Baby Girl, It's Your Birthday

As soon as Madeline woke up on her birthday, she ran down the stairs, and yelled, "Mommy, I'm six today! It's my real birthday". As a special treat on her birthday, we took a vacation from school, went to TK's jungle, and ate McDonald's for dinner. Of course, we told her that we would go WHEREVER she wanted on her birthday, and McDonald's was the first choice.

Per Madeline's request, we had pancakes for breakfast, followed by present opening.

Madeline hugs a polar bear from Grandpa.

Daddy took RyRy to Walmart to pick out a present for Madeline. He chose a Rapunzel Barbie, and he was SO excited to give it to her, and she loved it.

A thank you hug.

Because Madeline loved the almond joys in her Halloween candy bag, she wanted a coconut birthday cake.

Madeline blows. . .

and not a candle goes out. "What's going on", she's saying.

Birthday Party

On Saturday, we celebrated Madeline's sixth birthday with her friends. It was an all girls party. We painted figures, make tissue paper flowers, and decorated cupcakes. There was lots of squealing and screaming and running around. It was wonderful.

Jessica, Madeline, and Ali decorate cupcakes.

Here's Jenna decorating.Ry didn't really decorate. . .he just licked icing off his knife.

Oh, and we did a pinata. And let me tell you, there are some 6 year old girls with strong arms!!!

Ryan, of course, loved the pinata.

Madeline Decorates Her First Cake

I love all the girly things Madeline enjoys doing. A couple weeks ago, I made a cake for a wedding shower. I messed up on a layer, so I let Madeline have it, as she was begging me to let her help me decorate the shower cake. The girl LOVED decorating her little cake. She was so focused and engrossed by the task. She has such a great eye for design and color. On the top of her cake she placed M&M's and then piped color on top of each one. As a finishing touch, she frosted flowers around the body of the cake in a very even and symmetrical fashion. It was a beautiful cake and yummy, too. My little decorator.

Ali and Madeline

This is Ali, our neighbor whom Madeline loves. They have been friends since Madeline was 9 months old and Ali was 2. So sweet. And if you look closely at Madeline, you will see the necklace she is wearing. It was a present from Daddy when he returned from Brazil.

A Day at the Life Science Museum

Thank you GG for our membership to the Life Science Museum. We have had SO much fun going every couple weeks. Last time we went we got to see the bears up close with our friends the Windleys. It was awesome. Almost as entertaining as watching Madeline and Jackson walk ahead of us holding hands. . .

Bobo's Got a Pool

Yes, we bought our beloved pooch his very own pool. How could we resist? Watching him run like mad in circles, attempting to attack the water that splashes all around him is hilarious.

Batman's in da house

Maddie and Ry LOVE playing make believe together. Ry is usually the superhero (mostly batman) and Madeline is usually a princess or super girl or bat girl. It is hilarious to listen to. They are so funny and creative. Madeline is the director and Ry literally says whatever she tells him to say. . .because as the director, Madeline also writes the script.

Ry LOVES that he and Daddy have the same shirt. If it was his choice, Ry would wear this shirt everyday and Daddy would too. It cracks me up that Matt and Ry have so many matching t-shirts. When we first had children, Matt informed me that he would NEVER wear matching clothes. Never say never. . .