Addison Turns 6

While many of you are experiencing fall right now, we are right smack in the middle of birthday season in our home.  Yes, three birthdays in less than thirty days.  As I said in last year's posts I was in the process of scaling the birthday parties way back and focusing on the child and the memories they would have of their special day. 

 Here is what we did this year.  This year each of the big girls got a trip with my mom and me.  Addison's trip was supposed to be to Seattle.  Due to the location of our home, the airplane could get us out there but not back home.  Small town probs.  So, I spent some time fretting over what to do and came to this conclusion.  I was making this way harder then it had to be.  I live in the same state as Mickey Mouse.  Hello?  I gave my mom the news.  She re-arranged her schedule to fit the change and we were off.

It was just the two of us the first day.  We ran to Epcot first thing.

The nicest cast member insisted we have our picture together.  I am so thankful for this.

Hands down her favorite ride!  She even made us go back and take Meme.  Design your own car and then race it against others.

Meme joined us the next day.  We stayed all.day.long.

Our third day was a visit to Hollywood Studios.  This was the best character meet-n-greet I have ever experienced.  My best capture was on my phone, through Instagram, with Jake laying a big kiss on her.

Animal Kingdom.  Final day.  Do you see what I see?  Look closely.

Face painting.  Not optional.  Mandatory.

What a wonderful time we girls had together.  We made memories that will not be forgotten!

Her actual birthday was just a few days after we returned and she had decided she wanted to go skating.  So, a skating party it was.  

Her favorite banana bread muffins for breakfast.  Yes, we sing Happy Birthday at every meal, and throughout the day.  And yes, there is a candle to be blown out at every meal.  These girls can get creative with their candles.  :)

I still ordered up festive decorations and those cute boxes had goodies in them for each girl.

The requested roller skate cake.  Made with love.

The excitement definitely builds as the UPS man visits our house during birthday month.  The worst?  I save them all and won't let them open them until the actual day.  ;)

After ordering her shirt in advance, I remembered a tutorial on one of my favorite craft blogs.  So, I ordered the materials and made us all a shirt!  Find out how to make your own here.

After we had dinner, cake, and opened presents we were off to skate.  It was already very late, but she was not putting it off.

Her first time at the rink, but not on skates.

She loved it!

And she did too.

My Sweet Addison,

     You have grown up so much this year.  You have expressed interests in trying lots of new things, such as tumbling and soccer.  You are now involved with both, while still enjoying dance.  You graduated from preschool and are now homeschooled with Olivia.  You have just completed your Kindergarten work and will begin your first grade work next week!  You are a very determined and competitive little girl.  This was evident when you insisted on having your own school books in January.  You are not one to be out-done and it bothers you immensely to see someone your age (or sometimes not) ahead of you in a particular area.  While this can serve as a great motivator in life, don't ever let it be the wheel that steers your ship.  You are perfect, just as God made you.  

     You love being outdoors playing with your friends, riding your bike and scooter, skating, playing tag, riding the waves at the beach, and helping wash the car in your bathing suit.  You enjoy indoor crafts, especially painting, playing with your American Girl dolls and Barbies, dressing up, playing in the make-up, and watching cartoons.  Your favorite place to be is with me.  You continue to be a momma's girl and want to go with me everywhere I go.  You are very easy to take along, so most times you get to go.  

    I am so blessed to be your mom and to get to see you grow up.  You bring so much joy to our home and my heart.  You have the sweetest smile that needs no explanation.  You thrive on positive words of encouragement and lots of hugs and kisses.  You are not afraid to ask for either.  May you always be bold in knowing what you want and asking for it.  May you continue to grow in your own way, being exactly who you are, and never apologizing for it. 

 

                                   I love you,

                               Mom    

A 5th Birthday.

