2,190 days

2,190 days old. Give or take a few. In other words, happy 6th birthday!

It's so exciting watching you turn into a little lady. You continue to grow as a little angel, a daughter, a friend, but now a little lady too! Helping you grasp large concepts like heaven and the Son of God; watching you develop close friendships with girls in the neighborhood and learn what it takes to be a good friend; watching your interactions with Khloe and how much you truly love her. It's all so exciting and we just love you so much it makes our hearts burst at the seams! Celebrating your sixth birthday was just as exciting too! Five was a hard one for me to accept, but six just seemed right.

I've been remiss in blogging about your birthday. Goodness, I didn't even know I had missed this! Your birthday was celebrated across two time zones - one in Michigan and one in Iowa. Oh, make that three! Chicago too!

First we started with opening birthday presents at our home with just our family before we kicked off our 9-day Great Midwest Tour. Among other things, you got your first tennis racket (for your tennis lessons!) and my favorite dress on you ever. It's soooo you - long and flowy, twirly and bright!

Then your birthday celebration moved to Iowa. In fact, you woke up on your birthday in Iowa! What a special memory! You got to wake up with your cousins! Sarah made the most special, delicious breakfast that, although it was made just for you, the adults enjoyed it too. Cake batter pancakes with sprinkles and homemade icing as syrup? Ummmmm, yes please! That's a sweet  treat you (or anyone really) should only eat once a year!

 Then, later in the day we met Cassidy's friends at the local park for more birthday song, cupcake treats and playtime.

 Oh, and by this point, do more gifts and cake matter? Yes! On our way home from Iowa to Michigan we had an overnight in Chicago with the Jo's. Of course this meant more gifts and treats.

Finally we arrived home on Saturday, and Sunday was your birthday party with friends. You wanted to have it at Flames Gymnastics Center, but I was so resistant. I get enough of that place all school-year long. How could anyone voluntarily go there if they didn't have to? Do kids really want to play there? The answer to this question is YES. Apparently, six year old's don't mind a big open gym to play, run and dance in. Go figure. And honestly, after being gone nine days, not cleaning up after twelve girls sounded glorious. So, Flames it was! An hour and a half of sheer chaos, constant motion, whirlwind of eating and gift opening, and it was over. As we walked out the door I said, "What just happened?" Pure fun, I guess!

 You choose a "ballerina" themed birthday party

 The whole gang 

Molly, Sotria, Lexi, Lilah, Addison, Abby, Eliana, Gina, and Gabby

(minus Bryce, he refused to participate in the photo)

Back to real time, we finally got around to putting together Kristi's fairy garden present last night. Talk about excitement! I don't know if last night was Christmas Eve, or just the first night her fairy garden was in her room. I can't tell you how many times the last two nights I've been asked if fairies are real. She put great care in building the perfect fairy garden - she planted the seeds delicately, found small Polly Pocket woodland animals and fairies to add to it, sprinkled hand-picked flower petals among the rock path, and watered it. When she asked to put it in her room, she ran right up and got ready for bed faster than I've ever seen. In fact, I didn't even have to ask her twice to put on her pajamas or brush her teeth! (Thank you Kristi!) She kept saying "I've always wanted a fairy garden!"

 Kayla even lined up three of her big fairies around the side to help attract new fairies. When she woke up in the morning she said "I want to see if my seeds have grown at all. Look! Fairies came! The petals are all moved around! I think they came!"

Seize the moment

 Spontaneous boating is the best! It was a Friday night after work, there was rain in the forecast, dark clouds overhead, but we were itching to go boating. (It's been COLD here!) So we hemmed and hawed, but deciding not to waste a  perfect opportunity, we went for it even though we were in pants and sweatshirts. As Kayla pointed out "If it rains we can just turn around". Good point girl! We had a great evening, dinner at Quay and a calm cruise on the lake. We were the only boat out, but what a peaceful night it was! 

So peaceful

Lesson learned: Seize the moment!

Summer activities

Friends and cousins and playmates! We got to spend 3 weeks with Emma and Elliott during their visit with Miss Melissa's family from New Orleans. The kids celebrated Emma's 10th birthday, and thanks to Jamie (a Pinterest queen) the kids made soooooo many crafts including sewing purses and making these Monster's Inc Rice Krispee's treats. 

 Oh boy. Ohhhhh booooooy. So glad I was not outside to witness this.

Good job girls! Graduation from Sporties All-Stars and another metal! Sporties All-Stars, the 6-8 year class, included lacrosse, football, and baseball this year. I thought it all sounded fun, but the girls did not enjoy Sporties this year. I think after four years they've maybe outgrown it. They didn't show any enthusiasm for class each week, which honestly I found a little amusing. It was 45-minutes of physical activity once a week at a park with free snacks. What could be so bad? It's not that they complained about it, but when class was postponed for rain, I'm not going to lie, there were loud cheers. Regardless of the weekly torture (i.e. eating and playing at a park) Kayla endured, she is proud to have earned a metal!

Daddy's mini me

And Tiger's fans!

(Khloe 27 months)

Birthday beauties

Kayla was thrilled to make her first visit to a salon for hair, nails and makeup for Molly's 7th birthday party. The girls got to be pampered and they loved it.

We promised to show this picture at their high school graduation parties

 Kayla and Madison... or Marissa? I still can't tell them apart! Look at that makeup and those glittery nails. (The daughter of Kayla's first grade teacher and one of Kayla's classmates)

 Oh so girly and loving it

Molly is a horse-lover and horse-rider so all her gifts centered around horses.

One thing that came out of Molly's party is that they organized a sleep-over once again at Molly's house in two weeks. They are so excited about it!

They don't stay little, do they?

Silly and beautiful

On our way to the last night of VBS!

Vacation Bible School

Super Heros! That was the theme for this year's VBS. It was a wonderful (crazy, hectic, exhausting) week full of great lessons and ministry to hundreds of kids in pre-school to 5th grade - over 300 kids! Aaron and I carved out time in our schedules to help out too, myself with leading the first grade class (there were over 40 of them!) and Aaron with the security team.

Three and a half hours every night for five nights? I'm exhausted, but glad I could be part of the Super Hero Squad team!

Singing and bible story time in the sanctuary to start the program each night

 The Super Heros and the Villans
(And no, that is not Kristi on the left. Sure does look like it, doesn't it?! Kayla and I couldn't help but stare at her all night because she looks so much like Aunt Kristi. I was kind of expecting her to spontaneously combust into Kristi!)

Part of my first grade super hero recruits

The Super Hero's - Word Woman (See? She looks like Kristi, doesn't she?!), Guardian of Goodness and Titan of Truth!
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord!

Our fearless leaders, AKA wanna-be super heros

There was a competition between the girls and the boys all week to see who would raise the most money. The final tally? The girls brought in $1,200+ and the boys brought in $1,500+! That's amazing!

We made masks, capes, shields, and wrist guards all week long. There were songs, stories, snacks, crafts and recreation time. Kayla and her friend Abby were inseparable, and quite goofy too. Super Hero capes turned into shawls.

 Think these outfits could've been any more planned? They weren't. Think they're minds could be any more similar? They already are. Kayla picked out what she wanted to wear and when she came downstairs to show me her outfit and asked if pink and orange match, I said "sure honey" just wanting to move the process along and get out the door. Apparently Abby had the same exact thought process going on that Kayla did! This just cracked me up! What are the chances?!