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    

Allye Turns 2...Can We Stop the Clock Now Please?

My baby turned two.  I am still in denial.  I will still feel this way in twenty more years, and I am ok with that. 

A wedding scheduled for one of our family members in the middle of my birthday hub-bub (three to throw in less than thirty days) seemed slightly stressful at first.  Then I decided I would remove the stress, throw the party at the beach, and do it family style.  Best thought I have had in a year.

...........................................

When I stopped and really thought about it, I was quite thrilled to be able to actually have people celebrate Allye with us on her special day.  That really doesn't happen too often, especially with family members.  Not only were we going to have family, but it was going to be our entire family.  WOOHOO!  

Some things must happen, no matter what, on your birthday in our house.  The first is that your chair must be decorated with the silver star streamer that has been around since before you were born...and there must be a balloon on your chair. 

Allye was so surprised to hear it was her birthday that morning.

    

Next we headed out and spent most of the day in the pool.  Having the pool at the house helped her confidence in the water tremendously.  

She has not always been really sure about the water, but this summer brought her a long way, almost too far.  She is reaching the, "I am not afraid of this," point in time.  It was a little chilly outside on this day, which did not matter since the pool was heated, but I was determined from the first day to get a picture of all of the kids with the frog for her birthday.  So, we counted to three, jerked them all out of the pool, stepped back, snapped the picture, and then we quickly plopped them all back in.  Chilly might not be a strong enough word now that I think about it.

 

That afternoon we got cleaned up and dried out and ready for our party.  I bribed begged Allye to take some pictures for me...she was not in the mood.  That is the moment in time when I have to go with the flow.  So, we started with the frog.

I asked her how old she was and she said, "Four!"  ... and held up five fingers.  :)

Meme can always lighten the mood.  Once Meme got her going we were off and running with excitement, and great pictures of our sweet two year old.

After a great dinner of Allye's favorite foods we got to open presents together and there were plenty of people to play with them all!

Dessert time was next and in discussions with my mom I was telling her that I didn't really want to do a traditional birthday cake.  She suggested that we make different kinds of pie.  What a FABULOUS idea!  Sometimes she has these.  ;)  That is what makes her a Meme.  So we did.  I gave Allye a slice of the banana pudding pie to start with.  Doesn't it look lovely?

She blew out the candles, took a bite or two, surveyed the other pies and decided she would be having chocolate pie instead.  Lots of chocolate pie.  When you are two you can do that because no one wants you to act 2 on your birthday.  It was a great day and I am so thankful we could all be together for our girl's day.  A lot of effort and precise scheduling was done by my step-brothers and their families and I will be forever grateful.  Thank you.

Dear Allye,

     On the day you were born I was not expecting you that day.  I was supposed to be going to a football game to watch your biggest sister cheer.  I was still unsure, after having nine months to think about it, how I could possibly love you like I loved your sisters.  I was afraid of so many things, but then you were there.  You gave me no time to ponder or adjust any further.  The moment they handed you to me all of my fears and worries washed away.  For two years you have given our family so many wonderful memories.  You most certainly have your own personality, much like your big sister's, Olivia.  While you have many, many words, you don't have to speak to let anyone know how your are feeling.  People love to tell me that your eyebrows do all of the talking.  It is true, you do have the best facial expressions ever.  In one moment you can be so serious and the next full of laughter.  You are a smart little whip and bring me new challenges each day.  I suppose you will always know that you have more "room to roam" than the others did...the problem seems to be you know exactly what to do with that and it is not always for good.  You have a tender, mothering heart already when you are taking care of your babies.  I look forward to seeing more of that as you grow.    After having three children I often think about the birth order.  I have no doubt that I was given each of you in the exact order I needed you.  Every day you remind me not to take this whole mothering thing too seriously, to stop and laugh, that whatever I think is more important than what you want me to do really is not, that food stains on clothes really are ok, that climbing is definitely the "in" thing, that there is no such thing as too many hugs and kisses, that laughter always follows tears, and that the best is yet to come because each day with you is always better than the last.  Thank you for making our lives sweeter one "sugars" at a time my sweet girl.

                                                                                           I will love you always,

                                                                                           Mom

 

8 Years Old.

My first born turned 8, the 1st of the month.  Every time I look at her I wonder, "How did this go by so quickly?" followed closely by, "I can't possibly have an 8 year old."  I live in semi-denial about this most days.  To top it all off she had to go and want a sleepover party this year.  Doesn't that mean something?  I really wanted to tell her she wasn't old enough for that, but she is also smart, this one.  It wouldn't have ever worked.  So...we had a sleepover party.

 The place where I dream about all of the things I am going to do for a party included making sleeping bags for each of the girls.  Then I came back to reality and came to the above conclusion.  I gave myself a pat on the back for this one.  While it did require an abundance of furniture re-organizing and clearing out of said playroom....it was t.o.t.a.l.l.y. worth it!

