My Girl (Technically Our Girl)

Eight years ago this very night, I delivered a beautiful baby girl.  I had a hunch she would turn our world upside down, and boy was I right!  Sugar and spice and everything nice...that IS what our little Shay is made of.  She is such a precious piece of our lives, and getting down on my knees and thanking God everyday for her still wouldn't be enough to express the gratefulness I feel in my heart.  I am so honored to be her Mommy...to watch her grow every day, every week, every month, and every year...in so many ways.  I cannot find the words to express how much I love that little monkey and how blessed we are to have her.  I love all my kiddos to pieces, but there is something so sweet and delicate about little girls...they have a way of melting your heart and turning your brain to mush. 

A big yawn from baby Shay, who was being held by big brother Bear.

I wish I had a DVR to sit and watch her grow up all over again...not that turning 8 is "grown up," but you know what I mean...she's not a baby anymore...and in a few more years she will become a young lady.  It all happens in the blink of an eye (I swear).  I remember holding her in my arms, smelling her hair after her bath, singing to her..."My Girl" was always our favorite to sing to her.  Where has the time gone?  Now she speeds along on two wheels and reads books all by herself, she mother hens her busy brothers, and remembers everyone she loves in her prayers at bedtime.  It feels as though she doesn't need me so much anymore, but I know in my heart that she does - and she will in years to come.  I am so proud of the girl she has become - sensitive, caring, thoughtful and loving...it doesn't get much better than that.  :) 

Shay Shay, age 3, on her big wheel.  She called it her "bike."

We had a birthday party for our baby doll last weekend with ten little guests (who could scream quite well).  LOL  This year, I planned a flower garden party for my favorite girl.  Birthday time is something I always enjoy, and for girls - the party planning ideas are endless.  When Shay Shay had her first "friends" party at the age of 5, we had a Princess Party, complete with a castle cake.  Age 6 brought her a Barbie Ballerina Party with homemade tutus and a tiara cake.  Last year, when she turned 7, we threw a Luau with grass skirts and a hula girl cake.  So, this year I knew I had to attempt to come up with something better...something different, and the flower garden idea is what settled into my mind.  The girls painted clay flower pots, and colored wooden tulips which we turned into magnets.  We also put together wooden necklaces that I scored for 26 cents each at Michaels (yes!). We played some games, a balloon relay race, and a flower pot toss with bean bags I made out of felt and popcorn kernels with my trusty sewing machine.  After that, we had lunch with flower-shaped sandwiches (of course), strawberries, corn chips, and a veggie tray, we sang to the birthday girl as she blew out the candles on her flower pot birthday cake (I was pretty proud of that cake!).  :)  Then, Miss Shay opened gifts (she made out like a bandit), and we hurried to the garage to pot our flowers - each girl got to pick out which flower she wanted potted in her pot.  I did the dirty work and they watered their new pretty potted pansies.  The girls wore their gardening garb as we potted away.  Each girl received a pair of gardening gloves, a gardening apron, and a straw gardening hat that I added ribbons to (thanks to all the Michaels coupons I used - it was actually pretty economical).  The girls were fabulously adorable - watch out Martha Stewart!  We ended the party with a flower pinata, which contained a ton teeth-rotting candy.  All in all, it was a bit exhausting, but totally worth it!  Shaylen was so happy with how her party had turned out, and I was quite pleased as well! I guess I'd better start thinking about next year?!  :)

The Princess Party - 5 years old.

6 years old - The Barbie Ballerina Party.

The Luau!  7 years old!  Aloha!

Age 8!  The Flower Garden Party! :)

Behind the scenes - creating the sunflowers.

The Oreo dirt and gummy worms atop chocolate cake and chocolate frosting.

Creating "bean bag" flowers out of felt for the flower pot toss.

Crafts, crafts everywhere!

Balloon relays!

The hubby doing the flower pot toss.

Make a wish, Darling. :)

Present time!

The hats, aprons, and gloves.

The little lady gardeners. :)

Watering!

Wannabe flower gardeners!

