Cupcake Central

Cupcakes were the theme for Larren's very first birthday party. There was just SO MUCH more I could have done with this idea... but I kept things quite simple and went for the "clearly homemade" look!

We decided to hold Larren's party at a nearby hotel for several reasons:
1. We have a very "quaint" house... and the thought of fitting 25-30 people in our home would be a FAR stretch indeed!
2. Our garage is a little on the chilly side at the moment... so moving the party in there might have been a good recipe for frost bite!
3. It's winter and we thought the kiddos would love to take a dip in the pool while the snow flies around outside!
4. It was super cheap to rent the facility for the whole afternoon/evening...
so all in all it worked out quite nicely!

We started the party off with some swim time. The kids were thrilled, and a handful of adults even donned their suits and jumped in as well!!

Larren is no stranger to pool life, and couldn't wait to get her little piggies in the water!

Though Jon did mention that her grip was a little on the tight side of the spectrum!

It never fails... "water gulps" are sure to happen a time or two...

but our birthday girl didn't let that keep her down!


Our little Larren love!


Enjoying some pool time with Nana and Pops!


Her little "HEY, it's YOU again!" face just makes me smile!

Alia is a huge fan of the water, and had been looking forward to swimming ALL week! Between Jon, Uncle Brad, and Nana and Pops she had many opportunities to practice her swimming!

Here are two of Alia and Larren's good friends enjoying the water too!


The "non-swimming" party guests, chatting it up pool side!

Speaking of party guests... check out this little cutey patootie! I tell ya... those cheeks just get me every time!


After the kiddos were all wrinkled and pruney, we went to the meeting room for the rest of the shin dig.

Here's the homemade banner that I made for Larren. I gathered some old scrapbook paper one evening, made a template, went on a cutting and glueing spree... then voila! My mother in law helped string the cupcakes together - and I honestly think that was the hardest part!! Sorry, and thanks again, Mom!


Since the theme was cupcakes we had... well... cupcakes for dessert! We kept it low key and just added three different sprinkle options for interest... rainbow, chocolate and clear sugar sprinkles- though the rainbow ones were clearly the winner with the youngsters!
...the cupcakes before transport...

... all safe and sound at the party...


For Larren's special cake I made a giant chocolate cupcake with chocolate sprinkles. Again... think HOMEMADE!! :)
...the cake before transport...

...in one piece :) at the party...

For favors, we continued on with our birthday tradition of sugar cookies that coordinate with the party theme. We "matched" the cupcake shaped cookies to the real cupcakes and again went with three different sprinkles options.


Alia and I made the cookies ahead of time... and then we had an "icing party" when Jon's mom was here! Jon and Jeannette sure can bust a move with the royal icing, I tell ya! I really enjoyed this time together... just chatting and laughing at each persons mistakes! As Mom said... our mistakes keep us from feeling superior... and well... our cookies sure were proof of that! Thanks again J and J... I really appreciated you help and our fun evening together!



We had a simple "faspa" meal consisting of buns, jam, butter, cheese, pickles, chips and veggies.

**For those of you who don't know what faspa is, it is basically a Sunday meal consisting of food that doesn't need to be cooked and/or can be prepared the day before. The tradition stems back from the old Mennonite days when there was no meal prep allowed on Sundays... so buns, cold meat, cheese, veggies, etc. etc. were usually on the menu. Just a little piece of Canadian trivia for ya!**

Larren really enjoyed the meal... can ya tell?!


Okay, so the original plan was for Larren to dive into the massive cupcake... BUT... from the very moment she layed eyes on the cake, she was skeptical!




Some serious coaxing had to be done before she would even touch the thing!



We thought frosting would just be aflyin' from the get go, so we suited her up from "head to toe"... but in the end the massive mound of frosting was a no go, and she simple preferred a regular sized cupcake instead!



The other kids would have GLADLY dove into the large cake on Larren's behalf... but they too settled for little ones... with rainbow sprinkles of course!



