Happy Birthday Vivi!

It's official...Vivi is 2!!!  We had a great birthday weekend filled with family, presents, and cake!  We didn't have the big party like last year.  I decided that I want Vivi's birthdays to be family celebrations until she's older.  Not to mention that we kind of had a lot going on lately.  Not only did we just move, but we also ended up hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house since my parents were sick.  I really loved it, but it was a lot of work.  Here's a picture of Vivi with her prized possession....her baby stroller from her cousins Drew and Brady.  She is in heaven pushing this around.  That was always the first toy she headed for at her friend Josie's house.  Now she has her own!

We went to our new Reasor's, (which is amazing, by the way....I LOVE a good grocery store) the morning of her birthday party to pick up some last minute items.  We bought pink plates, striped napkins, and a balloon.  She was so happy that I had to just stop and take a picture of her in the middle of the store!  She held those pink plates the whole way home in the car.

I made the most amazing birthday cake.  My mom always made us homemade birthday cakes every year and I am going to do the same for Vivi.  This was the start of the snickerdoodle cake with brown sugar cinnamon buttercream frosting.  BUTTERcream....lots of butter.....but so, so good.

Delicious!  Want the recipe?  Click here:  Snickerdoodle Cake

I've never made a 4 layer cake before, but it really wasn't that difficult.

Vivi got some good presents this year...right up her alley.  She got a doll house that has a potty in it too....all the rage among the kiddos.  She got a radio flyer bike and stroller from her cousins, a pretty dress and purse, an alphabet puzzle, a new baby doll, counting elephants, cooking toys, bath crayons, and most importantly.....money for college.  ;)  She's one happy little girl!

Silly cousins!

Happy Birthday Vivi Grace Arnold!  We love you SOOOOOO much!

Good Bye Little House

Well....it's official.  We moved this week.  It was a very bittersweet experience.  I loved my little house. I can remember when I bought it thinking I would live there forever....and I really meant it.  I can remember having a conversation with my mom saying that I really could live in that house forever.  Her response was that most people live in their homes an average of 7 years.  Well, seven years later, almost to the month, and I moved.  We moved.  We just outgrew the house.  This is the house Frank and I lived in when we got married.  This was Vivi's first house.  We have so many good memories.  The good news is we still own this house.  It will make someone a great rent house.  I just hope they love it like we did.

I'm now sitting in my new house writing this post.  I feel like we live in a mansion even though it's 2,200 square feet.  Our two year house hunt has made us REALLY appreciate this house.  It is so spacious and roomy and nice and new and clean.....  And the kitchen....oh my gosh.  I love my gas stove, my dishwasher, my awesome faucet.  I love my pantry!  How did I live so long without a pantry?!  Vivi has even gotten lost a time or two.  It's hilarious!  We've already started a few home improvements, although it's all cosmetic.  We had a painter come in and paint Vivi's room and the master bedroom.  Good bye lime green!  We had an electrician install under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen and hopefully the tile guy can do our new subway tile backsplash next week.  I will be posting many pictures in the future, but I just can't do it today.  I have to pay homage to my old love.

Good bye little house...we'll miss you....