Caroline's 7th Birthday Party

Caroline had her puppy birthday party on Friday.

While she was waiting for everyone to come, she got a fun card in the mail from Grandma Koz.

We made puppy pawprint cupcakes. (the paws were made with peppermint patties and Junior Mints)

The party favors were dog bone candies and a CD with puppy songs.



The CD. . .Grandpa made the labels.



Here is a picture of the pool before the girls got here . . .
Here is a picture of the pool after the girls got here. . . .yikes!!

John telling the girls all the pool rules.

Josie, the neighbor's dog, came to the party. :)
The diving board was very popular.

John and Luke sitting in the "lifeguard chair".

Sitting in the "hot tub".

Build a Bear

Uncle Mike, Aunt Lori, and Daria sent Luke and Caroline Build-a-Bear gift cards for their birthdays. How perfect!! After we ate lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, we headed upstairs to Build-a-Bear and had a great time!!

Luke gave his bear the "squeeze" test to see is it was fluffy enough. . .it was. In fact, he named his bear Fluffy.

Making a wish on a little heart.
Putting in the little heart that he kissed and made a wish on.

Caroline gave her dog, Blacky, the "squeeze" test to see if it had the right amount of fluffiness. . .it did.

Putting in the heart.

Caroline gave Blacky a "bath".

Luke picked out a Batman costume for his bear.

Dressing the dog.

Yay!! Look at the finished products. . ."Fluffy" and "Blacky". . .Luke is so proud of his.

Thank you sooo much Uncle Mike, Aunt Lori, and Daria!!! We had so much fun doing this. It is something we never would have done without the gift cards!!

Rainforest Cafe

For Caroline's birthday, we went to Woodfield Mall to go to the Rainforest Cafe. . .Caroline's favorite restaurant.

While we were there, we saw a strange "fish". A human fish. :) That was fun to watch him clean out the tanks.

Caleb loved the big fish.

Opening a present.

Posing with the birthday girl.

Cousins

We were so glad that Auntie Diane and Caleb could join us.

Caroline got a ZOO membership from Auntie Diane, Uncle Colin, Caleb, Grandpa, and Grandma. How perfect!! Now we can go anytime we want!!

Grandma Eckstrom called to wish Caroline a happy birthday.

Watch out!!!

John kept asking Luke which animal was his favorite at the Rainforest Cafe and Luke just couldn't decide. He kept saying, "all of them!!".

Caroline shared her special birthday sundae with Luke.

Caleb had soooo much fun!

Sweet Caroline is Seven

It's hard to believe that it has been SEVEN years since Sweet Caroline was born. She is just a joy to have in our family. We are so very blessed that God gave her to us.

We started Caroline's special day by giving her breakfast in bed. (I wish I looked that good in the morning!)
Her breakfast was a big berry filled whole wheat pancake with butter and a sprinkle of sugar on top (just the way she likes it) and a side of organic vanilla yogurt topped with special birthday sprinkles (served in a bowl that she made!).

We love you, Sweet Caroline!!!

I'll post more pictures of her big day tomorrow!!