Everett loves Clara's bed. He hangs out on it all the time. He didn't want to leave her room the night before her birthday. He's "hiding".
And again in the morning...
Daddy "building" her a crown.
This reminds me of when I was a kid. My mom would always have my presents out on the table. She made my birthdays great. Every time, every celebration, I feel like I want to give so much more after it's all wrapped and set out...like everything inside isn't good enough.
She has been so excited for her birthday this year, more than ever. I think I was just as excited. It's so fun! I can't wait until Everett gets it too!
New slips!
I had to get her dressed so we could see her pretty face in the pictures. She is such a good girl and willing to walk away from presents to get dressed, even though she hates getting dressed...
She even let Everett try and open presents. She is growing into such an amazing big sister. She's always been one, but lately she's been going above and beyond.
I feel bad she has to go to school on her birthday, I know she would love to play hookie. I made sure to grab her and Bubs for lunch.
If Everett could squeeze her to death, he might. He loves her so much he cannot contain his squeezes.
Aunt Leesie joined us for lunch!
Everett's aid Alyssa joined us too! She is super sweet.
Sissy trying to get bubs to look for the pic.
My loves.
Kristin & Kylie came over for dinner.
Breakfast of champions. We've planned every moment of her day for months, she LIVES to talk about what we are going to do on her birthday. Her request was to have bacon for breakfast. It did at one point change to bacon AND steak, thankfully it went back to just bacon so daddy didn't have to grill at 6:45 am. ;)
Roller Rink, this is her friend Juliet. She takes violin/triangle lessons with her and goes to her cousin Julia's church.
Lots of friends showing up for Clara. We are so thankful for everyone that came to celebrate our little darling.
my favorite pic
The big boys.
Clara wore this big smile the entire time, it was great! We love seeing her so happy. She skated the entire time. She does pretty good! This place is called Astro Skate and it's by our old condo, she's been here a few times. Daddy would take her some Sundays for dollar skate.
Thanks to all the helping hands who played with our little bubby who isn't quite able to get on skates yet. :)
Aunt Krissim dancing away with this little guy. She must have needed a nap they were dancing so hard!
If I could only capture his smile here.
One tired little girl. We could have all gone home for a nap but Clara and I had decided bringing a bunch of friends back to the house to PARTY more was a great idea! We had a blast, but Clara could have totally gone to bed instead she was so pooped.
Watching Trolls was another check off the list of what had to be done today!
Making fluffy slime, check check!
Still hot, the pool was perfect!
Now everyone else's pics all out of order...
Clara and Andru have been in class together for two years. We're friends with his parents. Andre went to middle school with his dad. He sold us our house on Augusta.
Dear Clara,
You make me complete. You're such a fun little girl who is excited to go and do. You argue to go to therapy with Everett and me even when daddy can take you. You're an amazing big sister and super smart. You're learning to read and you do addition and subtraction in the thousands, CRAZY! You'd rather stay home than go to school. You love a thrill and want to challenge your body. You HATE losing, hate is an understatement. You eat healthy but your pallet has narrowed. If you have a treat you prefer a sucker over anything else. You love to go on adventures. We're working on independence, listening the first time, and not whining. All of that is getting better and it seems if anything we're getting less whining and learning a bit of tude. Oh boy, I didn't think that came until later. Thankfully, it's all few and far between but I really don't want you growing up. You're getting so tall and looking so grown up. You're learning to love art, making pictures every day in my classroom. Not pictures of things, you like to make designs and then patterns with colors. You enjoy painting and arts and crafts a lot more! That excites me because I did those things with my mom and LOVE doing them with you. You're sweet to your mama and daddy and tell us you love us all day long. You can't decide who to pick to cuddle, you want us both. You love hearing about you as a baby and watching videos. I tell you all the time how you did things back four years ago and we laugh and reminisce when we lay in bed. You tell me a very little bit about the day, you don't disclose too much. You like to play games, if you win. If you don't it takes you a while to get you to go back again and try. So, I let you win a lot but can't do it every time of course. You like to play with mama/dada a lot and we love playing with you. I love every single minute I have with you. Every day I drop you off at your class, I miss you. I every night I tuck you in and have to leave, I miss you. Every moment spent away from you and your brother is wasting my life, it feels so wrong. I'm happiest when I'm with you, even if I am impatient sometimes. You remind me if I am being impatient and it helps keep me in check. I told you to, you're good at remembering. ;) I'd give you everything if I could. I want you to be happy and healthy and I'm so afraid of you growing up and all the scary that's in the world. I want to keep you from it all and protect you forever. You are a beautiful little girl with a grand imagination. I'm so proud of you, everything about you and like I tell you...if I could pick ANY daughter in the ENTIRE world I would always pick you. I love you with all my heart.
Mama
Mommy loved this game, I couldn't resist.
You were yelling at daddy for a hot second. It's my party and I'll be mad if I want to. It was fun overload, a perfect day!
Karaoke machine! You sing...
Bubs dances.
