Birthday Festivities

I am so far behind on life right now - it is not even funny.  April has come and gone and I am definitely feeling the effects.  It has been a month full of fun - a month full of celebrating birthdays.

Last weekend we had a family get together for Quinn and Sullivan.  They both picked what they wanted for a cake this year - and away I went making them.  Sullivan wanted a Dora cake this year.  As in past years, I always make a practice cake to ensure that I am capable of making what they want.  Ryan told me my practice cake of Dora looked "too American" - that her skin tone was a little too peach.  I darkened up the skin tone on the real cake some and it appears that I darkened it a little too much.  It turns out Dora has a very nice tan!  (Oh well!)

Quinn wanted a bubblegum machine.  I couldn't find a cake pan out there in the shape of a gumball machine, so I had to carve and create one of my own.  Not a professional job, but I think it passes the mark for a six year old's party!

Here are the girls with their cakes.

This year the girls ripped into their presents.  They usually are so orderly and so polite.  Not this year - almost embarrassing really.  They both were spoiled rotten - they got far too many gifts.  All of which were very nice!

Two of our family members attended their very first birthday party ever.  Wish I would have thought of getting some party hats on them to commemorate the event!

All in all the party was a big success!  It was great to have so much wonderful family around who love the girls and want to share in the birthday festivities with them!!

Quinn and Sullivan with Uncle Matt

(this is the only picture I got of family members with the girls - I can't believe that!)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Dear Sweet Quinn,

Six short years ago today, you entered the world and changed our lives forever.  You were born to two overjoyed (and clueless) parents!  How we adored you and loved you instantly.  You were (and are) absolutely perfect.

You have grown into such a sweet and kind hearted child.  You love to draw, to color, to make pictures and cards for us all.  You love to go to school and you love your teacher.  You have grown into an excellent reader - so often Sullivan asks you to, "please read to me sister!"  You do so, usually very willingly.  You love to be outside (like your dad) and you are trying diligently to learn to ride your bike without training wheels.  You are doing an amazing job - you just need to learn to turn corners!  You will get the hang of it - no doubt!

Overall you have a very good temperament.  You have a big heart and will often put others needs before your own.  You also have a strong will and a little bit of sass.  That strong will will serve you well later in life.

Quinn, Quinny, Quinner, Q Mac, Quinner Bodinner, Q, Francina, Q Mac Donald, Sweet Pea, Sissy, Sister - whatever we may call you - we love you more than you will ever, ever know!  As I say to you each and every night before bedtime, "You are my sunshine.... and I love you!!!"   Happy 6th Birthday, my love!

Love, Mom and Dad

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Quinn had a great birthday today.  Her dad was unable to spend the evening with her tonight because of a work function, so he took Q and Sullivan out for a birthday donut breakfast.  Quinn picked donuts over my traditional pancake picnic - break.my.heart!  But really, how can you go wrong with donuts?!  Quinn said she had three donuts - holy moly! 

Ryan with Quinn this morning.

Sullivan had a difficult time today accepting that it was her sister's birthday. She wanted the birthday balloons to be for her, she wanted to unwrap presents, she wanted to be the one getting all the attention.  In true Quinn spirit, she allowed her sister to open some of her presents with her.  What six year old would be willing to do that?!  (There is that big heart I referred to above!).

Quinn opening some of her presents...

Quinn sporting her birthday shirt... isn't she cute?!

Most often, Quinn is so poised in her pictures.  She has a nice smile on her face and she is so put together.  It was fun to see her act so silly in these pictures!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl! We love you!  

Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame 2012

History has been made!!! Saturday night Randy (Ryan's dad) and his band were inducted into the South Dakota Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.  Back in the day, Randy was a part of a band that was very successful.  The Original Stingrays/Gordon Bird and the Stingrays played in venues all around the region, even opening up for The Beach Boys here in Sioux Falls.

We were able to join in the festivities Saturday night by attending the SD Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Induction Event.  There were a handful of bands inducted this year and each band inducted got to play a 20 minute set of songs. 

It goes without saying that Randy's band was fabulous!  They rocked it - really and truly!  I wasn't sure what to expect attending this event - but I was blown away by the talent in the room!  

Here are some pictures of the band's "groupies" with Randy... we had a blast watching the show!

All the members posed for a picture after the show....