On to present opening! Now, let me just explain that we ALWAYS write "No gifts please!!" on our invitations! We feel that our friends already have enough stuff to worry about, and buying for/spending money on our kids shouldn't be one of them! We still want the girls to have something to open at the party, so we bring our gifts along, BUT... there's usually a rebel or two in the group who just can't help but do a little spoiling! :) And the girls are happy to oblige!



This was the scene for a large part of gift opening time!!! It's just so hard for the other kids to sit back and watch when there are perfectly good presents to open! :)

Alia took it upon herself to make sure there was never a halt in production... she knows that the sooner the gifts are opened, the sooner she can play with them too!

By the last couple of gifts Larren was really starting to get in the groove... literally! The new guitar/violin that Alia gave Larren sent her little hips a-wiggling and her arms a-waving!

She went home with a couple worship CD's, a new book, a new puzzle, a sock monkey, a bath toy, a guitar/violin, some snacks, and some gift cards/money! We are just so blessed by people's generosity... even when we tell them NOT to be generous!! :)

And since we have very FEW pictures of the four of us together... here's a couple of us as a family.


Thanks again for snapping a couple pics Tanya!

As I looked around the party room, I couldn't help but tear up! Every single one of the people there have made us feel like family and have welcomed our girls with opened arms! I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude, joy, and love as family/friends came together to celebrate this lovely gift of a girl that the Lord has given us!

It's been a roller coaster year since Larren arrived... but my oh my, we are beyond thankful that she is in our lives! Every. single. day. we are blessed by her and her big sister! Kids are proof that our God is good and we'll celebrate that any chance we get!

Snow Mobiling Club

Today Larren officially became a member of the Kreiser Snow Mobiling Club. And she is our youngest member on record, I might add! She just barely squeaked in under the year mark, at 364 days old!

I'll be honest... Jon and I have had our doubts! She hasn't really been a fan of the snow, or the cold, or the wind, or the heavy jackets, or the... Anyhow, we've been a little concerned that maybe she wouldn't be a winter lovin' Canadian, after all!

BUT - today she proved us wrong! It's not that she doesn't like winter, per say... it's just that all this time we've been moving too SLOW for the poor girl! Wagon rides, sleigh rides, a jaunt around the block... FORGETABOUTIT! She needs to feel the wind blow through her hair... I mean toque... or if you're in the states... I mean winter hat!

Daddy tried his best to get a nice, hearty wave out of the girl... but she was too focused on how this fang dangled machine worked to care about the crazy camera lady!

And they're off...




There was no taking it easy for this first timer... Daddy wanted to break her in good and proper.

So far things are looking good...

... so they're off for more!

And yes... I do look that funny with my camera... really! :)

Can ya tell Jon's pleased as punch in this picture? He had just asked Larren if she was all done or if she wanted more... she kept signing more, more, more as fast as her little mittened hands could manage!!!! :)

This time they decided to leave the yard and step it up a notch or two. They went to see and pet the horses, went up the "big hill" behind our house a time or two, cruised the streets of our small little village, and found as much deep snow as possible... giving our current mid winter thaw situation!


Needless to say Larren was a little shocked when she came in from her ride.

Shocked that we've been keeping this wonderful secret from her for so long? Shocked at the new speed of which she could fly? Shocked at the shear height of the hill she scaled in mere seconds? We're not sure... and well, she's not exactly saying!

All I know is, the overall reaction was good and that she was not too impressed that her sister was suited up and ready to take her place!

Here's a picture of the whole club on Larren's initiation day.


Sometime I'll get around to becoming a member too... though it most likely won't be until AFTER the kiddos have sleds of their own, to ride laps around their mama on! It's all part of the job, I guess! Somebody has to hold down the WARM fort, bundle up the kiddos in their WARM snow gear, point and wave out the window from inside the WARM house, and get the WARM hot chocolate ready! Are ya seeing a trend here?!?! :)


**A FEW of you (I repeat and emphasize the word FEW!) may have noticed the snow mobile upgrade. Jon has bought and sold seven sleds (with that number going up at a continuous rate!) so far this winter, and this sled just happened to be the one parked behind the house! It too will probably move on down the road yet... but it's serving us nicely in the mean time. Yes, the word "us" is used very loosely here!

