Party {Animal}

Yes...it's true...our baby girl {our 1st baby girl} is officially seven years old now...it still happened...even though I tried to stop it...

I'm not officially happy about it because I still want her to stay a baby...but she's not having it!

She insisted on trying the curlers again on Saturday for her Ice Show practice {and wearing her costume from last year!} ...and she said the curly hair definitely makes her look like a grown-up!  I'll let her think that...but I think it still makes her look like my sweet little honey!

{...especially when she can still wear her raincoat from when she was three!  ha!}

We had a little celebration at home...and I always make cupcakes or cake on their official birthdays...but while we were standing in the baking aisle at the grocery store she said she wanted to buy a cake this year instead.  I was a little sad that I would not get to crack the eggs...mix the ingredients and get to lick the batter with her help...but she wants what she wants...and it did save me some time!

This is what she picked out...and in case you can't read my very professional cake-script {ahem}...it reads Happy Birthday Honey!  ha!  That is what we call her and it fit perfectly with the little bee!

Then present time, of course...woo hoo!

{she finally got the letters to spell her name like Elizabeth has in her room...she was so happy!}

{another Barbie...she gets one every year...for every occasion...she must have a hundred of them!  But she absolutely loves them!}

{clothes...a must for a girl!  ha!}

{Webkinz}

{what she's been wanting for the last two years!}

{a giant poster from Alex!  She loves her animals!}

I love celebrating the kids' birthdays at home and watching them open presents...it is so fun and it just truly goes too fast!

Sunday Emily was so excited to celebrate with the rest of the family at her Webkinz party! 

{I also love celebrating with the whole family and throwing a party in the kids' favorite theme for the year!  They think about it all year and then always change it just weeks before their birthdays!}

{of course...the hair absolutely had to be curled again!  But I think we keep getting better at it!}

Alex and Emily set out all the Webkinz around the house for the party...it's so cute when they work together!

She wanted me to take a picture with her and every single Webkinz she had {29!} but I settled for just a few!

Her cake was amazingly fun and so delicious!

Isn't it adorable?!

Thanks bunches to my good friend Aubrey for this beautiful cake...I really hated cutting into it...but so glad I did because it was yummy!

Let's eat...lunch before cake!

Everyone tries to make time to snuggle with Elizabeth too!

{Great-grandma Martha always has the soothing touch}

{Grandma}

{Cousins...}

{Shelbie}

{Bethanie}

{Kendall}

{Kendall, Emma & Emily...these girls have alot of fun together...wish they could be together more often!  They're so cute!}

Time to make a wish and cut into that beautiful cake!

Emily wanted the colorful W as her piece...

Then...the best part...presents again..woo hoo!

{Love this blingin' purse and matching wallet from the Mann cousins!  Do they have one with a C...so cute!}

{money from Grandma...to put in her new purse!}

{and an adorable duffle with matching towel wrap from Grandma and a Webkinz...love!}

{fun bead crafts, Webkinz and Puppy in my Pocket from the Martin cousins!}

Birthdays are so special and I seem to forget that as I get older...because I don't really want to be reminded how old I'm getting!  But we cherish them for our kids and it is such a blessing to get to share them with the whole family!  Thanks so much for celebrating with us!

Despite the fact I keep trying to slow it down...we look forward to them every year...and I hope Alex, Emily and soon Elizabeth will always have wonderful birthday memories!

Happy Birthday Emily!  Here's to another fun year ahead!

We love you!