Birthday Party at the Lake

On Saturday, we celebrated Campbell’s 2nd birthday with friends and family at the lake.  It was a great day-thanks to all who made the trip and helped us celebrate!!

Campbell helped set up the beach with lots of toys and floats.

Lots of fun in the sun (and sand!)

We ate burgers & hot dogs for lunch (thanks Papa for grillin’)

 

 

Adam & Kristy Drinkwater.

Other Party Guests included The Renfroe Family, Jessica & Tyler Webb, Lola Drinkwater, Clairey & Papa Q, Edy, Sid & Burr, Pats, Nana, Honey & Papa.
Sorry I didn’t get pictures of everyone!

 

We had out Campbell’s old activity center for Caroline & Lola to play with. I guess she decided she wanted to be a baby one more time before officially ringing in 2 years old. We all were telling her to get out, afraid she may break it,  but Papa said to leave her alone and let her play if that’s what she wanted to do. Ya think she’s already spoiled??!!

The CAKE!!!  Ugh-what a disaster!!  I decided to use a local bakery so I wouldn’t have to haul a cake from Troy so  I ordered one from the cake shop that my aunt had gotten her wedding cake from, which was both delicious and beautiful.  I made the mistake of describing the invitation over the phone, saying “a sand bucket in light colors”.  Well….this is what Matt picked up Saturday morning and when the lady showed him he said “my wife is not going to like this.”  It arrived and I almost cried.  What the HECK was that thing sitting on top of a sheet cake supposed to be?? (see Campbell pointing to it!).  There was nothing about the cake design that  said “lake” or “2 year old birthday” but it was too late.  I had myself a seaside wedding/ baby shower cake with some beautiful handmade shells coming out of a mound of flesh.  Lessons learned: 1) I will not use them again next year and 2)  always take or email pictures to make sure everyone is on the same vision!  Anyway, by the time we got around to cutting the cake, my friends had me in tears laughing about the pile of flesh and we let the kids absolutely destroy it.   They had tons of fun literally digging into it and I just let them eat right off the cake. The cake actually didn’t taste bad and it gave us all a good laugh and memory. 

 

PRESENTS!!  Campbell got way too much.  Some of her favorite things included a box of all things dress-up. Thanks to Jess, Campbell is all set with feather boas, jewelry, makeup, nail polish (thanks Jess!) glitter stickers, purse and high heels. All neatly packed in a box painted “Campbell’s Dress Up”. What a great idea!

Uncle Christopher couldn’t make the party (he was hosting a bachelor party at the beach) but in his absence, and probably guilt, he called a local shop and told them to wrap up anything & everything a 2- yr old girl would love.  Well she did!  She is sporting her polka-dot rain boots and matching umbrella. He also got her a pop-up playhouse and a singing skirt.  Thanks Uncle Christopher!

 

Uncle Adam, Aunt Kit & Lola gave Campbell a tea set made from RECYCLED HDPE (plastic for you unknowing folks!).  It is the perfect sustainable gift for the environmentally responsible and ever in-style hostess.

 

 

 

Papa Q and Clairey  gave Campbell a Tumblin’ George. They know that she loves all things George!!  It was a gift she really could flip for! haha.

They also got her some pretty dresses. Clairey loves to keep Campbell in style!

 

 

 

Caroline is sporting her personalized princess crown.  This was part of the kids gift favors. It was attached to a bucket of small water & sand toys.

Thanks Kit for helping me make all of them up at the last minute!!

 

  After some down time, we loaded up on the boat to go tubing. This became more of an adult activity! Here’s the girls (Kristy, Laura & me) laughing so hard & loud. I kept saying “ When is the last time I did this?!”  When the boys got on, they made it a full contest of who could hang on while my dad was slinging them all over the lake and they were pushing and kicking each other. At the end of the day, that poor raft was destroyed thanks to their antics. It was so much fun to act like a kid again!

  Well the long day wore her out! Time for a nap!!

But when she woke up, the party continues.  Here she is having a  a homemade popsicle that Honey had made (and forgot to give to the kids!) while sitting in her new playhouse in her pajamas.

What a great day!!

I Love you my precious girl!!  Thanks for giving us so much love, laughter & fun times.  I can’t believe two years have come & gone!What did we ever do without you??

Happy 2nd Birthday Campbell!!

 

I can’t believe another year has passed and my baby is two.  Some may say “Oh no, the terrible two’s…”  Well, I haven’t had a taste of Campbell being truly terrible yet but I’m actually looking forward to this year.  She has already grown and learned so much that I know it is going to be a fun year for her and us!!

Here’s some pictures looking back over her first year. Where has the time gone??

 

July 2007
2-year check-up appointment with Dr. Wood on birthday

August 2007
Birmingham Zoo

September 2007
Going to Campbell’s first PLA ballgame

 

October 2007
Trick & Treatin’ with Addy Renfroe and Cole Pugh.
 

  November 2007
Thanksgiving Day with Clairey in Birmingham

December 2007
Troy Animal Shelter’s Fur Fest
 January 2008
18 month portraits with Josh/ Kim Box Photography 

 

February 2008
Valentine’s Day

 

March 2008 
First visit with the Easter Bunny in Birmingham

April 2007
First swim of the year in the backyard pool

May 2007
Definitely developing her girly side, loves to have her hair blown dry, brush her teeth and play in mom’s jewelry.

June 2007
Church in the Pines, Lake Martin

 

July 2007
Two years old!

Let Her Eat (cup)Cake

Teresa showed up this morning with a cupcake-cake for breakfast!! Well, of course we couldn’t keep Campbell away from digging in immediately. So at 7:30AM we got an early start on the bday celebration, sang Happy Birthday and let her dig in! 

Birthday Surprise in the Backyard

Campbell's 2nd Birthday is this Friday, July 18th. However, she got to wake up this morning to an early birthday surprise. It was just like Christmas with us in our pajamas about 6:30am this morning!

See Video:

Campbell gets birthday present

PS: No children were not hurt in the making of this video. Just checking to see if you watch it to the end! :)

We bought the playset at Lowe's and Matt was determined that this was his daughter's birthday present and he was going to put it together. So he spent all weekend working through the dozen various large boxes, reading directions, throwing tools but patiently and successfully building Campbell her first playset!! He estimates it took him about 32 hours total. I am so proud of him (He really isn’t what we would call a  Handy Manny!) for sticking to it and doing such a great job.  I was a little worried about the whole aesthetics but he did a great job of making sure it was both safe & secure while looking good too.  Campbell is extremely excited about having a "park" in her own backyard.

Here's more pics of Matt's handiwork and Campbell enjoying it!

Angle #1: slide, picnic bench, ladder, porch, loft area w/ steering wheel, sand pit

Angle #2: swings (toddler, “big girl” & handlebar), rock wall w/ rope climb, tunnel 

While this may look like a Senior photo shoot, Matt is simply proving (to me) that the structure is solid & sound and if it can hold a 31 yr old, its ready for a 2 yr old.  He is, of course, also showing off his skillz with a screwdriver!

I can’t believe my baby girl is going to be 2 years old!!

Let Independence Ring

July brings a big bang for our family! The entire month has always been a month of celebration, starting with my mother's birthday, the 3rd of July, the 4th of July (which is second only to Christmas for my family) and then Campbell's birthday is the 18th. July means a lot of family time, a lot of sun, a lot of water and a ton of good fun!  Here are pictures from our 4th of July on the Lake:

Playing with Daddy & Dora on the dock. 

Four generations of firecrackers! 
Nana, Kathy, Campbell, Patsy & Stephanie

Happy Birthday Honey!