A Four Year Old in the House

The princess around here turned four. None of her young friends could make it to the party, but it is a testament to her sweet spirit that all kinds of grown-up friends took time out of their day to dress-up and come to her princess party. The ladies even dug in the back of their closets for old prom and bridesmaid dresses. Caroline loved how fancy everyone was, and that the boys even wore "handsome ties," as she requested. You are one loved girl, Miss Caroline!

All the ladies dressed up. And she might be a princess, but she's still a Fike, and she requested ribs and hot dogs for her party. She's her daddy's daughter! The man behind all the wonderful food.

Saying hello to Andrew and Katherine. Have you ever seen a princess eating ribs before?

She loved her "fancy" cupcakes! It was worth all the time I spent the night before to see the delight on her face in the morning.

Blowing out four candles.

A sweet brother who was such a gentleman all day. He and I had gone shopping earlier in the week, because he wanted to spend his own money and buy his sister a gift. We went to Ben Franklin, on his insistence, and he wandered the whole store until he found what he wanted: some buttons for her to make crafts with. He carefully chose the pink and purple ones out of the Ben Franklin "treasure chest" of buttons, and then found some bracelets for her too. It took all his money, and warmed his mother's heart.

She travelled around the room and opened each gift with the giver. She also saved all the bows and tissue papers: they were all fancy!

Her favorite Aunt Becky. On a sidenote, she told me the other day that Aunt Becky is her favorite because she makes her vanilla steamers with whip cream. Affronted, I said: "but I cuddled with you all last night when you were sick!" She reassured me with, "well you are my second favorite, Mom!" She's a cutie!

Excited to see the kitten that she and Kim had shopped for together. You're an awfully nice friend Kim!

Gifts from "Uncle" John and Hynndie.

Opening a Giants shirt with Uncle Ted. Now she'll be ready to cheer on her team this year too!

Phil reading her the poem with pictures that he wrote/made for her.

The two Carolines. Sitting on Papa's lap to open her bunnies. She played with them all day today! Every year Caroline has received a book (or two) from Mike, and a dress from Ellen. What fun gifts!

The before picture of the cupcakes, which we enjoyed all day today too! Happy birthday to the surprise girl in our family. You're all girl, and we all love your hugs and giggles and your imaginative spirit. Four years old!

Jack's Birthday in Pictures

This birthday boy loves balloons, and he chose this outfit himself, because they were good party clothes, as he said. We had a wonderful party for Jack's birthday. Beforehand we had asked him what he wanted to do: have some kids over, or go out to dinner, but he said he wanted to invite everyone and have a BIG party. So we did! It was a lot of people, and a lot going on, but Jackson was a gentleman to the end. Happy Birthday to my favorite five year old. I love your caring and responsible nature that you mix with boyish fun. Here is a catalogue of the party in pictures: mostly it's about good food, good friends, and good fun! Three girls, each seven months apart, playing on the swingset. From the left, Elizabeth, Marilyn, and Caroline. Two cute mamas: Lindsey and Betsy. Will enjoying the nice weather (finally!) on the back porch. Phil made a book for Jackson and Caroline, starring them and Millard the Moose. Here he reads Caroline her copy while Trystan and Papa listen. The Beltran's came! Trace was given a smoker the day before, by a friend who was frustrated with it, so he made us two kinds of ribs, barbequed and smoked, along with whole chickens, and New York steaks. It was all accompanied by corn on the cob, coleslaw, beans, and smoked nuts. Yum! Andrew and Taylor were there, and Andrew brought Jack his own pair of Wrangler's as a gift. He can be a real cowboy now! We opened gifts with those who had little kids first, and spread the rest of the gifts over the course of the evening. Here Jackson and Marilyn, good friends, are opening her gift. Jack and Phil reading his copy of the book Phil made. Grandpa Chuck and Grandma Caroline gave Jack a sleeping bag, with a map to going camping in the backyard. He's slept in it most nights since, but in his bedroom. Here his cousin Natalie helps him try it out. Chuck's brother Ben and his wife Roz happened to be in town on their way to a grandson's graduation, so they made it to Jack's party too. It was good to see them! This is a bunch of Fike boys: Ted, Andrew, Tim, and Jack. Do they look related? Dave reads Jack his pirate birthday card. The birthday boy at the end of the evening in his new Giant's hat. Happy Birthday Jack!

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Shoot! I've been uploading these pictures to the blog for days (anyone have any tips for a faster way to upload them?), and they're not all here. I'll publish this anyway, with more to come--like the pictures of the amazing quilt that Aunt Becky made him. It's everybody's new favorite blanket.

Caroline Fike's Chair

Our three-year old Caroline Virginia Fike was given this chair by her grandmother Caroline Viola Fike. It is an amazing story, well told in the card that accompanied the chair. In case it's hard to read small, I'm going to reprint it here. The card in the last two pictures says:

Dear Caroline, When I was your age, three years old, my Mom and Dad gave me this little chair for my birthday. This picture is of me with the very same little chair. I'm playing with my dolls on the porch of our house. That was 70 years ago! The chair stayed at my Mom and Dad's house and dairy farm in Porterville, California most of those years. This is where I grew up with my older sister Patricia and my older brother Fred. A few years ago Grandpa Chuck brought the chair to our house in Grass Valley. He has been waiting for just the right time to restore it for someone very special; that special someone is you: Caroline Virginia Fike.

We are honored to own this chair.

Caroline's Third Birthday!

Our little girl is three! This is a whole series of pictures of Caroline's birthday party. The fact that it was her birthday all day was a hard concept for a three-year-old. When she woke up in the morning and I told her "Happy Birthday," she responded: but nobody is here yet. She repeated that line all day. To her a birthday is all about the party, and her party didn't start until 5pm. It was a perfect time, especially since both kids had at least an hour nap beforehand. She loved her party, and she was so excited about all her friends being there, and opening presents (she loves gifts: she's always wrapping things up and giving them to people).

This first picture is from the night before, working on her cake together. Then we move to the party pictures. Here she's looking quite excited about this big gift from Grandma Caroline and Grandpa Chuck. She was also excited when her friends Elizabeth and Marilyn arrived, and she opened her gift from Elizabeth (neither of them could wait:)): food for her new kitchen. Trace spent the afternoon and evening preparing a sumptuous feast for everyone: yum! We had delicious tacos, with a choice of mild chicken, spicy chicken, or medium beef. Something for every taste! The most amazing Aunt Becky made Caroline a bunny for her birthday, and they had a special time opening it together. Caroline was Becky's shadow when everyone first arrived: all the people were a little overwhelming for a few minutes. Lindsey and her son Graham, so sweet. Caroline wearing the Clement's special birthday crown. Aunt Katie loaned it to us via Grandma Jo for Caroline's birthday. Thanks for sharing! Sitting in her new chair from Grandma Caroline. I'll do an entire blog post on that later. It was very special. Opening Dave's gift with him. Lindsey and Betsy with their two boys visiting. Trystan, Marilyn, and Caroline playing with Caroline's pretend cookie set--perfect for her new toy kitchen. The Beltrans, who kindly brought a gift for Jackson too. Singing happy birthday: time for cake!

Caroline blowing out her candles. Sitting on Dave's lap putting on her purple goggles from Tracie. The three roomies. Beautiful Betsy and her son Andrew. Aunt Heide and Caroline. Finishing the night dancing for Mike and Ellen. We're glad you're three Caroline. You are a treasured part of our family. You keep us all laughing, and melt our hearts with your smiles and cuddle times. I'm excited to see you grow in the years to come. I love you!