Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Katie turns SEVEN: Party Time

We had Katie's party the day after her birthday (since her birthday was on a Friday).  She was pretty set on having her party at a local indoor trampoline place, which also meant that we would have to really think about who we would invite.  Naturally, Katie wanted to invite each and every person she has ever spoken to :)  But we had to keep the party a certain size because of how proud this place is of their parties - ha!  Here she is before we headed out!  We got a sitter to stay at the house with the boys so we could focus on Katie.  Ryan was napping, so it wasn't a big deal.  I did feel pretty bad that we didn't take Jack - but the place is pretty big and we would not have been able to focus on celebrating Katie!  And he would have been the only boy, so there we go.
Our big SEVEN year old!
Doesn't Brad look darling holding all the Shopkin balloons?
Posing in front of the sign!
Goofballs!
And part of the reason we have parties elsewhere is so we don't have to worry about decorations and all of that - but I can't have a themed party without the cute things that go with it!  So...Shopkins plates and napkins and tablecloths were a must!
And a few pictures of the cake.  I loved the pink ombre!  And it tasted amazing.  I didn't want a huge cake and all the little icing Shopkins, so I found these photo props and put one on the cake with giant candles!  I was pretty pleased with how it came together!
Loved that pink icing!

The cake with the photo props :)
And the tables all set up for the kiddos!
We put some balloons on the tables to decorate too!
And the goody bags for the friends!
Here she is jumping!
And a pic of Sydney jumping too!
Katie and Hannah Jo!  These girls have been friends since they were about 15 months old!  And they are about to be second graders at the same school together.  Unreal!
Katie and Sydney!  Sweet friends!
I didn't take too many pictures while they were jumping, but I did want a group photo before we headed in for cake!  And here we go!  Such cute girls!
And of course they had to do a silly picture!
Then it was time to go into the room!  These girls took down those juice boxes in record time.  And I'm glad that I brought bags of Pirate's Booty - they were so hungry too! 
They took a little while to get rehydrated and have a snack before singing and cake!
Tanja was good about taking pictures for me - we even got one of me and Brad together!
And she got a good one of Nanny and Papa!
And a great action shot - I laugh everytime I look at Brad in this one!
Sweet birthday girl!  She is also more likely to cooperate for pictures when it isn't me asking!
Here she is with her cake before singing!
And I got to jump in for one too!
And even Brad jumped in for a picture with us!
And an action shot while everyone was singing!  It is nice to actually be in some of the pictures!
We also got some cute pictures of Katie with some of the people that love her most!  Here she is with Nanny and Papa!
And with Tanja and Nick! Love it!
And we got a great one with Cee Cee - and she had her eyes open! :)
And a great one with Grandma too!
Then Katie organized a few group pictures (that's my girl)!  This is her with her classmates all holding the photo props :)  My mom got tickled watching this get put together because it is something I definitely would have done at her age -- telling people where to stand and how to hold the prop.  Ha!
 
And then a picture with some of her other friends!
And a picture with Stella and Sydney!  So glad to have these sweet friends on our street!
When we got home, she wanted to open presents immediately (can't say that I blame her)!  She should not utter the word "bored" ever this summer - she is set!
 
 
 What a fun birthday Katie had!  She felt so celebrated and loved - I call that a success! I am so proud of the young lady she is and can hardly believe that she is seven and starting second grade.  Whew!  Slow down time! 
 
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Monday, May 23, 2016

Katie Turns SEVEN: The Big Day

I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVE TAKEN THIS LONG TO POST ABOUT KATIE'S BIRTHDAY!!! Also -- how can my little teeny girl be SEVEN YEARS OLD!? I took this series of pictures the night before her actual birthday.  When I look at that sweet sleeping face, I still see that teeny tot she once was.  And we always get donuts for birthdays!  And everyone needs a big number balloon - ha!
 She totally looked older :) That smile of her is constantly changing - she keeps losing teeth!  And seeing those grown up teeth in there...just stop it.  She is growing up way too fast. 
Birthday donut for the birthday girl!
And she looks just thrilled to be standing on the chair to take a picture with the balloons, don't you think??
 It was a little windy that morning, so the balloons kept blowing around when I tried for a picture outside.  So this was the best we could do!  So cute, still! 
She picked this outfit to wear on her birthday - so cute!  It is awfully soft and comfy, so I don't blame her! 
 Then we let her pick one present to open before heading out to school!
She picked the one from the brothers.  That also required that I go get Jack up so that he could see her open it :)
 And then Sydney and Reagan came up with their present for her!  And we all walked down to the bus together.  She felt so special!  Here she is with Stella and Sydney!
Oh, technology.  One of my good friends was having lunch with her kids, and I got to FACETIME KATIE during lunch.  How crazy?! Ha!  They were supposed to be having testing on that day, which means no visitors, so Brad and I had lunch with her a few days earlier (and we were mystery readers together), so we didn't make it on her actual birthday.  This was as we were saying bye - hence why it was of her ear :)
And shortly after she got home, we headed to an early dinner at her favorite restaurant - Chuy's!  She was one happy camper! 
 And then she got to open the rest of her presents once we got home!  She LOVES her Kidizoom watch that we got her!
Brad and I had a birthday/retirement party to go to for Tanja's dad later that evening, so we got ready super fast.  I took a picture with Katie before we headed out - and of course her Shopkin pillow we gave her had to be in the picture :) 
And a quick picture of Brad and myself at the cocktail time before they had everyone sit down!
And me and Tanja :)
I'd call Katie's birthday a success!  Just look at how much she changed in 7 years!  Unreal.  It doesn't seem like that long ago since she was snuggled in my arms with that teeny bow on her head! 
And one more collage - I love seeing how she has changed through the years!  From newborn all the way to her seventh birthday!  Amazing!
I plan to do a separate post with pictures from her birthday party and then another with some of her favorites at this age!  She is such a tenderhearted, smart, beautiful girl and I am so blessed to call her mine!
 
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