Sophia is 5!

Blueberry pancakes with whipped cream and bacon on the side for my birthday girl!


Let's open that huge pink box that's been tempting both girls for the past week.


What is all of this stuff? It all looks like it's not for a girl at all, but a...


KITTEN!
Let's go clean up, then we'll go pick your new kitten from our friends down the street.


We LOVE our new little Misty McKenzie Crawford!






Party Time! Tons of girl energy, tons of crayons...

Tons of dancing...

Tons of nail polish...

Tons of make-up...

Tons of cake!

Happy Birthday my sweet!

My favorite compliment

I guess I'm getting old, old enough to be seriously complimented when my almost 5 year old neighbor says,

"When I first met you, I didn't think you were a mom."

I asked what that meant, of course, because "Mom" is my favorite name and the proudest accomplishment of my life. She went on to say,

"I thought you were a sister or something."

I can't remember the last time I felt so flattered. Really.

I Wonder...

How long will Dalton let Joe play with his big friends?
How long will he put up with Joe tipping over coffee tables in the middle of a losing game?
How long will he ask me to help him with homework?
How long will he be willing to babysit for $1 an hour?
How long will he be interested in helping me in the kitchen?

How long will Joseph hold my hand in public?
How long will he be willing to distract Jennie with "The Horsey Game" while I'm slipping out the door to Book Club?
How long will he help buckle the girls or give them pegs on his bike?
How long will he come to snuggle next to my bed when he's scared at night?
How long will he believe that he is the strongest 8 year old alive?

How long will Sophia and Jennie play kitten and puppy, carrying on for hours communicating exclusively in yelps and meows?
How long will Sophia beam while showing me her artwork?
How long will she build castles and play dress-up?
How long will she love pink?
How long will she snuggle with me, full bodied, when she hurts?

How long will Jennie look up to Sophia?
How long will she insist on sleeping with her silky blanky?
How long will she let me give her ringlets?
How long will she blame others for everything including who messed her bed/underwear/hair?
How long will she ache to kiss and hug her daddy before he leaves for work?
How long will she color outside the lines?

Jennie is 3!!!

Curls in the morning.

Curls in the afternoon.

Her 1st cavity :(

She wakes up to a NEW KITCHEN!

She loves hers as much as I love mine.

Happy!

Let the party begin!

Story time in her bedroom.

Make-up all around.

Oh, the drama.

A little too experienced.

Pink plates, pink juice, mac & cheese and grapes... the perfect menu.

The Butterfly Cake (Thank you Yolanda for the inspiration!)

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Jennie..."