Double Digits

Dear Natalie,

Today you are TEN!  Double digits are a big deal! 

I know I tell you all the time that you are my baby, but the truth is you are not little anymore.  You no longer need help getting dressed, or washing your hair.  You wear deodorant (what?) and can make your own breakfast and school lunch.   

On the other hand, I am glad you still let me hold your hand in public, snuggle with you at home, and kiss your nose.  I love the young woman you are becoming!  Being around you is always joyful and has a calming effect on me.  As I always tell you, “You are my medicine”.

This year there have been some firsts for you:

You made the choice to be baptized and committed yourself to Jesus.  This decision made all of us very happy.

You went to Summer Camp for the first time and loved the experience.

You participated in your first Triathlon

You hiked the Grand Canyon with Daddy and Grandma.  I am so proud of you.  That is a big accomplishment!

You started clarinet lessons at school and are progressing very well.

You joined the Pathfinders Club

Some things have stayed the same:

You are still a “Daddy’s Girl”

You love fashion and putting outfits together

You read all the time

You love Star Wars and Comics

You still sleep with your stuffed animals

You absolutely love your kitties and they love you

You still like to play video games and watch TV a little bit too much

As you leave your single digit years behind, my simple wish for you is that you stay in a relationship with Jesus Christ and let him be your guide when you are making choices in your life. 

  

I also pray that our relationship lasts a lifetime, that through our ups and downs you always remember I am in your corner, cheering for you, ready to help when you need me and ready to rejoice in your accomplishments.

I love you to the moon and back "baby"!

Mami

Natalie's Magical Birthday Party

Right after she came back from Nebraska Natalie started talking about her birthday party. We are big on theme parties in this family and she wanted to come up with a good theme for her party. One night after much back and forth I casually suggested a “Magic” related party.Her eyes opened real big and at that moment it was decided that “Magic” was going to be the theme.

For several months now Natalie has been really into doing Magic Tricks. Most Fridays after her dad picks her up from school they end up at this fun STORE and she has collected quite a few simple magic tricks that she enjoys showing people. Our religion does not believe in magic or in people having supernatural powers, we always explain to her that magicians don’t have special powers they just practice their tricks a lot and get really good at doing them.

I wanted to find a magician that would do a simple and fun show for the kids without getting into any of the “dark” or scary tricks. One of the first magicians I contacted scared me off when he explained that his act ended with him levitating the birthday child [grin]. I finally found one ONE that met my criteria and everything was set.

We decided on the color scheme and started the planning. The party was held this weekend and it was a success. We had 14 children and 16 adults and it was all done inside our under 1800 square feet house. I had planned everything to be done ouside, but the forecast called for rain all afternoon and I did not want to risk it. In the end, it did not rain and the kids got to go outside and play once things wound down inside.

My husband helped me take out our dining room table to the garage and I set up the kids tables in the space. The chair covers were borrowed from my sister. I think it turned out very cute.

We started with the Magic Show.  And Lorenzo did a great job of keeping the kids interested.

Here the magician was holding a balloon and the kids were getting ready for it being popped.

Natalie got to assist in several of the tricks.  The magic phrase for the day was "Happy Birthday Natalie".

We were surprised that Lorenzo was dressed in Purple and matched perfectly with the party colors.

Lorenzo kept telling her to "Smile like you are having fun"

Several of the kids got to go up and "help" with the tricks and everyone got a "Magician Certificate" to take home.

He even did some tricks with a live dove and a rabbit.  At the end of the show Natalie was able to get her picture taken with them.

After the show was over everyone was ready to eat.  The menu was pizza, popcorn and punch.  We sang Happy Birthday to Natalie, and everyone had a cupcake and some ice cream.

Other

The girls

The Boys

The Cousins

Gift opening was a little bit hectic.  All the kids were crowding around Natalie making it almost impossible for her to open anything.  I was afraid she was going to lose it and tell everyone to leave her alone, but she graciously let others grab things out of her hand "help" her open them and other than a couple dirty looks here and there, she kept her composure.  Her favorite gift by far was the remote controlled "Stunt Granny" her daddy gave her.  She had been wanting that toy for a long time and just couldn't believe he actually got it for her.

My one regret is not delegating the picture taking to somebody else.  It proved a little stressful trying to play hostess and at the same time take pictures.  Also the afternoon was cloudy and the dark colors inside made the pictures turn out too dark.   Other than that I am very happy with the way things turned out, it was Natalie's first big birthday party involving kids other than family, and she loved everything about it.  If she is happy, then I'm happy.

We love our almost seven year-old "baby".

It's Christmas Today!

From home

to home

and heart

 to heart

from one place

to another

The warmth and joy of Christmas

Brings us closer to each other.

~Emily Matthews~

And Now She Is Six

My dear Natie,

You are growing up so fast! I can’t keep up! Can you believe that little baby in the picture is you?

Today you are SIX! It feels it was just a few days ago, I was sitting at my computer writing a post for your fifth birthday!



You have grown into such a big and beautiful girl! You are 48” tall. Tall enough to ride most rides at Disney World and at the County Fair.



You have a wonderful sense of humor (a tiny bit on the dark side) and express yourself very well.



You have a very strong temper and display a dramatic streak when upset. However, you don’t stay mad for too long.



You love fashion, and are constantly putting outfits together, even at bedtime. Unlike your sister, you love looking at yourself in the mirror and are concerned with they way you look.



You learned many things this year: Tie your Shoes, Read and Write, Swim, Ride a bike, Pump your legs on the swing and are starting to master the monkey bars.



Just recently, you have developed a strong interest in dinosaurs. Since school started, you have been bringing a dinosaur related book home every week.

Right now, you love playing with American Girl Dolls, Barbies, Polly Pocket, Webkinz, Nintendo DS and computer games.



You truly complete our family. I am so proud of you and love you with all my heart.

Happy 6th Birthday!



Love, Mami