  

I brought out quilts left behind by my grandmother and a very special knit/crocheted blanket (sorry I don't know how to tell) made by my best friend's grandmother for me years ago.  This might have been my favorite thing in the room.  

 

Olivia requested that we do nails that night so I set up this little station with a new book I found just in time.

The birthday girl's other request for the evening was to go bowling.  So, I loaded up the girls early in the afternoon and we hit the bowling lanes first.  This was quite comical.  The big girls did wonderful and were such helpers for the little ones.  Each time it was time for the little sisters to bowl the big sisters would run and grab the metal "ball slope" and push it right into place, hold it still, and cheer when the ball made it to the pins.  I could have watched that for hours.  

When we returned home they were so excited to put on their pajamas and start the sleepover part of the evening, which obviously had to begin with cake.  At Olivia's request we re-invented an ice cream sandwich cake we made for Man earlier this year.

cake recipe here

After a long, fun night of arts and crafts, nail polishing, and eating I finally turned in at 12:30.  However, I was not the last woman standing.  Addison was bright-eyed and on her second wind.  There is no telling when she finally fell asleep...and I am ok not knowing that information.  ;)

I had a lot of neat ideas for the morning breakfast but settled on doughnut holes dipped in icing and covered in sprinkles.  I knew the girls would love this make-it-yourself treat.  Served up with eggs and bacon too... the birthday girl's favorite!

Due to a family wedding we had to have her party the last weekend in September and just have a family celebration on her actual birthday.  No child ever seems to mind two full days of celebration...and I was fully informed of all expectations.  Ahem.  

So....we started the day with chocolate chip muffins because birthday girl LOVES chocolate.  Whatever word can mean more than LOVES...that is the word you should insert here.

As a special treat I signed Allye up for an extra day of Mom's Morning Out so Olivia and I could spend the morning together.  She was beyond thrilled.  We rushed straight home and she made her requested birthday cake (yes, number 2) all by herself (also her request).  That is my girl.

This is new territory in our house and I hold my breath every.single.time.

Before picking up her little sisters we snapped some quick pictures to remember her special day.  

She chose Mexican for dinner, not the kind that can be cooked at home so we ate out and returned for her, first, "made all by herself" cake.  She chose Chess Cake, a Meme recipe handed down.  Her father's feelings were not hurt at all.  It happens to be one of his favorites too.  

It was truly a wonderful celebration of our beautiful girl.

...............................................

My Sweet Olivia,

     

     My what a year you have had.  The image of who you are going to be has truly come to light for us as we have watched you.  Always a determined, strong-willed, loving child, you are transforming into something I would never have imagined, only dreamed of.  While it is easy to see how you outwardly have grown and matured, it is very hard to accept.  There are times when I look at you and I see a small infant just moments old.  Other times I see the tiny toddler who could climb on anything and everything and communicate fully without uttering a word.  My how times have changed.  Talking is not a problem for you at all these days!  But, most days I look at you with complete admiration and in total awe.  You are growing into a young girl that is smart, caring, loving, compassionate, helpful, thoughtful, critically thinking, the list truly goes on and on.  However, there is one characteristic about you that I am most proud of, and that is your love for the Lord.  I can honestly say I have always been skeptical of professed salvation and baptism in very young children.  But, God has used you to show me that I was so very wrong.  The light in your eyes when you talk about the Lord is something that brings me to my knees.  My proudest moments are when I see you shining for Him.  The way you are not ashamed and the innocence you have in believing that everyone believes.  I hope that you are never ashamed and that you always let your light shine, because my sweet Olivia, it is very bright!

     There is a small calendar that was a gift to our family last year.  Each day there is a verse that I try to read.  Some days I find that I have not turned the page in several days but stood in total silence when I flipped it the morning of your birthday.  Tears flowed after just the first line.  I knew in that moment I wanted to forever keep those words written for you.

          "You are a work in progress.  God is molding and fashioning you into a person with whom He wants to live forever.  Because of this, you have the hope that you are not going to be the same person tomorrow that you are today.  If you are opening your life to God's love, and you desire to have God's love work in you and through you, then you are going to be more like Christ tomorrow than you are right now.  Next week, you will be even more like Christ.  Next year, you will be even more like Him.  And so on."

    Olivia, I am so thankful that you were a gift given to us to care for and guide through this wonderful life.  You made me a mom and us a family.  Your spirit for life is contagious and I feel blessed that we were chosen to be your parents.  Although we will fail you many times as parents, I assure you that we love you more than words can say and hope and pray that you will always love us too.   I love you my sweet, sweet Olivia.

                                                                                                          Love,
                                                                                                          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.

............................................................

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