This is my sweet birthday girl. Four years old. I have been waiting with bated breath for these pretty photographs and they did not disappoint. I simply cannot wait to frame the cupcake one for her bedroom. I want to forever remember her as she was this moment. She is the sweetest, most precocious child I have ever met. Her smile lights up the room and she puts on quite the show. As most of you already know, she requested an Olivia birthday party this year. For those of you unfamiliar, Olivia is one of our favorite storybook characters who just happens to have a new show on Nick Jr. She's a pretty cute little pig with a mind of her own and we read about her and watch her on a daily basis. While I'm not really a fan of "character" parties or themed anything, I knew Olivia's red and white ...
birthdays
The Dollhouse
I think you all know by now that my dad is a genius when it comes to woodwork. He is a carpenter by trade and makes beautiful things, both professionally and when his daughters have a request. There have been doll cradles, book shelves, rocking elephants, tables, chairs, built-ins, closets, window treatments and now this. My dad knows I'm kind of notorious for last minute ideas. I've been thinking all summer about what to buy Ella for her birthday when out of the blue she told me she wanted a dollhouse. I talked to my dad in early August to see if that was even possible and we formulated a plan. I drew him a sketch of what I wanted... four rooms and an attic, shingles and shutters. I originally planned for it to be on casters and to be open on both the front and back so that she and her ...
Party People
I'm guessing you won't be surprised when I tell you I took only one picture at the birthday party. One. I've had countless people ask to see the fruits of my labor, but I have absolutely nothing to show you. There is nothing better than having an event photographer in the family. K does such a great job and it is so nice to pass that task off to someone else so that I can enjoy the day and watch Ella have a blast with all of her friends. These four partying pigs had a fabulous day. We rented a bouncer for the weekend and Ella seriously got my money's worth out of the deal. We hired a new baker for the cake and it was phenomenal. There were pretty striped tablecloths and paper straws, tons of red balloons, pretty pig noses and red gummy candies. There were tons of squealing children ...
Shhhhh…
it's a secret. ...
Cupcakes for Lunch
Now, for her second request of the day. When Ella and I talked about her party being on a different day that her birthday, I was afraid she might be upset. I told her that on her birthday we could do something else really fun "just us girls." I offered the bakery, yogurt shop or lunch. I just knew she'd go for lunch, but she surprised me by requesting cupcakes at Edgar's. We didn't get there until almost noon and mommy was hungry for lunch! When I told her I was getting a salad, she looked me dead in the face and asked if she had to eat a sandwich or if she could have a cupcake for lunch. Cupcakes it is! She picked a mint-chocolate chip one, since that is her favorite ice cream flavor, and boy was it yummy. She wanted to wear her birthday outfit really bad and we had major discussions ...
Birthday "Breakpast"
Have you been waiting with bated breath for the Birthday Party recap? Sorry... you've got one more week. We decided that since Alabama played Penn State this past weekend {don't judge} that we'd be better off waiting until next weekend to celebrate the day. Our SD was headed to Tuscaloosa and we decided to eliminate the guilty feeling all these Bama fans might have had! Instead, the birthday girl requested breakfast in bed and cupcakes for lunch, and boy did we oblige. When I asked her what kind of special birthday "breakpast" she wanted she thought for a minute and declared Fruit Loops with milk. After I recovered, I talked her into something cooked and she opted for pigs in a blanket. With the help of this little one-legged booger, I got up early and made an oven-full of pigs and a ...
Birthday Shoot
Guess who had a little fun in the sun yesterday? Click here to read what K had to say about this sweet girl. ...
To Bells on her Birthday
2010 Dear Ella, Today you are four years old and I don't know where the time went. It seems like yesterday you were snuggled in my belly, refusing to come out. How did you get to be four? Your daddy tells you all the time that you aren't allowed to grow up. You just laugh and remind him that he can't stop your birthdays! You had one last year and the year before and the year before and I'm pretty sure you're planning to have one next year, too. You are the most precious little person. You are learning more and more each passing month. You ask grown-up, interesting questions about everything. You are a wonderful big sister and a big helper for your mom. You say breakpast {breakfast} and withbout {without} and sing Ice, Ice, Baby. You talk about Jesus and heaven everyday. What will we ...