We have some very impatient grandparents on our hands when it comes to seeing pictures of sweet Addison's birthday.  Then, of course, what kind of mother would I be to start celebrating the next birthday before showing you the first birthday?  They are just keeping me in line and without regret.  I know God is teaching me, growing me, and empowering me through each of these birthdays.  After all, there are three to plan, execute, and carry out in less then 30 days.  Perhaps he just needs a good laugh this time of year?  He does get a front row to all of this craziness...thank goodness he is only one of two for that show.  Man is not laughing, FYI...he is in survival mode.  So, without further ado here is Addison's 5th birthday.

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Princess Addison requested a mermaid themed party this year.  I did, in fact, start planning this out on Pinterest quite some time ago.  Great intentions to be well planned out and started ahead of time but then life happened big time over the summer and then school started and I way over committed and that would be a story for another day so I just went without sleep to get it done.  Is there any other way?

Her actual birthday fell on a Thursday.  We started the day with her favorite...homemade banana bread muffins.

She had to wear something mermaid so we picked the fabric out together and I made this skirt for her.

Her best friend Lexi comes to do school with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  We had brownies with icing on them to start our day...a candle too...for everyone.

She requested this for her birthday meal. 

Thank you to our family and friends who go the extra mile to get the gifts here for our girls.  They love seeing them displayed!

THE PARTY DAY!

Let me start with this.  I started out throwing some "bashes" for Olivia without considering the effects of those ideas times 3 one day.  I am desperately trying to scale back and get to a point of a family dinner and some type of family trip but they are not "biting" on this quite yet.  So, we are slowly getting there.  

She insisted on some spa time to start the party.  

I completed the balloon wreath last year and added the numbers this year.  I LOVE it!

Sign by Man.  Painting by Mommy.  So excited this is going to be in her room now!

Our little party table with drinks and desserts.

Mermaid drink with seashells we have collected from our beach trips.

Mermaid cupcakes.

Birthday table.  Paper lanterns turned into jellyfish and blue streamers for water.  Some ruffled fabric to give the water effect on the table.

Every mermaid princess needs a seashell crown, right?

6 little blessings!  Treyson is one lucky little man and we are so lucky to have all of these sweet kids as a part of our lives.

Here are the pictures we snapped right before the party.

My Sweet Addison,

    When I wanted kids I so selfishly thought of everything I would have to offer and give and how wonderful our kids' lives would be because of us.  The very special thing about you is that God has shown me, through you, how wrong I was.  While I hope we do offer and give you everything we can it is you who shows me daily how to truly live life.  While your turtle's pace can aggravate me at times, in our hectic schedule, it reminds me what is most important.  When I am "too busy" to play a game or dress-up your persistence makes me proud.  You will need that skill forever.  And then, when we play, I am always thankful for your persistence because it gave me a moment with you I will always remember.  You teach me to live.  You teach me to enjoy life.  You show me how to love...unconditionally.  You have so many traits I can only hope for.  My dream for you is to always have those qualities and to never let anyone take those from you.  You exude joy, happiness, love, and compassion daily.  You definitely have a feisty side that always takes me by surprise.  While you love everyone you have a special love for me and our relationship and that warms my heart.  I never expected to have a child like you, with your personality, but I thank God everyday for giving me you so that I could be a better me.  I will love and cherish you forever and may you always remember to live your life, for you, and above all else...do it your way!

 

                                                                                                                  I love you,

                                                                                                                  Mom   

Friends, Fireworks, & Fun!

Here is what I love about summer.  I make big plans to get so much done because now I have all of this extra time ;) and then we just start having so much fun I forget about everything else and enjoy the ride with my kids.  We are truly having a great summer and so many wonderful experiences as a family of 5.  Man said it right the other night...he met us at the beach one evening after work and he said there was a moment when he took it all in and thought, "This is the life."  We truly feel blessed to have each other and these wonderful girls.  Here is what we have been up to this month.

We were hosting a July 4th BBQ so I had Man set up the beach cover so we wouldn't melt.  Turned out to be a great cover for some pool time.

