We celebrated Daddy hard on his birthday. It was a school and work day, but the girls and I did everything we could to make his day special and let him know how much we love and appreciate him. 💜
When my plan for dessert is a birthday approved banana cream pie with caramel drizzle and chocolate sauce, but Baker Ella insists her daddy NEEDS a tie-dye cake complete with swirl ice crea, for his birthday (inspired by a recent episode of Kids' Baking Championship on the Food Network)...we roll with it! Doesn't it look good?
Happy 34th birthday to my guy! Isn't it crazy to think that we've spent the last 11 birthdays together? OR that the birthday card I have you on your birthday 11 years ago was what gave you the courage to ask me out? I love that I get to do life by your side.
I hope you always remember 34 was the year of the tie-dye cake, poodle love, taco trucks, stomach aches and sick kiddos, crazy bedtimes...but most importantly a house full of ladies who adore you!
This was moments before Juliet busted out of Joe's arms, climbed onto the table and attacked a cake. #notherfirstrodeo #eyeontheprize
Abby was so excited about her special birthday gift from Mommy and Daddy. She is loving photography!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q55SzbOJj0U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLwyz8Kgl8k
Seven: the year getting new clothes for your birthday became very exciting!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XIE5UZwk50
Ella was so proud and excited because she helped Nagymama pick this gift out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QOevY_YZQ0
To our precious little girl-
When I look at you and the little girl you are growing into, I remember myself as a seven year old girl. I was still an only child when I turned seven. I loved to play school. I got my very first tape (the My Girl Soundtrack) for my seventh birthday and loved to listen to it in my Walkman. My favorite show was Full House and I had New Kids on the Block sheets on my bed. I played school any chance I got and loved to take walks while pretending I was in the Secret Garden. Playing dolls and house was always my favorite. My best friend's name was Allison and we loved to have lemonade stands in the summer where we would also sell the veggies from her mom's garden. I ALWAYS had a book in my hand and would read everything I could any chance I got. I loved to spend my afternoons and weekends at Nagymama and Nagypapa's house. Seven marked the year I became a big sister and my life changed in one of the best possible ways! You are a lot like me. My sweet girl!
You love life, waking up most days with the sun and chatting from the moment you open your eyes. Few things get you more excited than a good routine. You love structure and order! Where there is none, you create it. Lists, charts and plans are some of your favorite things. You love getting ready and put lots of thought into the outfits and accessories you choose every morning. It's really fun to see you express yourself through your style. You are lovely, beautiful inside and out and always lots of fun.
You love to read your Bible and often remind us of the truth that God is growing in your heart. You ask great questions and love to memorize scripture. I can see a deep desire in your heart to live out what God calls you to. You want to do things right and struggle when you don't, but in that you are learning about God's grace in real ways, life transforming ways. I love knowing that (at just seven) God is who you turn to when you need help and peace in a struggle. I love the way you pray for your friends when they are sick. I'm thankful for the ways you remind us to pray over you. I have no doubt that God is drawing you closer to himself and I'm so so excited for the plans he has for you. Oh how I pray that you would know how deeply God loves you and that you would run to him with your whole heart...for your whole life.
You are a leader, a really good friend and sister. Your little sisters love spending time with you and miss you so much when you are at school. You love to teach them anything they need to know. Right now, that's teaching Ella how to read and teaching Juliet how to walk. You love to teach and want to be a teacher when you grow up. The playroom is set up as your classroom 90% of the time. Your easel in the playroom is currently decorated with Black History Month posters and a weather chart. Playing school and house with your dolls and your sisters is definitely your favorite. When you are not at school (and loving every minute of it), you are at home playing school.
You love to read. I love when we read together. You are reading chapter books, picture books to your sisters (they love curling up and reading with you) and magazines (you especially like the quizzes inside). You continue to grow as an artist and love every art project/craft you can get your hands on. Not only are you enjoying ballet and tap, but this year you have started taking my kids pop class. You're a natural and it's fun to see you let loose through dance.
You loved wearing your new gifts from Mama after opening them on the morning of your birthday.
Your teacher sent me this picture of you on your birthday!
You had a great family birthday dinner. This year, you chose a Taco Night Fiesta! Papa, Uncle Cory, Grandma, Casey, Aunt Cyncy and her friend Liz came to celebrate with you. It was a fun crowd!
Loving your new Shopkins watch from Grandma and Casey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOvToP5X9Wc
You were very excited when you opened your gift from Aunt Cyncy: tickets to see The Sound of Music!
This is Abby's "excited to go play with Papa's gift" face! She couldn't wait to get her hands on that steering wheel and play Mario Kart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e34ad_BPlEg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSAHVyuHA14
I love our post birthday tradition of going on a Starbucks date to write thank you notes together. The list is always long and the quality time is sweet. It's a great reminder for both of us of how much we have to be thankful for!
We love you, sweet girl! I'm so proud of you. I'm especially thankful that God has given me the joy of being your mommy. I love you like a rocketship...to the moon and back! xoxo, Mommy
