Quint's 3rd Birthday "Family" Party

We celebrated the quints 3rd birthday with a "small" family party----everyone who helps us out on a regular basis, whom we have grown close to over the past three years. We might not share the same genetics, but I consider these people part of the family :-) (NOTE: All the pictures in this post were taken by my photographer friend, Kristen Duke---she was nice enough to take pictures so I could serve cake and mingle withe the guests--thanks Kristen!!)

The Whole "Family"! (or at least everyone who was in town)

The quints are not big fans of real cake, so I made them their own Rice Krispie Treat cakes with Froot Loops in "their" color. We took turns singing "Happy Birthday" to each of the kids, starting with Kassidy (the oldest) and ending with Ryder (the youngest...by 3 minutes).

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday dear KASSIDY, Happy Birthday to You!

Make a wish!!

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday dear KAYDENCE, Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday dear RUSTIN, Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday dear KYNDALL, Happy Birthday to You!

(This was Kyndall's attempt to blow out the candles...pretty weak!)

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday dear RYDER, Happy Birthday to You!

YAY!

Kassidy

Kaydence (she isn't much of a sweets eater)

Rustin---this kid has the best facial expressions!

Kyndall

Ryder

I made a couple of ice cream cakes for the rest of the guests---a "girl" cake and a "boy" cake with layers in each of the quint's colors.

Cutting the cake---I liked the expressions on the two girls faces---I think they were a little anxious to get their piece!

The "girl" cake---pink, yellow and purple

The "boy" cake--blue and green

Alissa and Kaiya (they look a little happier now that they finally got their piece of cake!)

More party pics:

Kassidy with Norm

Kaydence with Barbara

Rustin (did I mention that he has the best facial expressions???)

Kyndall showing off her dancin' moves

Ryder

My parents gave the quints this awesome 7-seater airplane teeter-totter for their birthday. Most people would put something like this outside in the backyard, but our house already feels like a jungle gym, so we figured why not put it in the dining room???

Quint's 3rd Birthday "Family" Party

Happy 3rd Birthday Kassidy, Kaydence, Rustin, Kyndall and Ryder!!!

It's official....the quints are now THREE years old! I can't believe it! What an amazing adventure the past three years have been! We have come so far, and yet I know that there is much more craziness yet to come. I feel truly blessed to be the mother to these five precious little ones (plus two others). They have brought out the best in me and in many others whose lives they have influenced.

Here are some pictures I took this morning. The outtakes were just as cute as the "real" pictures, so I thought I would include some of those as well :-)

Kassidy, "The Mother Hen". Kassidy likes to be in charge and make sure everything is going as it should. She is very opinionated (hmmm...I wonder where she got that trait????) and she likes to be a helper. I think she is going to be my shopping buddy when she grows up. Of all my kids, she is the most like me, both in looks and in personality.

Kassidy Outtake

Kaydence, "The Sweethart". Kaydence is super sweet as long as you don't cross her. She has the cutest little voice---when she talks to you in that voice it is hard to say no! Kaydence is the most content to play by herself and she is more of a follower than a leader. She is very detail oriented and can find the tiniest objects on the floor.

Kaydence Outtake

Rustin, "The Clown". Rustin is full of personality. He owns every bit of his red hair. He loves to cause trouble, but he always does it with a smile on his face. Of all the kids, he gets the most excited about things. He might be the first in line to steal some ones toy, but he is the biggest teddy bear. Rustin hates shoes and ditches his at the first opportunity.

Rustin Outtake (his is more cute than outtakish)

Kyndall, "The Spitfire". Kyndall is spunky and smart---a little too smart sometimes! She is as much of a troublemaker as Rustin, but in a different way---her misdeeds are much more clever. She loves to make me panic by hiding and not making a noise, while I run around the house looking everywhere for her. While Kassidy wants to be in charge, Kyndall is usually the one the others follow, maybe because she always looks like she is having fun.

