Mattie the Mermaid is 4

Mattie wanted a Mermaid cake for her 4th birthday so I went with a little bit of a "Mermaids Under the Sea" theme. We celebrated a couple of days early because on her actual birthday she has gymnastics and Daddy will be out of town working. She was happy to open her presents and eat cake, no matter the day. We went to the aquarium yesterday and Play on Thursday, so they have had fun this trip to see Daddy. I spent today making her cake between taking care of 3 kids.

  

Mattie picked out a chocolate mix for the cake, and I had to make 3 batches of buttercream between the crumb coat, cover layer, and all the decorations. Plus a total of 10 different colors mixed up.

Here is the cake before adding the decorations. I used 3 different blues and a purple to get this effect for the swirly ocean background. Then just kind of threw them all in the piping bag to do the edge borders.

Then came the Mermaid, made to resemble Mattie of course.

And the Mermaid needed some cute sea creature friends, so I did an octopus, jellyfish, sea stars, fish, and a seahorse. I really tried to keep it pretty simple with quick and easy to pipe creatures!

She had fun blowing out her candle as we sang Happy Birthday:

This is Mattie's plate when she was done eating her "cake". She ate all the icing off and left the cake behind. Next year I should just mix up some buttercream icing in whatever color she wants and give her a bowl of it.

And she ended the night snuggled in her new mermaid blanket and playing on her Fisher Price "tablet"

Chores

I always find it amusing reading articles about age appropriate chores for kids. They are always capable of helping, whether they realize it or not! I find those lists funny, as well as chore charts with reward systems. My kids love to help me clean, at least at this age. Even Hailey wants to help sweep up her morning mess. She was determined to get this Cheerio with the broom and had fun dragging the broom around. Have to start somewhere!

 Levi started feeding the dog at 2, and helps keep the weeds and grass out of the gravel around the house. Him and Mattie also love to help me go around and pull the "pokey plants" using their gloves. And if you need anything dusted or wiped down, give them a rag and there are not enough surfaces that they want to clean! I seriously run out of things for them to clean as they stand around asking, "what else?!?!" Levi also loves to vacuum and is starting to help clean the bathroom. They also pick up their room at the end of each day. I'm happy that for now at least, they enjoy their chores and helping out!

Levi's 2017

And I saved the oldest for last to catch up on his year. Levi is a ball of energy who can talk your ear off. He plays hard and is a friend to all; he knows no strangers. He has a huge heart and is so empathetic to others. He is a wonderful big brother (most of the time) and loves deeply. He has kept me on my toes since his entrance to the world.

"I'm Batman"

 He loves to draw and color and do any kind of artwork. He drew him and me in Australia; note the shark in the bottom right and the water all around. He knows I have no desire to go to a continent that has so many deadly creatures that can eat/bite/sting me to death. He wants to go swimming with sharks.

Levi fought the tree and won. He's bigger and stronger than he realizes!

 

His face when they brought the sloth out. I didn't tell them what was coming. He loves animals and nature shows. I'll walk out in the morning and he'll have the TV on, watching a nature documentary, instead of cartoons like most kids.

He was leaning on me, Hailey came and leaned on him, giving him a hug. He can be such a sweetie when you get him to sit still.

He was not thrilled that Dad shot a hog, one of God's creatures. But he still likes bacon and sausage. He'll have to reconcile those 2 at some point.

At least he decided to wear a helmet while he attempted driving his truck while standing. He thought this trick was so cool.

He loves playing in the creek and catching minnows in the pond.

He took this opportunity very serious.

Such a sweet pic of him on Hailey's birthday.

Mattie's 2017

Mattie has a sharp mind and is quick as a whip. She has a personality all her own with a double inheritance of stubbornness. She can be sweet, helpful, and loving when she wants to be. Or come down a slide to go swing her fists on the playground bully who just called her names even though he was at least a couple years older and a head taller. She is tough and strong and oh so much like her daddy. She certainly didn't get a love of mustard or hearty garlic dill pickles from me. But she still loves to wear dresses, be a princess, pick out her earrings and bows and shoes for a style that is all her own. She is one of a kind!

Her first french braids. She LOVED them. So different from her normal crazy curly hair!

She wanted me to take a picture of her and she posed herself like this.

She frequently requests french braids now so I'm mixing it up. And always wants me to take a picture of them so she can see it.

She was not impressed with getting to see a sloth up close and personal. I thought it was cool.

Reverse french braids. I'm so happy I have a daughter to do this too.

My little country girl, learning about hunting and where bacon comes from.

She had the stomach bug, poor thing.

If food fits on her fingers, she will put it there. Shrimp tail fingernails.

She had everybody cracking up when I was trying to get their picture with the porcupine. Her faces.

Reminded me of the doseum picture where she dressed like a vet to treat animals. A glimpse in her future, perhaps?

Exploring in our creek

And at Hailey's birthday. You'd never know she had a sinus infection and an ear infection, nothing will slow her down.