Double Digits!

Last night we took Mac out for her birthday as a family. I can't believe that I have a child that is turning 10!!! How did this happen? How did we reach double digits and how did she get so old so fast (AND how did I get this old;).

Mac wanted to go to a "Hawaiian Style" restaurant but didn't want actual Hawaiian food, so we drove down by the beach and drove around until we found the perfect restaurant. We ate dinner at a place called the Tiki Lounge, it had outdoor seating in a lush garden area and live music. We got nachos,  Hawaiian style pizza, and a Philly sand which, it as really yummy. The kids all got POG to drink, it is their favorite Hawaiian juice. The restaurant was attached to some outdoor Hawaiian shops so Court took Mac to pick out a little birthday gift. She found a cute  ukalalie with flowers on it.

After dinner we went to an outdoor roller skating rink at the beach park. They only had roller blades which made it a little hard for the kids since they have only been a few times. J-man was toast after about 15 min. Luckily they gave us our money back for his and my skates, so Court skated with the girls and J-man and I took the baby next door to the skate park to watch the skaters. Watching all the skate boarders sure made me miss my brother Jake.

It was a really fun night celebrating our beautiful girl! I can't believe it has been ten years already since that precious girl was placed in our arms, making us parents, and changing our lives forever! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sent her to us.

Your SO Vain...

Yesterday we were at Target (bad, bad idea with 4 kids alone when it is almost dinner time). As we were walking through the store Mac turns to me and says, "mom I am SO vain!" I of course responded with, "you are not vain sweetheart, do you understand what that means?" She then proceeded to tell me that her teacher was reading them a book that day that had the word vain in it and that her teacher told them that an example of someone who is vain is a person who likes to look at them self in the mirror all the time. After her explination Mac says to me, "see mom, I am SOOOO vain, I LOVE to look at myself in the mirror all of the time!!!" Well I sure got a KICK out of this. Mac does quite enjoy talking to herself in the mirror :). What a funny girl. She is beautiful, sweet, and innocent and really doesn't understand vanity at all, and I like it that way!

Nine Years Old!

Dear Mac,

I can NOT believe you are nine years old. It seems like just yesterday you were my tiny newborn baby girl. Baby E. is the exact size right now that you were when you were born and now you have grown into this beautiful girl. How can it be possible that you are this old already?

I can remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. I was so excited and so nervous to become a mommy! The night before I had you I prayed and prayed to Heavenly Father that you would come SOON. I was 39 weeks pregnant and so ready to have you in my arms. Daddy and I were living in suburb of Chicago, although it was fall it was still so hot and humid during the days. I woke up the day I had you and the bed was wet. Daddy was golfing with friends and I was so embarrassed to call and tell him that I wasn't sure if my water had broke or not. I called grandma Kelly and she said to go to the doctor because she thought it sounded like my water had broken. Dad came home (after he finished the last few holes, not cool!) and we headed to the Doctor. Sure enough they did a quick test and it was amniotic fluid. Then they sent us straight to the Hospital!

As soon as we got the news that you would be coming that day we started calling all of your grandparents and aunts and uncles. Everyone was SOOOO excited for your big arrival, being the first grandchild on both sides is pretty special! Grandma Kelly REALLY wanted to be there when you were born and I REALLY wanted her there (I was so scared for the labor and delivery). Papa Ron called the airlines and tried to book her a flight with a buddy pass they had. I guess Papa was in such a fluster that he wasn't very polite to the airline worker when he was trying to explain what he needed done. After a few arguments with the airline they refused to let him use the ticket that day and put his name on a "watch list", hahaha... so funny because he is normally not like that at all. So Papa Ron called another airline and booked grandma Kelly on the first flight available from Denver to Chicago. Daddy's friend Cade and his wife Leslie picked grandma up at the airport when she arrived. Since they weren't sure if I was close to delivering you yet they were speeding down the highways and streets of Chicago to get grandma there in time. AMAZINGLY she made it to the hospital a few hours before you were born.

For my first baby your delivery was pretty smooth, 10 hours from start to finish and no complications. Even though my water leaked I never ended up going into labor, so they had to brake my water and start my labor with pitocin. You were 7lb. 8oz. (exactly average) and 21 1/2 inches long (you were tall). You were so beautiful and we were instantly IN LOVE with you. My whole pregnancy I wondered and wondered what you would look like. Your dad and I look so different from each other that I was so curious to see what traits you would get from each of us. Throughout my pregnancy I had several dreams about a beautiful, dark haired baby girl. Then when you were born you looked just like the baby in my dreams.

Your birthday is so special not only because we get to celebrate the day you were born and joined our family, but we get to also celebrate the day we became parents. Your daddy and I love you SOOOOO much and are so grateful that Heavenly Father sent you to us. I can not believe you are nine, the time has gone way to fast. I sure hope that time can slow down! You are such a precious, sweet girl and you make our home a better place. You are a darling big sister to your two little sisters and brother. You always watch out for them and you love them so much. I am so proud of the wonderful girl you are becoming. You LOVE school, love to make friends, always have a big smile on your face, and you are so outgoing and friendly!!

Here are NINE things that I LOVE about you...
1) Your love for your family
2) Your testimony of the Gospel
3) Your imagination (you talk about wanting to be an author one day)
4) Your kind heart
5) Your beautiful long brown hair (I always wanted long hair as a little girl)
6) Your relationship with your sister (It is precious to see the friendship you two share)
7) Your excitement for things
8) Your willingness to still hold our hands, give hugs and kisses, and snuggles
9) Your ability to light up a room with your infectious personality


Happy birthday gorgeous girl!!!
I love you so much!
Love,

Mom

We're Rich!

Last night we decided to take the kids to a movie since it was a Holiday. We ALWAYS take the kids to the dollar theater because for starters it's cheap, the kids don't care, and we usually wait so long to see movies that they are almost always at the dollar theater or already on DVD by the time we get around to seeing them. Well the movie we wanted to see was only in 3D and those make me really sick. So we decided to check out what was playing at the regular theater. The kids have been dieing to see Kung Fu Panda 2, so we decided to spend the big bucks and take them to the BIG theater.

I was doing the girls hair and our 8 year old, Mac, asked what movie we were going to, I told her Kung Fu Panda and she immediately replied, "but, that's not at the dollar theater"! I told her that we were going to the BIG theater, she then then said to me, "You mean the RICH theater"??? Hahahaha, I sure got a kick out of that one! She was thrilled to be going to the BIG movie theater and couldn't believe that we wern't going to the dollar movie.

We will still be sticking mainly to our trusty dollar theather, but every once in awhile it's fun to go to the "Rich" theater :).