As they say, time flies when you’re having fun … and chasing after kiddos. Just like that, our sweet baby Isla is now closer to two than she is to one and our defiant Hudson is closer to five than he is to four. Both born in December, in celebration of their half birthdays, we headed to one of our favorite places in Frederick, Maryland once the rainclouds left town.

As a December baby myself (two days after Christmas), I know that sometimes birthdays can get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. My parents always made it a point to find ways to make my birthday extra special thanks to a few birthday traditions. From insisting that gifts were wrapped in birthday paper instead of holiday paper to getting me a birthday cake instead of a holiday-themed treat, I always looked at my birthday as a special day even though it followed a holiday.

When my husband and I welcomed into the world both our son and our daughter during the month of December, I knew that it was up to my husband and myself to take a cue from my parents and make their birthdays extra special. So, in celebration of their half birthdays, I took them to the local battlefield and let them run around and have fun. From picking wildflowers to watching a “choo choo train” go by, the evening was filled with all sorts of fun.

Next up, my son requested ice cream from the “brown bear ice cream place.” There’s a super cute ice cream shop in downtown Frederick that has the best ice cream. He loves going there to see the brown bear figurine that is placed outside the door of the shop. He picked mint chocolate chip, my daughter was given a scoop of Cookies ‘n Cream, and we headed outside to the patio to enjoy the ice cream together.

Simple, fun, and memorable … the perfect combo. Happy half birthday, kiddos. We love you a bushel and a peck.

And you guys … Isla’s pouty lip? Oh. My. Word. It’s like that all of the time. Too cute!