AWANA Grand Prix!

This year, Tim decided to buy Caleb a derby car to put together for the AWANA Grand Prix. I don't think either of us realized all of the tools that would be necessary to construct his car. So we asked my dad to help Caleb with it while we were gone for a day. They were able to carve out the shape they wanted and even started sanding. Caleb was so excited to show it off and show me all the different grades of sandpaper he had to use on his car. So we brought it home to finish sanding and to paint. Our little racer decided on bright orange and mommy helped put some cool eyes on.

The finished car

Car #100 (He put heart stickers on for the zeroes... haha)

The track

Caleb's group, the Sparks, got to go first. Mr. Karrels was doing little interviews of the kids while other AWANA leaders were lining up the cars on the track. He asked Caleb if he had any help putting his car together and his response was, "yes." Some of the kids were asked if they had helped at all or if their dad or someone else did all of the work. Oh the honesty of young kids. haha!

Sparks get to go first!

Mini interviews with Dave aka Mr. Karrels

 VIDEO: Caleb's orange car racing

(From our view, it's in the far left lane)

The scoreboard -- Caleb kept coming in 3rd for his heats

Heat #3 -- Can you see his bright, orange car?

I totally missed getting the cars in the picture

In the end, we're not sure what place Caleb took. There were probably 14 cars in his division and after the 3rd heat, he was in 5th so his little car did pretty well -- better than we had thought it might do! Good job, Caleb!

Not the most enthusiastic photo -- lol -- but he got a participation ribbon

Sonya is TWO! -- celebrating with grandparents

Grandma and Papa Nikolai visited a few days after Sonya's birthday so we decided to have a little birthday celebration with both sets of grandparents. There were a lot of smiles and a lot of laughter. 

VIDEO: Singing "Happy Birthday" to Sonya with grandparents

Sonya with her Elmo cupcakes

Waiting for cupcakes and ice cream

Sonya is served first, of course!

Yum, yum!

Taking a big bite

Caleb is a goof :-)

Papa Nikolai and Grandpa Pauly are swinging Caleb

VIDEO: Papa Nikolai and Grandpa Pauly tickling Caleb

Opening gifts -- more Elmo pj's from mommy and daddy

This one is from Grandma and Papa

What it is?

A talking book!

Sonya got a carrying sticker book

Reading her card from Grandma and Grandpa Pauly

VIDEO: Sonya opening up her big present from mommy and daddy

Sonya is TWO! - celebrating with friends

Sonya was able to share her birthday with friends!

Elmo says: Happy Birthday, Sonya!
(Pin the Nose on Elmo game)

Sonya is 2!

Sonya is opening cards at breakfast. Gotta love the decorations too!

A rose for Sonya Rose

Jessica with a smiling Sonya

Waiting for guests to arrive

Playing Pin the Nose on Elmo

"I've got Elmo's Nose!"

Does anyone else want to play the game?

Baby Lincoln :-)

Hanging out with the Rorabeck's

Elmo cupcakes -- made them myself!

A close up of the cupcakes

We all sang "Happy Birthday" to Sonya. Grady blew out one of the candles right away and Sonya wasn't quite sure what to do. It took her a few tries before she finally blew it out. 

 VIDEO: Singing Happy Birthday to Sonya

Eating her cupcake

The two year olds and almost two year olds

Mianna and Hadley

Levi sure enjoyed his cupcake!

"What's up, Grady?"

"I have red frosting on my face. hehe"

Opening gifts - This one was her favorite of the night, a bathtub baby doll

It's from Jonathan

A toy cupcake set!

Clothes and some nail polish from Colton and Jessica

Playing with play-doh

It entertained the kids for a while

What are they making?

Jonathan has a crown of stars -- lol

Sonya's Elmo pj's from mom, dad, and Caleb

Playing with her new doll

Sonya is going to make a good mommy someday