Roll it...

Several family members have asked to see Larren in action... and well, to be honest... she's a little camera shy! I have tried, on numerous occasion, to get the ever classic "first steps" video... but to no avail! As soon as Larren gets a glimpse of my camera she drops on all fours like an army soldier in combat.

So... we staged this one!

Stage left we have my mother in law with Larren and stage right we have Alia playing with one of Larren's favorite toys.

Alright... roll the clip!

In Two Days...

... my little Larren will be turning ONE!


I know that all parents say the same thing... "Gracious, how can she/he be turning one already!?!"... but it really is true! This past year has been a blink!

I have so much I would like to write about, but oh so little time! Party preparations are in full swing and the to-do list is dwindling along nicely!

But, in the midst of all this... the one thing I really wish I could do, is freeze time. Just make it stop. For a couple days, at least. I want to SAVOR.... SA-VOR... these days with my littlest one. I love the age she's at... her little teasing personality, her scrunchy face, her wobbling walk, and her dramatized babble as she tries so hard to communicate what's on her mind. I feel like God is continually reminding me that these days are quickly disappearing. Yeah, there's never a dull moment in this life I'm in... but there's also never a day that I don't look at my kids (though somedays it might not be til the END of the day!!!) and feel my heart SWELL with joy and thankfulness. It's busy... but it's oh so blessed!

Jon has been gone all weekend...

... picking up our "as-close-to-a-dream-vehicle-as-we're-gonna-get-right-about-now" from out west. (A Ford Expedition!)


And... I was dreading this weekend VEDY VEDY much.
And... it's been a better weekend than I ever thought it would be.
And... I'm so super blessed by our friends-turned-family that have made us feel extra loved while Jon's been away.
And... I'm really spoiled (and GLAD!) that Jon is a dad/husband who's home alot.
And... he's bringing a "surprise visitor" with him. Okay, okay... it's his mom... but, sshhhhhh.... don't tell Alia!

Can I just say that I am SO SO SO SO HAPPY that my mother in law is coming?! My whole week looks bright and sunny due to that little fact! :)

If Ya Can't Find Larren...

.... she's probably here.

Chillin' in her new favorite spot!

This is "the kids drawer" with all their plates, cutlery, bibs, cloths, and the like. It's down low so Alia can help set the table, put away her dishes, etc... but in Larren's mind there just HAD to be a better use for it!

She likes to relax in there... babbling away at anyone who walks by!

Discovering "treasures" whenever there's a lull in the action.

Oh look! Here comes big sister to see what all the ruckus is about...

and to lend a "helpful" hand... or foot, I should say!

This is Larren's "crinkle face"... and in full crinkle, it really is the cutest thing. Mid crinkle - well, maybe not AS high on the cuteness scale, but a 5 none the less!

Larren's even "added on" to her pad... and to the amount of trouble she gets into!


The new hang out is great and all... a number of memories made thus far... it's just, well... the exit is a little something to be desired!



I am not exactly sure how the drawer will hold up to the extra 20 lbs... but apart from that wear and tear, what a WONDERFUL little discovery! I've been able to get several things done in the kitchen while Larren relaxes! And that, my friends... is a good find in my books!

Because It's So Crazy Cold Here...

... there are days when Alia simply can not go outside, even though her little heart YEARNS so badly to be there!

So - she dons the necessities, and let's her imagination run wild!

Our Little Kewpie Girl

"Look Mom", Alia said...

Yup... that's our future honors student right there! :)

Lunch Bonus

The other day I walked out of the room to grab something... and came back to this!





Alia decided that Larren needed some of my yogurt as a "lunch bonus"... and little sister was more than happy to agree!

This is one of those "I-just-love-being-a-mom-so-much-I-think-I'm-going-to-burst" kind of moments! They don't happen every day... or even every week, for that matter... but when they do, I just lap up every single delicious morsel!