Joint Birthday Party

It is just easiest to have one party.  I don’t think it bothers the girls, but I wonder that every year.  We still try to do something special on their birthday for each of them.
This year we had about 18 people here to celebrate, and it was a lot of fun.  The girls had worked hard at making (glitter!) signs in the weeks leading up to the party.  They also made signs detailing the menu.  All this is put up the day of the party, and that is a lot of what they love about parties – getting ready for them.  This was the first year that they were both able to really help me prepare the food.  Madison sliced all the strawberries for her angel food cake.  Ellie peeled and chopped veggies.  I worked on some of the other stuff – cheesy potatoes, cowboy caviar, chopping harder veggies, sloppy joe meat, shredded chicken.  All of it was pretty easy, just kinda time-consuming to cut it up. It definitely went faster with their help.  They also had a chance for some fun.

Then, the guests started arriving…. slowly, because the snow had started.  Last year was ice; this year was slick snow covered roads.

We tucked in, let Pepper greet everyone, and then started the meal.

 

Then, we had dessert.  Madison chose angel food cake with strawberries, spoon dip, and whipped cream.

Ellie chose a DQ ice cream cake.

While others finished their desserts, the girls opened presents.

It is always fun to see their reactions.  They truly love the act of opening gifts and seeing what people thought to give them – sand art, slime kits, hooded sweatshirts, American girl clothes, and “fit bits” to name a few.

 

We remembered to capture a few pictures with the grandparents before they left.  (Forgot to take a picture with us and them…a little disappointing.)

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

I am an entire week (and one day) late on this post.  Sorry about that, Ellie.  We were too busy celebrating for me to get one in on that day, I guess.

You are loved on your birthday, and weeks… years… beyond it.

For your birthday, we went out to eat at the buffet at Sam’s Pizza in Smithville.  You opened your gift from us – a notebook with you and Madison on the front, an outfit, and a panda hat.

 

You are a ray of sunshine with a few worry clouds tossed in at various occasions.  You love to laugh, tell jokes and stories, and be a part of things.  Sometimes you get overwhelmed by things, too – new situations, unknowns, thinking about what could happen.  But we are working on that, and that is normal.  You took a big step of courage when we got Pepper.  You have become more confident around him, and I like to see you grow in that area. 

You love playing school and babies.  You like going to school, too.  You seem to have lots of stories to tell everyday, especially whatever it is that Kacy shared with you that day.  You were pretty proud of your pinch pot from art class, your spelling test scores, and how neatly you can write.  Each of those things you worked at to make them happen.

You love snuggles on laps, holding hands, and being close.  Sometimes I feel guilty because I want space while you crave closeness.  I hope I am giving you what you need.  Oh, the questions I have with you – How far do I push when you worry about something? How do I help you use your words (and you have lots of them!) to get your feeling across? Am I doing things right? Is not picking up your clothes because you don’t care or because you can’t remember to follow directions?

And you have questions for me – How are babies made? How can a dog be two different kinds/breeds? Can I have so-and-so over after school? When can we bake? Why do I have to ___? Do you love me? (You know I do!)

You also like helping.  Many nights when it is time to set the table (your job), you say that, “I just love helping out.  What else can I do?”

I can’t wait to see how you grow and change in this next year.  God has big plans for you, my little curious soul, be ready!