Congratulations to The Original Stingrays on your induction to the SD Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame 2012! What an amazing accomplishment.

(I am working on getting a video uploaded to the blog for all to see!)

We Love Our Neighbors

It doesn't happen often that you are lucky enough to live next door to great people.  Not just great people in the sense that you say hi to them when you are outside or wave to them from your car when you drive down the street.  We have neighbors that are not only great people, but great friends.  They are the type of people that you can run next door in your sweats and ask for a cup of sugar if you need it.  Or the type that will take your kids for the afternoon when you are about to pull your hair out (Thanks, Jamie!).

The neighbors have two girls which I have talked about numerous times in my blogs that my girls just adore.  Gabby is just a year younger than Quinn and Livy is a few months older than Sullivan.  All four of them get along great - almost like a group of four sisters (who don't fight)!

This past weekend we were lucky enough to go to the zoo with them.  The weather was great (while we were there) and it made for a great Saturday morning outing.

The girls always, always insist on feeding the goats in the children's zoo area.  But after about two times of feeding them, they are totally done. They are uninterested in doing anymore feeding.  !

The merry-go-round is also a must on a trip to the zoo.  Here Livy and Sullivan ride the merry-go-round.

Quinn and Gabby ride as well.

After I looked at this picture, one would never know we were at the zoo by looking at this picture.  It doesn't look like we are observing much, but we were taking in the giraffes.  For some reason, they were in their cages this day and not out in the open like they normally are.  

After the zoo, we went out for lunch with them.  And if that wasn't enough togetherness, we joined them later that evening at their house for supper and drinks!  One would think we would run out of things to talk about or get sick of spending time with each other, but that never is the case!  We love hanging out with them and are so blessed to have such great friends!

The Things We Love - Letter Y

Quinn - Yogurt

Quinn doesn't much care for fruits and vegetables.  We can get her to eat a few fruits - grapes, peaches, and mandarin oranges, but overall she is pretty picky.  So instead she eats a lot of yogurt.  Lemon yogurt.  Quinn may just turn into a giant lemon one of these days.  

Sullivan - Yakking

Sullivan can talk - boy can she talk.  She loves to talk and interact with anyone who will listen.  I joke that she could be the Wal-Mart greeter because she has to say good-bye to everyone as she leaves daycare each day.  She says bye to her friends, her teachers, random parents that we don't even know.  She loves people and loves to talk.  Two winning combinations.  A future politician? Motivational speaker?  Wal-Mart greeter?  

Ryan - Yard Work

Ryan loves being outside... any excuse to be outside is an excuse Ryan is willing to use.  He loves the outdoors - the sunshine - the gratification of doing projects around the yard.  I am thankful for him. Thankful that he enjoys doing it.  I can honestly say that I have never run our lawn mower and really don't even know how to start it.  (That sounds bad!).  But I honestly, even if I wanted to, I don't think Ryan would want me to mow.  It is his therapeutic release.  And if works for him, it works for me!!

Audra - Yellow

No, not really.  However if you ask Ryan what my favorite color is he will say yellow.  Or at least he thought that yellow was my favorite up until a few months ago.  After 14 years of being together, you'd think that your spouse would know that.  Why he thinks yellow is my favorite is beyond me.  I don't like yellow - not really at all.  Who knows!

Easter, Part 2

On Easter morning, we were able to spend some time with my family after we went to church with Ryan's family.  The Easter Bunny made its way over to the Kemper's house too.  Quinn and Sullivan had a slew of eggs to hunt for there, as well as at our house.

I know it sounds terrible, but our family doesn't take many family pictures.  Usually I am behind the camera so I have a million pictures of the girls and many, many of Ryan and the girls together, but not many of the four of us. So every Easter it is our opportunity to get our family picture taken!  Below is 2012's family picture.

Here is a picture of me with the girls - I love them!

Sullivan and Quinn had a blast entertaining Crew.  Quinn read to him while Sullivan patted him and listened to the book too.  Crew was such a good sport - he didn't fuss or get wigged out by a two year old patting him and getting in his face!

It was wonderful seeing the boys and spending some time with them.  They are growing so rapidly, and have such great temperaments.  We were able to get great pictures of the boys in their Easter outfits.  Absolutely precious!

We had a great time this Easter celebrating with all our families.  Here's hoping that your Easter was as exciting and wonderful as ours.