Happy Birthday, Ellie!

Today* you turned 9!  Can you believe it?  There are so many things that have happened since you were born.  We have moved twice – one big move from Columbus and one short move a mile down the road.  Your daddy switched jobs.  Your mommy got a job.  You started school.  You’ve made friends, learned how to wield a knife while cutting veggies, started baking delicious treats on your own, built many Legos sets, built your baby doll collection (I have no idea how many babies you have to take care of!), played soccer, switched rooms (multiple times), moved into a loft bed, overcome a fear of dogs, acquired a hermit crab, tried out basketball, rode a bus, flew on a plane, gone to two oceans, traveled to new places, had many sleepovers, discovered YouTube, read lots of books, played on a ninja warrior course, and learned you loved ribs! 

The list could go on.  You have lived a good life in the past nine years. And you bring joy into others people’s lives.  You have a knack for always having something to say, a smile that you are willing to give away, a goofy side, and a desire to include other people.  You ask good questions when someone is sharing something – when Grandpa told about his time in Nepal, when we have devotions, as you read books, after you learn something in school, and when you eavesdrop into adult conversations.  Your mind is always ready to learn.

You love watching YouTubers – Brooklyn and Bailey, Kelly Maple, the Holderness Family, and more.  They inspire you to create, try, and do new things.  (They also lure you in and make you want to watch more and more and more!) 

This year for your birthday, Grandma and Grandpa E surprised you on Sunday (a day early) with some DQ ice cream cupcakes. 

    

While you were hoping they would do that, you didn’t expect them on Sunday when your birthday was on Monday.  You had a great time showing them some things and sharing a dessert. 

    

On Monday, Daddy fixed you some ribs – the only thing you have asked for on your birthday.  I put together some cheesy potatoes to go with it, and we were set for a birthday feast! 

We invited Grandma Y to join us.  I am pretty sure you pounded down at least 6 meaty ribs… maybe 7.  It was an impressive feat. 

We opened a few presents – a mustard seed necklace from Grandma, to remind you to have faith like a mustard see and it will grow mighty and big!, and a wheelchair/doctor set for your American girl dolls.  You had been asking for this for years… and you finally got it!

    

We ended the night with cookie sundaes, smiles, and hugs.  It was a good day. 

This year is sure to bring more adventures for you between school, an Ediger family vacation to Hocking Hills, a Yoh family trip to Minnesota, the second half of what has been a fabulous school year for you, and more.  I hope you continue to share your heart with us, uphold friendships, find ways to create bonds with new friends, seek the heart of Jesus, and make memories with Madison.  We love you!

Happy Birthday, Madison!

I never really get her birthday post in the right year, but at least I always remember her birthday! 

This was a different kind of day, and maybe in some ways, one of the best birthdays.  Last year, I finally let her have a mini friend birthday party.  This year was just a little different.  Ellie approached me the night before her birthday and asked if I could surprise Madison with some friends (or at least one).  I said I would try, but people may not be interested in that considering everything going on.  Madison’s friend, Ellie P., was able to come, along with her sister, Bailey who is Ellie’s friend.  So, I tricked Madison into coming with me to MCC… and then detoured to pick up the guests.  Meanwhile, Ellie and Jeremy frantically worked at decorating the house for the party.  It was perfect timing!  The girls played Googly Eyes.  Then, we ate coffee cake and fruit.

It was a short hour, but it was a fun surprise!

The next surprise came with a trip to Olive Garden.  It was Madison’s request, but she thought we wouldn’t go since we haven’t eaten in a restaurant for months now.  We decided to go in mid-afternoon hoping to miss a lunch or supper crowd.  We were fairly lucky.  We all feasted.  AND Madison got a dessert “on the house” (an idiom the girls learned while there).  She chose the dolcini and the waitress said since they were small, she could have both kinds!

    

About an hour later, there was another surprise! Gloria came with a gift for Madison.  She had purchased a mustard seed in a pendant form Etsy.  Madison loves it, and learned there was a Bible verse that went with it. 

Shortly after Grandma Yoh left, Grandma and Grandpa E came as a surprise bringing angel food cake and spoon dip.  This is when we actually blew out the candles. 

   

We gave her a gift of a cute American Girl doll school desk, which was not on any list of hers, but she enjoys. 

She has had a good year and persevered through a lot without much complaint.  She didn’t do sports this year in an organized way, but she had new adventures at school.  It has been fun to hear about her specials – band, choir, and PE.  In band they worked on playing bucket drums; she is excited about the introduction of instruments later this year.  I wonder which instrument she will choose to try out.  They also played these things called boom whackers, which are tubes of various sizes that make different notes when they are struck on something.  In PE, she learned new games, figured out how to change clothes in a locker room, and has had fun in general.  Mrs. Greer (her gym teacher) commented on her basketball skills to me one day in the hallways.  We’ll see about that. 

She blows through books faster than I can keep up.  She has started on my Babysitter’s Club series, but she takes that one kinda in bits and pieces.  She eats up fantasy books – Land of Stories series, Harry Potter series, Ever After series, and more I don’t remember.  I love that she snuggles in places, turns over in bed with her (new) book lamp, and gets lost reading. 

She loves her sister.  I think she would say Ellie is her best friend, even though she has a group of close friends at school.  They are close – sharing secrets, laughs, clothes, and playtime.  And they almost always get along.  It will be an interesting road they will walk as they learn to take on their own interests and still maintain closeness.  I hope their friendship continues to endure.

She is up for adventure and surprises.  She gets excited by little things.  She loves lists, organizing, and small things.  She has a compassionate heart. 

I can’t wait to see what this year #11 brings for her.  I imagine she will not hesitate to enjoy every moment!