We haven't celebrated with extended family yet...we will wait and do that with big brother Jaron who will be 10 in a couple of weeks (good grief).  However, last night we went to Wally World and let our brown eyed girl pick out a new bike.  She picked a pink one (shocker), it's called the "Slumber Party."  I would've LOVED to have had a bike like that when I was her age.  I had an ugly old green bike with a floral banana seat.  It was from a garage sale, and I hated it...but I rode it.  I really wanted a pink Huffy - the one with the seat that reminded me of moon boots.  I never got that bike, but it's just as satisfying to see the giant smile on my sweet pea's face while cruising on her new designer wheels. :) 

Shay with her first "big girl bike."  Age 4

The "Slumber Party" bike! :)

I would like to leave you with this mini video I made of Shay last fall.  There are no pictures past last fall, but it's still darling just the same.  You may want to scroll down and pause the music on the bottom of the page if it's running, or simply mute the volume on the video. Thank you! :)

Blessings,

~S

Farewell To Another School Year...

It's true...we have wrapped up another school year with the kiddos!  I know summer will fly by and in just a few short months they will be getting ready for another school year - ALL of them.  Yes, the time will fly.  I have started back to school again (my two week break felt a little too short).  I'm liking classes okay this semester (so far), but I am already feeling the challenge of fitting in study time with the house full of busy, boisterous, and not-wanting-mom-to-do-homework kids. 

Bear and the awesome teacher he had this year!  We will miss her!

Mr. B at his awards ceremony on the last day of his elementary school career.

My bookend babies at the after awards ceremony...one is leaving the school...and the other will be entering..

Papa and Oma came to the ceremony.

The "grad" with the proud momma - self portrait. :)

Yes, I admit it's going to be difficult to study this summer - because of the kiddos and because of the beautiful weather!  The past couple of weeks have rotated between rain and beautiful, sunny days (I'm partial to the sunny days).  We had awesome weather for Memorial Day weekend and hung out with the kiddos at the beach for awhile.  We also had beautiful weather for the I-Cubs game we enjoyed with family in honor of cousin Rachel's 11th birthday. 

Cavy on one of the first "hot" days we had.  He gave my van a "faux" wash.  LOL

Big Creek!

I saw this one coming!

Enjoying the sand. :)

Brayton agreed to be buried in sand.

The culprits!

We had a fun time! :)

Bear and his good freind, Owen - being silly.  We sat around the fire pit and roasted marshmallows (and told goofy stories over Memorial Day weekend).

The "nice" pose.

Peas in a pod - Mr. B & Kaden. LOL

Cuties!

Awww...these two really do love one another! <3

Peace out!

The kiddos with Cubbie Bear (and a random woman).

Miss Shay and her cousin, Jaeden

Bear with cousin, Mal.

We had awesome seats. :)

The hubby and his dad.

Grandma Becky...

Mr. B...an ultimate fan!

With our little slugger! :)

Cousins!

Miss Rachel...the birthday girl! :)

We've had more than our usual quota of sporting events lately.  We attended a Barnstormers game the night Kurt Warner was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame.  Every last one of us had a good time (after Brett had our seats changed - bless his heart - our first seats were a bit too high for my anxiety).  It was our first arena football game, and Bear was truly enamoured...with the cheer squad.  LOL  He spent most of his time sizing up which ones had belly button rings and which ones did not.  I can't imagine what the teenage years are going to bring with this fella.  He will be turning 10 in a few weeks and it feels as though he is going on 17.  Why do they have to grow so fast?

Pic with a walkin/talking puppy. :)

The big boys getting a closer look...

The cool pic I took during the halftime ceremony.

My son enjoying the cheerleaders...uff da.

My sweet little angel isn't helping time move any slower either.  She will be 8 years old in just another week.  I have been planning her birthday party - which will be coming up this weekend.  This year she is having a flower garden party - complete with a flower pot cake (which I will be attempting).  I have a lot left to do before Saturday (including a ton of homework this week), but I know it will get done somehow...it always does, right?  Also in Miss Shay news...she had eight inches chopped off of her hair last week.  Just when I thought she was ready for it to be long again...oh well.  She donated it again to Locks of Love.  Her new short "do" is just adorable!  :)

Getting ready to leave for a friend's birthday party!

When she came home, she turned into the recyclable superhero - Paper Girl!  LOL

She lost a tooth at school and was pretty pumped that they gave her a tooth necklace to keep it in.  LOL

Her new hair cut. :)

Last day of school with the new "do."

She loves it...so do I! :)

Even the dog got a new summer "do."  He barely looked like the same dog when I picked him up from the groomer! :)

Before

After!

There will be more to come in the next few days as Mr. C is beginning soccer with our Church (the hubs is coaching), and Miss Shay's party is just on the horizon, so check back with us soon!  I sure hope you are enjoying these early dog days of summer. :)

Blessings~

S