Birthdays!

I love birthdays. Probably because my love language is gifts.  I love them.  

And when spring hits, we have lots of celebrating to do.  We celebrated some of the spring birthdays on vacation over spring break.   As soon as we got home, we basically repacked to celebrate with the other side of the family.

First stop, the party store.  My mom and I had a little surprise up our sleeves for Aunt Lindsey.  So we took the babies shopping.

Jordan Showing Payton Olaf

I Love This Girl.  I LOVE Her!

Then we went out for Mexican food ... because really ... what else would Lindsey and I eat for our birthday dinner?

My Favorite Part of This Picture: The Baby in the Background

The Barrett Family and a Tree

This is also the only picture of Parker the whole night.  She was so happy eating her food we didn't bother her for pictures!

Apparently the theme of the night was selfies funny faces:

Happy Anniversary of Being a Mom.  I Love You.  You're the Best.

(You also just said to me on the phone WHILE I was writing this "The things I do for you girls ... I'm serious!"  I'm not calling you out on it.  I'm thanking you.  You do more for me than I could ever even ask. I love you. Thanks for not only teaching showing me how to be a good mom. but for never stopping being MY mom!)

This Boy LOVES  a Party

Nobody Makes Me Laugh Like My Sister

Birthday Girls

Managed to Get a Good Selfie with My Dad

Have I Mentioned How Much I Love My Niece?

Waiting for Dessert and Presents

We surprised Lindsey with some gifts for Taylor too.  Since sweet Taylor Allison is the second girl, we wanted her to have a few things that didn't belong to her big sister first. 

Taylor Allison (named after her Aunt Alli!) Will Be Here Soon!

Before we left Gamma and Poppy's we attempted some pictures of all 4 grandkids.  Again.  This never seems to turn out like we picture it in our heads. And we are about to add ANOTHER baby to this group.  

Gamma and Poppy with the Grandkids

Barrett Grandkids

Why Does This Picture Make Me Laugh?  Oh ... The pink headband causing trouble in the back

The week OF my birthday was full of surprises.  I was reunited with old friends from my teaching days randomly, and was surprised by friends for dinner and a movie

 Extra Bonus: They Brought Cookies!

We took the kids out for dinner to celebrate my actual birthday.  We didn't get any group pictures, but I capture all my cuties loving their dessert! 

Never Met a Dessert She Didn't Like

Cooperating for Pictures for Mommy's Birthday

Parker and Her First Little Pigtails

The next morning we had a surprises in store for the kids!  First, we hit the park for Baby Bailey's Birthday Party. 

We Love These Girls! 

Donuts Make Him Happy

And then we headed to Frozen On Ice.  It was soooo much fun!  We love that movie. And the looks on the kids' faces were priceless.  Barrett just started in awe the whole time.  Parker clapped at the the appropriate times. She loves clapping :). And Payton couldn't stop dancing anytime the music played. 

I love that this just HAPPENED to fall on my birthday weekend. 

 

It's Spring!!!!!

The kids and I have had one too many pajama days stuck in the house.  So on the first pretty day of spring, we took off down the street to the playground!

 Barrett Riding With Parks So Pay Can Get Some Mommy Time

Helping Mommy Push the Stroller

My Little Explorer

Staying Close to Mommy

He Loves The Slide

This Girl Has No Fear

Watching Barrett Slide

Practicing Walking

Payton Must Have Found Her Adventurous Spirit Too!

 Watching the Big Kids on Scooters ... School Must Be Out!

Sharing a Little After Park Snack

Barrett feeds them faster than they can eat!

This was the first playground experience were the girls weren't sitting in their stroller, bored, and crying.  I loved watching them try and play with Barrett while we were out there!  

New Orleans Afternoon

Instead of driving all the way back home from Florida, we decided to drive to New Orleans and spend the night there.  Our first stop was Café du Monde, but the crowd was kind of intense.  So we decided to explore the French Quarter and Jackson Square.

Favorite Picture from the Whole Vacation

Street Musicians

Pay Kept Dancing and Barrett Was Soaking It All In

Even Though it WAS a  Little Loud

My Dancing Girl

This Twinkie Missed Her Nap and Just Wanted Daddy Snuggles

Family Photo Op

We stopped for a quick dinner at Café Pontalba before deciding on beignets for dessert.  This little restaurant, also one of the oldest known apartment buildings in the United States, was quite a New Orleans event!  The open doors along the front wall allowed you to hear the music coming from the streets while overlooking Jackson square.   The twins ate everything we brought for them to eat (before we even ordered), and Barrett was too hyper to contain at the table. 

See?

So we went on a little walk.  Actually, Barrett took off running all over Jackson Square.  I think he was probably tired of been cooped up in the car for so long!

Found a Crocodile

And Climbed a Tree

Since the twins ate so fast, they were pretty antsy to get out of their high chairs.  So I took them across the street to wait in line for beignets, but there was no line this time!  So I sat down with my girls at Café du Monde, and ordered coffee while I waited on everyone else to finish eating. 

Twinkies in the French Quarter

Me and My Girls

(side note ... you should have seen me weaving my double stroller in and out of all the spring breakers)

Parks Listening to the Parade on the Street Outside

Our First Beignets! 

Capturing this Mommy/Daughter Moment

They LOVED Them!

Little Bit of Sugar Hitting Parker's System Over There

Cuties .... Parks Totally Wanted More

We were excited to see Barrett and the rest of our New Orleans group at the table.  Not only did that mean I could stop hiding the rest of the beignets from the twins.  (They were bouncing up and down in their stroller signing "more more more more more!")  But I was a bit curious how Barrett would attack his "fancy donut."

Here's the breakdown of how a three year old eats a beignet:

Slowly Tastes the Powdered Sugar (After Giving Mommy the "Really It's Ok If I Do This?!?" Face)

Lick as Much Sugar as You Can Before Mommy Changes Her Mind and Makes You Stop

Finally Bite the Donut and Pose For a Picture

Stuff the Rest in Your Mouth As Fast As You Can

Just a few more group shots before we headed back to the hotel for the night:

We Made Quite a Scene With Those Seated Around Us ....

But This Was a Perfect End to a Great Family Vacation!