Lenninger Family Blog: Kate's Birthday Week!

Warning: I meant to post a number of days ago, so there is more here now...Uncle Jerry, just skip to the pictures! :)

Two weekends ago, we celebrated Kate's birthday with a get-together with some family and friends. Originally, we wanted to watch the Hawkeyes and Kate wanted an Iowa Hawkeye-themed party (so proud!) but of course they had a bye that week! So, then she said she wanted an "Elsa" or Frozen-themed party. I'm not really a great birthday party planner as of yet, so I definitely was not going all out. I know I will need to do better, but it is really not my forte right now, I feel like all the cool/good/smart things I try to do, end up failing. Dave suggested lasagna for the food, and I thought that would be easy. I didn't want to buy the cupcakes (her idea) so I thought we'd just bake them ourselves and have Kate help decorate them.

Our crew from Iowa came up later on Friday. We had a good time visiting but as per usual lately, I started putting people to work. Mom and I (mostly Mom) made the cupcakes and one of the lasagnas for the next day. I had just brought groceries home a couple hours before they arrived and definitely needed more prep time. And at 8-9 p.m....I'm usually exhausted! Ugh.

It was a gorgeous Saturday and I really wanted to get outside, so when Mom and Dad were up, we went for a walk. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but probably should have stayed home getting things ready. As soon as we came back, Dave, Andrew and Dad headed to town to run some errands and put the boat in winter storage (Juneau County Fairgrounds). Mom, Kylie and I had to get showered, watch the kids and get ready for the party! It was a little hectic as I had yet to make another (and never been made before) lasagna, and snacks, and cupcake decorating, and house decorating and....before anyone arrived. I promised my family that the next birthday we will just order pizza. I promise!

Oh, when the boys returned, they had a massive amount of balloons to bestow upon our balloon-loving children. I had mentioned it to Dave earlier in the week, but he reiterated how much he disliked balloons. Guess there is someone wrapped around a finger...:)

Our sweeties playing nicely

We were decorated for Frozen

The kids playing with the trains...

Multiple kids interested in opening gifts:)

She received a few Frozen items:)

Not sure why, but Collin was all over this one!

Collin received a book from Gma & Gpa, good thing too, it helped to distract

It wasn't a birthday gift, but a gift from a friend to the whole family -we love it!

Cupcakes!

Kate and her gifts for the day...ridiculous!

Birthday girl with Uncle Andy & Aunt Kylie

We didn't have as many people as I expected, so of course we had too much food. But we ate, opened gifts, had cupcakes and then cleaned up and relaxed:) Another walk, some Catchphrase:) snacking until we were uncomfortable...you get the idea. A & K had to head back that night, so we said goodbye to some favorite people and went to bed.

Sunday was quite the day! I thought we would just relax, enjoy the weather and maybe talk about the upcoming holiday season/schedule (which we did). But I forgot that we are talking about my parents here. They don't like to sit for very long. You would think they would be a little worn out from the month (babysitting up here, helping with moves and house renovations) but no. Dave and I have purchased some furniture lately and finally decided on some changes that need to happen before Babes #3 arrives in a couple months. So, the log furniture was moved out of the upstairs and the crawl space. Then they (Mom?:) decided it would take no time to paint the "big kids" new room. So, off the girls went to Home Depot to get some paint while the boys installed some new ceiling fans. The room was painted, fans hung and two new beds assembled for the "big kids" room!

After a long day, Mom and Dad eventually departed for Iowa. I have no idea how long it would have taken for Dave and I to accomplish all this on our own. I shudder to think, actually. Now, I am beyond excited that their room will get done soon (still need to put in new closet organizers, move everything into it's new place and put things on the wall. And then it is on to the nursery/guest room...

On Kate's birthday (October 30) we brought treats to school and she dressed up like a witch as it was also her Halloween party. I made chocolate-dipped strawberries and chocolate-dipped marshmallows since those were probably not going to be brought by the other kids for the holiday party. She had a great day with a special sticker, crown...you get the idea.

Birthday girl/good witch

And this goofball was super silly at home...

He thinks this Halloween bucket is some sort of helmet, he'll put it on and then play for awhile...

Dave was able to pick her up from school and then we opened a few more presents and Face Timed with Gma and Gpa Lenninger in Missouri. She received so many wonderful presents from everyone, thank you to all - she is one lucky girl! We then let her decide where to go out to eat and we ended up down in the Dells at Buffalo Phil's (a train brings your food:) and then to Orange Leaf for some frozen yogurt dessert! The kids behaved wonderfully the whole night and it was a perfect, special birthday. Sidenote- Dave and I are in shock that we have a five-year old.

Opening gifts on her actual birthday

Out to her birthday dinner

These two are nothing alike. :)

She wasn't too sure at first...

but they both loved the place! And Mommy & Daddy too. I'll be back.

Friday was Halloween and after a crazy day for Dave at work (chemical spill at the middle school) we rushed back out the door to trick-or-treat with some friends at Fairview Nursing Home. I dressed up with Kate as a witch, Collin was a skeleton and Dave was going to be a ghost but we never quite got him dressed up:) The kids were a little shy, but did awesome and it was lovely to be inside and not out in the 30 degree wind! We did about 15 minutes, walked through the hospital (attached) and said hello to some coworkers of Dave's and then headed to get some pizza with our friends (a little owl and bee for the day:) Other than not getting a picture of Kate and I as witches together, it was a great Halloween!