 

I was home in March and went to visit this little fabric store that had been recommended by more then one person.  One of those people happens to be my cousin.  She has taken up sewing and can out-sew my pants any day of the week.  It made my day that she walked through the door while I was there!  We had great girl talk and picked out some fabrics together.  One set would become July 4th outfits for my girls.  However, at that cost we would be choosing fabrics that did not so much scream JULY 4th!  I really stepped out on this one and made three entirely new patterns.  If you sew, you might realize this was slightly crazy...especially if you knew all of the other sewing that was getting done at this same time.  I was quite pleased with the end products.  Allye's was very special as hers was made with a pattern that my mother passed on to me that she used when I was 2.

When the final products were done we took the girls into these beautiful woods.  It was quiet and peaceful...until Man started trying to make them smile.  Now that is something I wish we had on camera!  He is such a gem.  It is because of him I came home to more than 150 pictures of my girls...with more then just one of them smiling.  Here are a few of my favorites.

He might have had the help of a few Skittles...

July 4th came in with rainy weather altering our plans for a big beach morning with the best neighbors ever, but that was not slowing us down.  Instead?  Breakfast in our pajamas at their house.  She "threw" this together.

It was wonderful!  We played and hung out until lunch when we walked home to start the preparations for the evening.

With a break in the rain we took a quick picture.  But it was a very good thing Mama M brought in back-up.  She came up with some really neat games for the kids to play...

With a small break in the torrential rains our men set up our Smores campfire and drink stand for the neighborhood crowd to join us in the circle.  It was so sad to see so many people "posting" that they did not have any fireworks due to cancellations for weather.  We did not have this problem.  We may or may not have had our own "over the ocean" worthy fireworks show at the bottom of our hill.  It was truly an amazing site from the top and I am so thankful for this experience.  What a sight to see all of the kids running wild with sparklers and pops and smores and lemonade...in the house, out of the house...it was a crazy kind of fun and we can't wait for next year!  We finished off the night with wish lanterns.  We will do these again!

  

Next up we had Allye's first dentist appointment.  I was terrified about how this would go so I did not take my camera for fear she would somehow destroy it during my moment of "let's preserve this memory."  Homegirl does not like anyone to touch her mouth.  Period.  Of course I give all of the warnings and she lays back perfectly, opens her mouth, and has only a slight moment of uneasiness...which was easily cured with the selection of her first dentist toothbrush.  

 

Since she seemed to be handling the big girl duties so well we moved her to the table.  I cannot begin to tell you how this really feels.  All of these moments make my heart weak.  I want to slow this down.  I am truly grasping every single moment with her.

We had another big first last week when Mama M and I let the girls have a sleepover.  I took the two bigs and she took the two littles.  

They were so excited!  That got to eat dinner with each other, watch movies, and play.  There was very little sleep happening in either house.  I will save the details for a full post.

A couple of weeks ago I signed Allye up for Parent's Night Out at her church school.  I had a secret plan to take Olivia and Addison on a girl's night out.  They were thrilled when we only dropped Allye off and drove across the street to the movies.  After munching on popcorn, candies, and drinks we went to eat....appetizers and desserts only!  They thought I lost my mind!  It was awesome!

I took this time to talk with them and show them how I felt about each of them.  This was their favorite.

I let them order any dessert they wanted.  We couldn't finish.

 And finally, a moment I have been working towards for a few months.  Addison announced to me towards the end of school that she wanted me to teach her to read.  I was very ambivalent about this and put her off until she just wouldn't let it go.  After deciding on the method I was going to use we got started.  Because I chose a 100% phonics program it has taken quite awhile to get to the reading part of reading.  I have been amazed, intrigued, baffled, frustrated, ready to quit, happy, sad, well...you name it, I have felt it during this process.  BUT, the reward came tonight when she sat down and read her first book.  The light in her eyes when she realized that she was "doing it" was more then I could hardly stand.  I showered her with kisses and high-fives and Olivia was beyond proud (she has been just as determined to teach her as I have).  That moment is something I will share with her forever.  I am so thankful for every good and bad moment of this experience so that I could witness tonight and be a part of her accomplishment.

 

Living and Loving Life...

--The Mama