in town visiting from Las Vegas--and Sammy was so excited to see him. CEC has this new thing for the birthday kids to do called the Ticket Blaster. Basically, they put you in this capsule and they start a wind tunnel and release a ton of tickets. Sammy really didn't want to do it (and I didn't blame him), so we enlisted Jon to do it for him.
It was pretty funny.

Chuck E. has a really really big head.

Cake!

My mom was so sweet to make Helene her very own birthday cake so she didn't feel left out.

Two forks...my kind of girl.

This is so Helene. She is my Prim and Proper girl.
Always saying "please" and "thank you"....and always wanting a napkin. She hates messy hands.

Presents!

Happy Birthday Sammy and Helene!

Happy 2nd Birthday Helene!

Dear Helene,

I truly don't think I could have received a more adorable, good-natured, funny, smart, sweet or loving child, if I had hand picked you myself.

You have been my light and my joy this past year. Probably because you're just now talking and therefore, I don't get the sass from you...yet. :) But seriously, there were many days when you were one of the few things that would make me smile.

I love how excited you get about little things--your face completely enveloped in joy. You're so expressive of every emotion you feel. I love it. And you give the most amazing hugs. I've never had someone hold me so tightly, it absolutely melts my heart.

You love shoes and have a definite opinion about which ones you're going to wear that day. And you crack me up how you always want to wear a sweatshirt or sweater, no matter if it's 50 degrees or 80 degrees outside.

You and I are Diet Coke soul mates. Despite my attempts to keep it from you--you somehow always manage to get a swig...or three.

You have a great sense of humor and a hearty laugh that literally makes me laugh out loud.

I love that you sing along with (well...make the same sounds and intonations as if singing along with) Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, The Black Eyes Peas, and Ke$ha. Good thing you have no idea what the lyrics mean.

You are such a Mommy's Girl, and while you're finally starting to assert your independence, you still are always making sure I'm not too far away.

Happy 2nd Birthday to my baby girl.
You're growing up so fast, but you'll always be my baby.

Happy 7th Birthday Sammy

Dear Sammy,
I still remember that day 7 years ago when you were put into my arms--and I finally totally and completely understood what it really meant when my own mom would tell me "I love you". I've never felt such an overwhelming feeling in my life and I never wanted to let you out of my arms.

And now you're 7.
So hard to believe.

You're such a sweet and helpful boy, always have been. Being the oldest, I'm always asking you to help me out or get things for me and you do it without complaining.

You love your sisters, despite the tormenting from Hannah, and you are always keeping a loving and watchful eye on Helene. Yesterday you shared your Valentine M&Ms with Helene, without any prompting from your dad or me, even though M&Ms are your favorite candy.

You're so thoughtful and friendly. One of the moms from your class told me how her daughter was new in class, and that you were the first to walk up to her and introduce yourself and then help her get caught up with school work.

I love that you and I have a similar passion for music. You always have an opinion about what song we listen to--and always want music on whether we're in the car or at home. Fortunately, we have similar taste.

You are so loving and affectionate--always giving kisses and hugs to me whenever you can. I'm going to miss that so much when you're a teenager and won't be seen with me.

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy!

Of course, Hannah wanted to be in the picture this morning. She's taller than he is--and reminds him of it almost every day. He hates that.

Hannah's 4th Birthday!

Hannah turned 4 on July 7th. I have a hard time remembering that she is only 4 considering her size and how smart she is, but yep...only 4. People ask me all the time if she and Sammy are twins, and I when I tell them they are 2.5 years apart--they almost don't believe it. Poor Sammy...hope he has a growth spurt soon.

Anyway, when I asked Hannah what she wanted to do for her birthday, she replied "Eat cupcakes at the park."

Easy enough.

So here we are eating cupcakes at the park with some friends to celebrate Hannah's 4th birthday.
(Thanks to Krista for being the designated photographer!)

Baby Tate and Big Brother Max

Cutest frosting mustache ever!

I decided a cupcake without frosting would be less messy for Helene.

Didn't miss it at all!

Beautiful Sienna

Hannah and her buddy Ally

She couldn't wait until we got home to play with her presents.
And the blog post wouldn't be complete without yet another picture of me neglecting my child(ren) to Droid (i.e. text on my phone).

Happy Birthday my precocious, exuberant, sweet and loving, totally-out-of-control-crazy-most-of-the-time little girl.
I love you!