Kyndall Outtake

Ryder, "The Charmer". Ryder continues to be my most high-maintenance child. He loves to be held and given a lot of attention. When he does get a lot of attention, he is as good as gold, but when he doesn't....watch out! Ryder loves shoes--his or anyone elses. He even sleeps in his shoes.


Ryder Outtake

Wilkinson Quints: Kyndall, Ryder, Kaydence, Rustin and Kassidy---3 years old!

To see how much the quints have grown over the years, check out these links to some of their other birthdays:

The Birth Story---July 31, 2007

Wilkinson Quints First Birthday

Wilkinson Quints Second Birthday

Happy 3rd Birthday Kassidy, Kaydence, Rustin, Kyndall and Ryder!!!

The Room Your Room Could Be Like

Riley and Kaiya have really been into making their own videos lately. I think it is cute that they are trying to be like their dad, and they have a really great time doing it. It will be a while before either of them is the next Steven Spielberg, but their videos are improving over time and I thought their most recent video actually turned out pretty great. Their latest creation is a parody of the Old Spice Commercial (The man your man could smell like). Riley and Kaiya wrote, acted, filmed, edited and even posted the video to YouTube entirely by themselves! You can check it out below:





If you haven't seen the Old Spice Commercial it is mimicking, you can watch it below (if you watch this one first, Riley and Kaiya's video will make more sense).

The Room Your Room Could Be Like

Splish, Splash!

The past couple of weeks have been pretty relaxed---especially compared with the rest of our summer. It is the lull before the storm, I guess, since we have our big, big road trip coming up in week and a half (where we will drive all the way to Spokane, Washington).

I accidentally left my camera battery charger at my parent's house in Arizona and I have been going through picture-taking withdrawal! I have taken a few pictures with my cell phone camera but I don't have a fancy iPhone or anything, so the picture quality isn't always the best. I hope to get my charger back soon :-)

Last year at the end of the season I found this blow-up pool on clearance. The kids have been loving it this year. Because it was nice and sunny outside, I did manage to get a few good pictures with my phone.

Kyndall, Kaydence, Riley, Kassidy, Kaiya, Ryder and Rustin play with water guns in the pool

More Water Fun!

Riley

Kaiya

Kassidy

Kaydence

Rustin

Kyndall

Ryder

I can't believe how big and grown-up they are all getting! The quints will be THREE on Saturday!!

Splish, Splash!

Kristen's New and Improved Photography Website

One of my favorite photographers, Kristen Duke, has recently updated her photography website. The new website combines her blog and website into one user-friendly interface. I love the new colors and the header! You can check it out HERE. If you like it, leave her a comment, because honestly...who doesn't love comments?? (Plus I will earn more "brownie points" with her for sending people to her site, and I want her to keep wanting to take pics of my family---she does a great job!)

Kristen is also running a promotion on facebook right now---if you become a fan of Kristen Duke Photography, you have a chance to win one of her landscape prints. Click HERE to become a fan and find out the details!

Kristen has been taking pictures of the quints since they were one month old. Here are some of my favorite Kristen shots:

2-Year Photos: Kassidy, Ryder, Kyndall, Rustin and Kaydence

Kassidy, Ryder, Kyndall, Rustin and Kaydence

Wilkinson Family Photo, June 2009

December Picture for the Wilkinson Quints 2009 Calendar----this just might be my most favorite picture of the quints ever!

Quints--about 10 months old

Kassidy, Kyndall and Kaydence---about 4 months old

Christmas Card Picture, December 2008

6 Months old--Kassidy, Rustin, Kyndall, Ryder and Kaydence

6 Months Old

The Quints in their Blessing Clothes---About 3 1/2 months old (Kyndall, Rustin, Kassidy, Ryder and Kaydence) This one is also a contender for my favorite photo ever of the quints!

Wilkinson Family, September 2007 (Quints are about 1 1/2 months old)

Kristen's New and Improved Photography Website