Good Times Never Been So Good...

Our Sweet Caroline is ONE!! I absolutely can't believe it. It feels like yesterday I was in Northside waiting for her to make her arrival. Now she is one! We had a great day with Caroline celebrating her special day. The boys woke her up singing "Happy Birthday" this morning. Then chocolate chip muffins for breakfast and a present from Jack and Ben. They wanted to make her a bear that had their voices wishing her a happy birthday. We went to Build A Bear last night and they were so excited to give it to her this morning. They were really cute building the bear because the lady was getting so into it and the boys were trying to be good sports but when she told them to kiss the hearts, Jack looked at me like "Seriously? I'm 8". After we sent the boys off to school, Nate and the bear played downstairs while Mommy worked from home. I couldn't imagine not spending today with her so my awesome boss let me work from home. We opened the fun presents my Aunt Nancy got Caroline. She loves the "My First Purse". Right before lunch time we got Caroline dressed and let her open her present from my parents. My Mom ordered her Bitty Baby months ago because we Arndt girls LOVE American Girl. I played with Samantha when I was younger, and she is sitting in Caroline's room waiting for her to be old enough to play with her! When I first found out I was having a girl, American Girl is one of the first things I thought of. (along with lunch at Cinderella's Castle, Prom, Wedding Dress Shopping and Getting Pedicures). Caroline's reaction didn't disappoint! She said hi to the baby as soon as she opened the package. Bitty Baby has gone everywhere with her today. I love it!
We made Caroline's cake this afternoon and had breakfast for dinner as her special birthday dinner. A couple of months ago I picked out a silver pattern for Caroline. Every year for her birthday or Christmas, we will add to her collection so that when she gets married, she will have a full set. With the help of my facebook friends, I choose Reed and Barton Francis I. We ordered the cake knife and used it to cut her cake. We will use the same knife for all of her birthday cakes and when she gets married she can use it to cut her wedding cake. (I wish I could take credit for this idea but, I totally stole this from a blog I read while on bedrest. :)) AFter the bear enjoyed her cake it was bath, night time story and straight to bed. Our first night without a bottle went fantastically! Here are a couple of pictures from her day!

Because I am a dork...

When we got dressed to go to the pumpkin patch a couple of weeks ago, I wore the same shirt I wore when we went last year. Turns out, it was the same weekend! What a difference a year makes! This was the last picture I have with the boys before Caroline was born!

Pumpkin Patch

We headed to Berry Patch Farms this afternoon to pick out the Sanders' Family Pumpkin. We went to the same pumpkin patch a year ago today. I remember riding on the hayride thinking that this time next year I will have my daughter with me! We had such a great time. I love traditions like this that the boys are remembering. They definitely take after me and like things to stay the same. I couldn't imagine going anywhere else to pick pumpkins!

"I love this Harbor and it means so much to me...."

One of my favorite memories of going to Hilton Head when I younger was going to listen to Gregg Russell sing in Harbor Town. This year was neat because as I sat on the same bench I sat on last year I remember thinking, "This time next year I will be here with a nine month old!" We had a great time playing on the playground, eating ice cream and listening to Gregg Russell sing. The show is still the same from when I was younger, and I still love it. A very special shout out to Katie Tucker for suppling Caroline with the most absolute perfect dress for the occasion. The lighthouse on Caroline's dress is just like the one in Harbor Town. We got stopped by at least a dozen people asking where we got her dress. Thanks Katie!

Hilton Head 2009

A little late posting these! We had the absolute best time in Hilton Head this year! All of my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins from my Mom's side were down at the same time. It was so nice to have help at the beach, especially with Miss "I want to crawl everywhere, eat sand, and refuse to sit still". We got so many great pictures of the kids I am going to break up the Hilton Head pictures into a couple separate posts. In the pictures you will notice we had a Sanders family theme for most of them. The kids wore matching swim suits, coordinating outfits, and Nate and I joined in on the fun as well.










A little late posting these! We had the absolute best time in Hilton Head this year! All of my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins from my Mom's side were down at the same time. It was so nice to have help at the beach, especially with Miss "I want to crawl everywhere, eat sand, and refuse to sit still". We got so many great pictures of the kids I am going to break up the Hilton Head pictures into a couple separate posts. In the pictures you will notice we had a Sanders family theme for most of them. The kids wore matching swim suits, coordinating outfits, and Nate and I joined in on the fun as well.

In lieu of a card....

Dear Jack,
This is your very own Happy Birthday Jack blog post! I can't believe you are already EIGHT years old! EIGHT!! It seems like yesterday we were in the hospital, my "little" 35 weeker. You are the one who taught me how to be a Mom. We definitely grew up together those first couple of years. Thankfully, God blessed me with an easy baby the first time around. :)This is going to be an exciting year for you. You had your first spend the night birthday party, travel ball and you will receive your First Holy Communion. You have the absolute best personality and I hope you will always stay this sweet. Ben idolizes you and I know you will always look out for Caroline. If these next eight years go by as quick as the first eight, you will be driving before I know it. AHHHHHH!
Love you, mean it. Mom

Tagged!

I love fun stuff like this. Jackie from In Full Blum tagged me. Here are the rules:

1. List Six UNIMPORTANT Things That Make You Happy.
2. Mention and link to the person who tagged you
3. Tag six of your favorite bloggers to play along, and comment on their blog to let them know they've been tagged.


My six UNIMPORTANT things that make me happy are:
1. Laying out and getting tan (you said unimportant, right? ;)
2. When the kids sleep in past 6:30
3. The entire Real Housewives genre of shows on Bravo
4. Thursday night date nights watching The Office
5. Girls Beach Trip
6. TEA parties


I tagged the ladies from six of my favorite blogs:
1. Eisha at Notes from the White House
2. Michelle at The Robbins Nest
3. Erin at The Harrison Family
4. Katie at The Gordon Family
5. Kelly at The Waldrop Family
6. Jennifer at the Mautz Family