Emerson's 5th birthday party

Emerson was very specific when I asked her what she wanted to do for her party, "I want a Fancy Nancy art party" she said. Okay. Not sure what that is but let's run with it.

Fancy Nancy is one of Emy's current loves. If you are not familiar with this character, she is a little girl (age 6 or 7 I think) who likes all things fancy. She dresses fancy. Talks with big fancy words. And does everything with flair. She really is a cute character.

Like any typical 5 year old, Emy is obsessed with different toys and characters every month. Her taste is always changing. One thing has stayed constant since she was a baby. Emerson loves art. LOVES it. So, her request for an art party was not a surprise at all.

I had a few road blocks when planning Emerson's party this year. 1. I wasn't sure how to tie Fancy Nancy and Art Party together. 2. Emerson's birthday happens to fall smack dab into my busiest time of year business wise and therefore my time allotted for party prep was really small.

In the end I decided to basically plan an art party and then decorate it "fancy". It definitely was not the most coordinated and themed party ever but it was girly and artsy and Emerson loved it.

We decorated with tons of streamers and sparkly tulle and lace placemats. We hung balloons overhead. When we put them up Emy said, "Oh Mommy. I love that. Can we keep it like that forever?" It was cute.

The kids arrived and got to pick out some "pearls" and a ribbon halo to wear. They had to get "fancied up". Then they snacked and painted a "mural" on a wall while we waited for everyone to arrive. When all the guests were here, the kids had an art lesson with Miss Kristi. They painted cupcakes. After the art class, the kids got to decorate their own cupcakes. Then it was time to sing Happy Birthday. Afterwards, the kids went back to painting and some just ran off the sugar high.

Overall, Emerson had a blast. She loved having all of her closest friends with her. She loved getting fancy and obviously, loved the art. Afterwards she kept hugging me and saying, "Mommy thank you so much for the best party. You are the best mommy". Can't beat that!

Emerson is FIVE

Emerson's actual birthday was a Thursday this year. That worked out perfectly because that is the one day a week that we don't have a scheduled activity in the morning. So, we could really celebrate and make the day special.

We played around the house and snuggled and watched cartoons. Once we finally got our act together, we went to Chick-Fil-A for a special birthday lunch. Emerson was wearing a pin that said, "It's my birthday" on it. Let me tell you, she got more "stuff" on her birthday because of that pin! Case in point, at Chick-fil-A we ordered our lunch just like normal and when they brought out our food they had a bouquet of balloons for Emy and told her happy birthday. She thought that was the coolest thing!

After lunch we hopped in the car and headed to the airport to pick up Mimi! The kids (and myself) were super excited to see Mimi. We hadn't seen her in a few months and it was extra special for her to arrive on Emy's special day.

We came home and the kids rested while Mimi and I got caught up. Afterwards, it was time for dance class. Emerson always has dance on Thursdays but this week was extra special. Not only was it her birthday but her class got to wear their Hallloween costumes to class AND perform a special routine for the parents.

After dance, Emerson got to pick where we went out to eat. She chose Flying Fish- no surprise... She is in love with their shrimp and hush puppies: ) We did family gifts and dessert at the restaurant before coming home to end her special day. She enjoyed it and had a great time and LOVES being able to say that she is 5!

Tomorrow

Today has been hard. The past few weeks have been hard. Basically I have been having a hard time since Ashton's birthday. Because I knew this was next. This time of year business is so insanely busy that I can't think straight. Literally. I am a complete mess. And on top of everything else, tomorrow has been quickly approaching. I have seen it on the horizon. I have talked about it. Prayed about it. And now I am teary about it.

It is here. Emerson is turning 5 tomorrow. Yes, all this drama is over a birthday. Birthdays are joyful. They truly are. But this one has me in a completely weepy state. My baby is going to be FIVE tomorrow. How did that happen?

There have been other birthdays. And I know there will be many more. But this one has hit me in the gut. Like a ton of bricks. Five. She is so independent. Five. She starts school next year. Five. She will be out in the world in just a few short months. Five. Have I prepared her for the world? Five. No longer a baby or a toddler but a young lady. Five. How did this happen?

I know tomorrow and this weekend will be about celebration but right now mommy is grieving. My sweet, innocent, baby is gone. Replaced with a kind, intelligent and beautiful young lady. My baby girl that I wished for my entire life is not a baby anymore. Not even close.

Let me end with a letter to my daughter.

Dear Emerson,

Tomorrow is your fifth birthday. You are so excited to finally be five. You love birthdays and can't wait to celebrate with family and friends this weekend. This year you are having a Fancy Nancy art party to incorporate two things that you love. I hope mommy can make it just as wonderful of a party as you are hoping for.

Emy, mommy loves you so much. I can't believe that you are five. I don't know where the years went. Of course I remember the day you were born. It doesn't seem like that long ago. It was the best day. You were the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. And you continue to become more beautiful every year.

 More than your beauty on the outside, your heart is so kind and loving. You look out for others. You are a great friend and a fabulous sister. You are empathetic and joyful and your laughter is completely infectious.

You are so creative and love all of the arts. You love to dance, sing, and create works of art. Your passion for art is so special. I hope you will enjoy the art lessons that mommy and daddy got you for your birthday this year.

 Last week at your school, we had teacher conferences and your teachers had nothing but great things to say. Literally they said it was hard for them to come up with something to have me work with you on. They said if they could have an entire class of Emerson's they would love it. They told me how you are kind and the best helper. All your classmates come to you with problems or when they need help. Your teachers went on and on about how intelligent and ahead for your age you are. I hope and pray that you always love school and want to be the leader.

