Happy Birthday Big Girl!

So, yesterday was Emily's 5th birthday. I told her the night before her birthday that it was her last night as a 4 year old. She would never be 4 again. I asked if she had had a good year and she said yes. Then all day we sang to her and I would say, "Guess what?" Each time she would say, "What?" I would then tell her, "It's your birthday!" She would roll her eyes and say, "I know." I enjoyed it and we tried to make her smile all day long. It started with chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Yummy. She also opened her birthday card from Grammy and Gaffa - everyone wanted to see and hear it!

Then I was busy making pasta salad for dinner and the roll dough for my easy cheater cinnamon rolls, that would go into the fridge until later. Then I had to make sandwiches for lunch and pack up so we could eat lunch at the student center on campus, above the gym. A friend planned a birthday party for her little boy and I asked if we could make it a double. The kids really had a good time playing games, decorating and eating cupcakes, and being with other people. (Thanks Jessie and Paul, for planning a party and for letting us celebrate Emily's birthday with Matix!)

Then we headed home, got out the roll dough and tried to cool off a bit. I wrapped the presents so they would be ready when we needed them. We sat down and enjoyed dinner and then I tried to clean up a bit so that we could move on to cake and presents. The kids really enjoyed that part and it was fun to celebrate Emily all day!

As I looked back over my pictures, to pick the best ones, I saw these. This is what Emily got to do because, as she said, "I'm the birthday girl." The kids found this rather larger, thankfully dead, cockroach in the playroom. She said, "I'm the birthday girl. I'll sweep it up." She became a little more timid and less brave as she got closer to it but did end up sweeping it up and putting it in the trash. Thanks for the help Emily!

It was a nice day of celebrating and smiling. That's what Emily does best. She is a great reader, always wants to help, wants to play with everyone, watches out for her younger sisters, loves to be included, gives me hugs when ever I want them, and is very shareable! Thanks EMILY for being you! We love you!