A sweet Spring Break, an even sweeter girl turns 3, and the sweetest Father-Daughter date night!!

This week was Spring Break for my girls & we had a great week. Jack's break was several weeks ago so he had school this week. Thus, there were no grand vacation plans for us, but the weather was amazing and we were content to just enjoy a slower pace at home! This week was kind of a little summer preview and I'm already looking forward to summer break!! 
But I'm getting ahead of myself, back to Spring Break...we went on a couple of fun outings & tried to do some simple things that often get neglected in our busy-school-week-schedules..like play more games together. The girls also got to spend a night with Pop & Nana just like Jack had done over his spring break. When Darcy realized her spring break had started, she immediately said, "It's Spring Break?!! Now I can go spend the night with Pop & Nana, can I go NOW?!!" And sweet Sophie was SO thrilled just to get to stay up a few minutes extra one night by herself to play a board game with Daddy (again, just like Jack had done on his spring break)...I tell you, it really is the simple things that bring such joy!

And after enjoying a nice week of spring break, we were looking forward to the weekend to celebrate our sweet, sweet Darcy who turned 3!  

I cannot believe 3 years have passed by since she came into this world, but she captured our hearts right away & she continues to bring such joy to our lives! Darcy makes us smile each & every day with her sweet & giving spirit, her heart for helping others & her funny sense of humor! 
To celebrate our Darcy, we went to the lake on Friday night for a little family party for Darcy's birthday. In honor of Darcy's April birthday, we picked out these fun little "April Showers" cupcakes. 

Darcy had fun helping me decorate them with sprinkles & umbrellas (made out of AirHeads candy.) And she definitely enjoyed eating the AirHead scraps left over from cutting out the umbrella shapes. 

(You can find them here!)

Blank cupcake canvases!

We added sprinkles just for fun & because Darcy LOVES sprinkles!

D is for Darcy as she will proudly tell you! 

(Actually, she will say, "Look, a D! D for Darcy, and Daddy and Drew!)

So cute & yummy tasting, too!

(Oh, and since we were at the lake I didn't have any fancy platters...my mother-in-law put an air bake pizza pan on top of a round cake pan and it worked great! And it was ideal for catching stray sprinkles, too!)

We enjoyed a yummy dinner with the grandparents & cousins. 

Then, after dinner we took a little boat ride! Darcy loves boat rides, but the weather was a bit chilly on Friday evening so we all had to bundle up & we made it a short ride...we are all looking forward to lake season starting back up in a few weeks!

Drew in his life jacket

Smooshed cheeks!

Sophie & Em looking at something in the distance

Jeff & the grandparents bundled up!

Darcy is all snuggly!

Peek-a-boo, I see you!

Of course after the boat ride, it was time for CAKE!

All of the cousins: Mallory, Molly, Jack, Darcy, Sophie, Emily & Drew

Singing Happy Birthday to Darcy

Taking a big breath...

to blow out the candles!

Yay for Darcy!

Darcy holding up 3 fingers "her way" (pointer, middle & pinkie)

Digging into the cupcakes!

Mmmmmmmm, Drew is a fan of the cupcakes, too!

Let me get my hands on this!

And after cake, well presents, of course! Drew has a ring-side seat!

Darcy was very serious about opening each card & letting Molly read it to her.

Yay, Band-aids! 

(Yes, you read correctly, Band-aids...they are some of Darcy's favorite things! Perhaps because she gets so many boo-boos?!)

Jack being silly!

A pretty bracelet made by Molly!

Hey, what's under here?

A car, for ME!!

Ready to take a drive!

Someone else likes it, too!

On Saturday, the kids played all morning at the lake house & we got back home just in time for Jeff to take the girls to a very special Father-Daughter Date Night at church. I tell you, the girls were SO excited to get dressed up for a special outing just with Daddy. Here are a few photos I snapped of them in the yard before they left...we literally pulled in the driveway & had 30 minutes before they had to turn right back around & leave...and the girls needed baths & the works! I took some of just the girls while Daddy was getting dressed.

Sweet sisters!

Twirl!

Strike a pose!

Sophie was impressed with how nice Daddy looked, too! When he came out she said, "Daddy, you look handsome!"

Jeff & his girls!

Happy Birthday Darcy!

Sweet Sophie!

They had a great time a the date night. They had a dinner of pasta (with red sauce & there were thankfully no major spills!) There were yummy desserts & Darcy's favorite, hot chocolate! When they came home, each carrying a rose, I asked if they had fun, "YESSSSS!" and I asked what they ate...Sophie said pasta & Darcy said, "Yeah, we had pasta & COFFEE!" Aw, my sweet girls are growing up & I'm thankful for Jeff who is a wonderful dad & husband who takes the time to do special things with them to show them how a gentleman treats a lady. I pray that they will each marry godly husbands like their father!