This past few months have been full of change in our family. We spent the summer with our old house on the market and moving into a new house in a new neighborhood. I hope that you know that we did that for you. For your education. For your future. To give you the best we can. To put you in the place where we feel God wanted you to be.

The next year will be full of change too. Major changes for our family as you start kindergarten. There will be stress. Tears. Arguments and exhaustion. But it will be exciting. And fun. And a wonderful adventure. And we will do it together!

Most importantly, I hope that you know mommy and daddy are proud of you and love you to pieces. You are our big girl. Our precious angel. Our Emy Rae, M-n-M, stinkpot, babydoll, sugar, love, Emerson. You are our joy.

Love, Mommy 

 

Ashton is TWO!

I cannot believe that Ashton is already two. This year has absolutely flown by and my baby is not really a baby anymore. Tear.

Ashton is such a big boy. He loves all boy things, cars, trucks, blocks, balls, running, playing outside and of course climbing.

He is such a chatty little guy too. Emerson was not saying a whole lot by two but Ashton talks and talks and talks. He is using 4-5 word sentences consistently and most strangers can understand him pretty well. The week leading up to his birthday his favorite thing to tell people was, "Ashy blow out candles. Sing happy birthday to me!" He was so excited that his birthday was coming up.

Ashton is a pretty decent eater when he wants to be. He is very opinionated and also very sweet. He loves to snuggle anything...you, stuffed animals, pillows, whatever. He gives great little bear hugs and is so precious when he runs to you. He is a great sleeper and when he wakes up in the morning he has to climb into bed with you and drink his milk. It is a habit that I hope never ends.

Ashton's birthday fell on a Wednesday this year (the first day of school) and so we did a family celebration that evening. Ashy has really shown signs of wanting his own bike recently so we got him a little one for his birthday since Emerson's trike is still way too big. He LOVES it.

That night we had a little cupcake at home and Ashton was thrilled that he FINALLY got to blow out a candle and have us sing happy birthday to him.

So excited and waiting for cake!

 As for a "real" birthday party, Ash did not get one this year. Bad mommy, I know. Please remember that we moved 3 weeks before and I just could not wrap my head around a theme and invites and planning activities for little ones and decorating and all the details. Instead we had an un-party party. Makes sense right?

We had family and 4 of our closest friends over. That is it. There did end up being a bunch of kids with just the 4 families, but it was fun. There was nothing planned, they just ran around and played like kids should. Then we ate and had cake and everyone left for the TCU home opener that night.

And all I got was two measly pictures. Poor kid.
Next year buddy, we will throw you a great party! I promise:)

2012 First day of Preschool

Ah, the first day of school. It is the glorious day that our kids get back into their routine and mommy gets a break!

The kids are both at UCC again and we are still very happy there. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this will be Emerson's last year there. That is an entirely different post though. Anyways, we took some pics at home before school and then a few at school for traditions sake.

This is Ashton's classroom this year. No classroom pictures from Emy because she is a big kid and gets dropped off outside:(

 And I got to be in a picture! Thanks Kat:)

Emerson's 4th birthday party

Emerson started talking about her 4th birthday over the summer. Seriously. So it has been a long time coming. From the beginning she was very clear about the fact that she wanted a "jump jump" (bounce house) and to be a princess. We decided that it would be a costume party so that her friends could dress up however they wanted but that she would most definitely be a princess.

I was determined to do this party as much on the cheap as possible. Perfect example...I came up with the party colors of pink, purple and orange because I had plates and napkins in those colors already in my pantry as left overs from other events. Done.

The main event at the party was definitely the bounce house. I knew that we needed other activities because everyone would not jump at the same time. I set up pumpkin decorating and halloween color pages for the kids to do. We also had our playset and sandbox all cleaned up a ready to go.

When it came time to send out invites this year I asked Emerson who she wanted to invite. She did pretty good coming up with a list of her closest friends. The list consisted of all girls and two boys (not including baby brothers). This means that at the party we had 6 princesses, 4 fairies, a ballerina, a girl owl, a dinosaur, red iron man and a cute little giraffe. Can you imagine all the tulle and glitter?

The only two little boys at the party did not know each other. They are friends from different circles. The funniest thing happened. One of the boys was jumping and came out of the bounce house. He spots the other little boy sitting at a table and points to him and yells, "Hey, you. Boy. Orange boy. Come in here with me, boy." And the funniest part was that the other little boy totally ran in to play with him. Like they had to stick together amongst all the little girls. It was hilarious.

all dressed up and ready to go

happy to be a giraffe

the kids tables

food table minus the hot dog mummies that were in the oven.

pumpkins to decorate

ashton kept sneaking to the food table to reach up and grab whatever he could.

look at all the tulle!

time to eat.

one friend came in a full sleeping beauty wig. And totally wore it the entire time. It was awesome.

Even the little ones had cupcakes.

had to get a shot of the back of ashton's precious costume. He left the head piece on the entire time like it was no big deal:)

This shot is so funny because this daddy came with two snow whites. One of them stripped off her costume half way through the party so dad stuck it in his back pocket. No big deal.

the sandbox got lots of use.

the playset got lots of use.

Again, the tulle!

and I had to include this sweet picture of Ashton and grandmom.

I realize after going through the pictures that I never got a picture of our precious food creation- hot dog mummies. They were hot dogs wrapped up in breadstick strips with a little face peeking out. It was really cute and the kids ate them up. I also never got a picture of the entire party set up or a family picture of all 4 of us. Oh well. There is always next year.

The most important thing is that Emerson had a blast. We opened presents as soon as everyone left and when she was finished I told her that we would play with them tomorrow but it was time to take a bath. She looked at me with sad eyes and said, "Mommy, I am so tired. Can I just go to bed now?" It was 6:45. And she totally crashed. And slept until almost 8am. I take that as a success.