Birthdays. Rapunzel. & Fairytales.

i get to share my birthday week with the best birthday present i've ever received! and this year, it was also fairytale day at school! addie had been talking about it for at least two weeks, so i knew it was something that meant a lot to her! when she asked to be rapunzel, i went on a mad amazon search for a dress and hair. i wasn't too broken up about getting the dress because winston that cat had just ruined one of the few dress up outfits that fit her!

 she donned her purple dress, and we braided her hair; and hardly anyone recognized her!

she was beside herself thrilled that fairytale day coincided with her birthday chapel at school! if you haven't seen chapel at the girl's school, you're missing out: 200+ three, four, and five year olds praising our amazing God! dancing. clapping. singing. and maybe a little shouting!

anne perry seemed a little overwhelmed, but Audry Kate stood in a chair and sang i have a little heart right along with the big kids! i can't wait to see them on the front rows next year as big girl 3 year olds! and then the birthday (real and half) kiddos climbed up on stage and got to introduce themselves, tell how old they were and who was there to see them and then say something! she was absolutely precious swinging around in her dress! (forgive the crazy shaky crookedness you're about to see. i was taking pictures with my right hand and videoing/balancing my big camera with my left hand.) and just like that...she was somehow more grown up that when she walked up on that stage!

once chapel was over, her little sisters and i met her in her classroom with balloons and cupcakes.

she decided to stay instead of check out, which made this mama even happier because i knew it meant she loves being where she is!

happy birthday day at school sweet addie! 

Addie's Birthday Chapel

I'm about to play some serious catch up.

Over the past 2 weeks, we've had Addie's birthday chapel, prepared for her birthday party, traveled to Augusta and attended a wedding and had a tea party birthday there, driven home and made final preparations for Addie's party, and had her party. Then I drove to Atlanta late Monday night, and my aunt and I flew to NYC Tuesday morning, where we saw Wicked and I'm certain we trekked up and down at least 50 flights of subway stairs, and came home Wednesday night.

My picture count: 975. That's a lot of editing/deleting/saving/posting!

I'm wiped out...and a wonderfully blessed exhausted mess!

But since we really didn't get to celebrate my birthday in the midst of all of this, Paul is taking me to Birmingham tomorrow for the night to eat a yummy birthday dinner, see a movie, and sleep in late! I.am.so.excited!

So back to the purpose of this post! Since we traveled to Augusta on her birthday weekend, we did Addie's birthday chapel at school the Friday before. This is a special time where the birthday kiddos get to come up on stage and everyone sings happy birthday to them!

They always start chapel with lots of singing and dancing! i love this one where addie realized i was taking a picture of her!

Addie was a tad nervous to say the least! I wasn't exactly sure she was going to make it up there when i dropped her off that morning. BUT, after several reminders that when she is afraid, she must trust in God and that God is always with us and that ms gail would be up there with her too, i hoped everything would be ok.

And as you can tell, she.ate.it.up!

She got to say her name...

...and tell how old she was/would be!

but the sweetest moment was when ms. gail asked her what special person was there. and after she said mommy, ms. gail asked her if she wanted to say anything to mommy. and without hesitation, she said, i love you!

...and i near about melted!

happy birthday chapel to our sweet big 4 year old! we love you too!

here's the video from the morning. i edited it to just show her part (and not show me filming the ceiling!), but i had to leave in a few other places so you could see her waving at everyone she knew! Please excuse the shaky craziness and loud camera clicks. i'm not use to taking pictures and videoing at the same time! ;0)

needless to say...more to come!