My 5 Year Old!

Last Tuesday, my precious girl turned 5! I won't bore you by saying this a million times, so I'm just going to say it once very passionately...I CAN NOT BELIEVE SHE IS ALREADY 5!! Okay, I think I've got it out of my system enough to get through this blog post. :-)

We had a great birthday week planned for Ella and it was all so much fun!

We woke up Tuesday morning and her daddy and I took her for a birthday donut breakfast date before school.




I love traditions, so one tradition I started at Ella's 1st bday was taking a picture of her at 3:32p.m., the exact time she was born. I love it. So here is her picture this year. VERY sadly, this was the first year I was not by her side at that exact minute to wish her happy birthday, but thankfully my mom was...so she got to take her 3:32 pic this year.


After school/work, we planned a very fun birthday dinner at Chuck E Cheese with a few of Ella's besties! This is tradition #2. Every year we try to get together with the Murrells and Lewises on Ella's exact birthday. And then of course they come to her birthday party too. Laney, Joshua and Ella were all born within 2 1/2 mths of each other, so we started this tradition for their 1st birthdays. Here they are that 1st year with their itty bitty selves! I wish I could go back to that day and squeeze those little cheeks!













While Ella and I waited for Daddy to get home from work before heading to Chuck E Cheese, Ella bounced some in the bounce house we borrowed from the Billups for her bday party. Thanks Billups!! We love you!








We had the best time at Chuck E Cheese!


Ella and Laney never left each others' side. They played every game together and rode every little ride together.












We were able to wrangle them in for a quick picture. Joshua, Ella, Laney & Gabe!




Apparently this was a wild ride!


This was the funniest thing. They were on a roller coaster simulator. Every time the roller coaster on the screen went down a hill, they would giggle so hard and squish their little faces together as if they were actually on the ride. It was adorable.












Ella, Laney, Miles & Sam playing skee ball.




Daddy and Ella!


Birthday brownies!






Joshua & Gabe gave Ella this very fun My Little Pony. Of course, Ella loved it and slept with it that night.


Kristin MADE this dress! I'm amazed. Not only did she make this for Ella, she made a miniature one exactly like it that fits her Build A Bear Bunny. It's adorable!


We are so blessed by these friends!! So thankful they are in our lives and that we can share big days with them.

I keep thinking I am going to write a letter to Ella every year on her birthday like my friend Amanda does. But I just haven't done it yet. I am determined to though. I just really struggle with finding the words to describe the immense amount of love I have for Ella. I could sum it up with saying sometimes I feel like my heart is going to explode, but I'd rather go into maybe a little more details than just that. :-)

Happy birthday baby girl!

Snow Days!!!!

5 snow days to be exact. We had 5 fun days of snow, off of work & school, in Texas. It was a blast. I love my job, but to have that many days off with my hubby and sweet girl was priceless.

When Ella looked out the window to see all the snow that first morning, she gave the biggest gasp and left behind her itty bitty hand prints.


We ate breakfast and got dressed as quickly as possible to go play!!!


Catching snow flakes on our tongues.


Front yard


Back yard


I need to watch out, this girls got a good arm.


We did a lot of throwing the snow up in the air!






Even the dogs loved the snow. By the way, we got a new puppy (the blonde one) that I haven't introduced yet. I'll leave that for another post because it's kind of funny why we acquired her. But she is precious and so sweet.


Ella and her are great buds.




Just some cuteness for you!








Ella and her daddy got into a great snow ball fight!




Ella about to lob a good one at her daddy.


Isn't watching snow fall at night just the most beautiful thing. Heath and I stayed up really late one night watching a movie. Right at midnight, the snow just started pouring down. It was breathtaking. I'm so glad we were up to see it. If I was a gifted photographer I would have been able to capture the beauty of it, but instead I am left with this.

It's been an awesome week to live in North Texas! Now I'm ready for the snow to go away and it to warm up for Ella's birthday party next week!! :-)