Our sweet baby girl turned FIVE yesterday. Every parent knows the aching bittersweet of watching your children grow right before your eyes. No matter how hard you try to “take it all in”, “slow things down”, “stop and smell the roses”, “enjoy the simple things”… etc. it still happens way too fast.
Elli has been counting down the days for about the last month and a half… so ready to turn five!
She knew her birthday would be on Tuesday, September 3rd and all week sissy kept pointing out her special day coming up on the calendar.
She knew her birthday would be on Tuesday, September 3rd and all week sissy kept pointing out her special day coming up on the calendar.
Well, little did she know…
we were planning a little surprise party for her on Saturday BEFORE her birthday!
On Saturday afternoon daddy took Elli out to run some errands and out to lunch.
My awesomely “tuned in” husband helped Elli choose her outfit for their date and picked out this zebra print shirt, braided her hair and put a matching zebra hair tie in it!
(We told her the balloons were for her birthday on Tuesday and that we just wanted to start blowing them up a few days early because it’s a lot of work)
Thankfully a surprise party for a 5-yr-old is pretty easy to pull off thanks to their naivety.
Thankfully a surprise party for a 5-yr-old is pretty easy to pull off thanks to their naivety.
Meanwhile Nya and I frantically finished the cake, decorated, and cleaned up a bit.
Then friends arrived and we gave daddy the “go ahead” to come home.
When they arrived daddy asked if she wanted to head over to play at the playground for a bit. All of us were hiding in the bushes under our deck and when she walked by we yelled,
“Surprise!!! Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you… “
“Surprise!!! Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you… “
It was absolutely one of the most precious moments of my motherhood.
She was startled of course, but then she just stood still holding her little braid and looked at each girl in the eyes as they sang to her with the sweetest little smile.
Then it was 6 little girls running off to the play set!
She was startled of course, but then she just stood still holding her little braid and looked at each girl in the eyes as they sang to her with the sweetest little smile.
Then it was 6 little girls running off to the play set!
When the heat got to be too much, it was time to head indoors for make-overs!
Well… this is what it looks like when 5, 6, 7, & 8 year olds are the ones performing the makeovers!
Tada! Ready for the tea party 🙂
Or should I say, “the monkeys are ready to join the zebras, cheetahs, and giraffes!”
Anyone who knows Elli knows she was born loving animals. She easily remembers facts, behaviors, and details about animals and isn’t the least bit afraid of spiders, worms, snakes, or bugs. She would much rather play and dress up a stuffed animal than a baby doll or barbie any day.
So this year it was no surprise when she asked for an animal cake. When asked what her favorite animals are she’ll tell you, “Cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, and elephants”.
So this year it was no surprise when she asked for an animal cake. When asked what her favorite animals are she’ll tell you, “Cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, and elephants”.
Elliana definitely has the gift of encouragement and her response to this cake was:
“Mom, that is the most beautiful cake I have EVER seen!”
(which totally made the 8 hours worth it!)
(which totally made the 8 hours worth it!)
Present time!
Then it was back outside for “Fairy Freeze Tag”
It was a wonderfully delightful day!
Then yesterday on September 3rd it was…
Funny-face pancakes for the birthday girl’s breakfast!
Then when daddy got home we celebrated as a family with Elli’s requested dinner:
White-shells Macaroni & Cheese
Corn on the Cob
Hot dogs
Root-Beer Floats
And of course more presents and skyping with family to open theirs “together”!
Elli’s #1 item on her wishlist was her own sewing kit.
So today after we do school we’re going to start on her first sewing project…
an animal pillow!
Happy Birthday to you our precious Elliana. Your name, which means “God has answered our prayers” is so very true. When we look into your sweet little face and call you by name we indeed declare that God has answered our prayers…
with the blessing of another daughter…
with grace to nurture and teach you…
with delight in watching you grow…
with forgiveness for where we fall short…
with the promise that He holds your future.
with forgiveness for where we fall short…
with the promise that He holds your future.
Oh Dear Lord, what an angel!!! I can not tell you how precious this is to see. Thank you for sharing it with us. Alex hasn't seen it yet, but I know he'll love it. We'll get a gift in the mail to her soon; we were in Chicago this wkend, in the planetarium bookstore…and Alex & I were looking for smthg
for the girls, but nothing jumped out at us. We miss you, too…terribly. It's just not the same here w/out all of you. Your house looks great in the pic's…and that cake!!! You are too much!! Let's Skype soon!! Love, Cathie