Addie's Birthday Day

This kid had one serious string of birthday celebrations: her birthday chapel, birthday tea party with family, her science birthday party with friends, and her actual birthday day complete with a birthday post and slideshow! By that Monday, we were all wiped! And then a week later we delivered her birthday dog/cat food! I think that's over 2 weeks of birthday fun!

On her actual birthday, she got to bring snack and share bag at school. Her picture was in the birthday frame when we got there that morning, and she was the helper for the day.

She brought her UV beads (notice them around her neck!) and safety glasses from her party and cupcakes and birthday hats for everyone.

Her teacher even let her baby sisters join her!

Everyone sang Happy Birthday...

and she got to blow out her candle!

She even looked straight at me so I could get a picture (who is this kid telling me something would be a great picture and asking me to take pictures of her?)

After snack, we checked her out and went to eat lunch at Chappy's, somewhat of a birthday tradition!

Addie got to pick what we had for dinner that night: daddy's pizza!

And we had cupcakes from Liger's

I'm pretty sure this 4 year old had a fun birthday 2+ weeks! We sure loved celebrating her!

the Girl, the Dress & the Maker

I don't write enough on here about my mom. I guess I have a tendency to take it for granted that she's in town. She's always a phone call away and most often times a very short car ride away. She never gets enough credit for all she does for us and for others, but she serves so many so selflessly.
 
One of our favorite things to do together is sew for the girls. Well, we plan it; and she does most of the sewing. If there's smocking involved, I do that; but she has been doing the cutting out and putting together since the little girls were born. It's been so special to see Addie and the little girls wear beautiful dresses that my mom made for me {many} years ago. I can only hope that if our girls have little girls of their own that they will find what we've made for them just as special {many} years down the road.

My mom spent several afternoons {quickly} making a sweet dress for Addie's school pictures. Addie missed taking the pictures with her class because of the stomach bug that violently attacked our family, but they let us come the last day and have hers done.

She cooperated beautifully for her school pictures in this sweet dress made by two of the most loving hands I know; and when we got home, she cooperated {almost} as beautifully for me.

Actually, right up until she'd had enough, she was a blast to photograph!

so silly and so expressive.

My main goal when taking pictures of Addie used to be to catch her eyes looking at the camera...maybe because for so long she was always headed in the opposite direction of my camera! but now I love catching her from different angles, not even looking at the camera...

because her expressions are often times so sweet.

Thank you RieRie for sewing for all four of your grandchildren! This little girl is always mighty proud to wear clothes you've made especially for her and will tell just about anyone who will listen!!

Thank you even more for what this dress stands for: your time, your talent, and your unconditional love for our family. We love you RieRie!

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 

I Peter 4:10

Wordless Wednesday

if you're on facebook, you've seen this...but it's definitely blog worthy too!

riding the cow train (with mommy who's hanging on for dear life!) on her first school field trip to the punkin patch!

more non-iphone pictures to come!