Jenna's Birthday, Take 2

With a mere 12 hours to recover from birthday party #1, it was time to prepare to host party #2 in Jenna's honor.  This time with family.  I'm very lucky because I have lots of great help at home ...

...We're also very lucky because despite living 2 hours away from most of our family, people are willing to make the trip down here to celebrate with us (even arriving right in the middle of a tornado warning and gale force winds!)

Aunts and Uncles and cousins ...

...Grandmas and Grandpas ....

The birthday girl was just as thrilled to celebrate with her family as she was to celebrate with her friends.  Some highlights of the day include cake (or, in this case, cupcakes)

Lots and lots of presents

A brand-new bike from Grandma and Buck

A Barbie Jeep from Grandma and Pa

And some adorable tee-shirts from The Reynolds family (who sadly, couldn't be here with us today)

The best part of the day though, was spending time with our family.  And watching Jenna beam with the realization that these people love her so much that they're willing to spend 1/2 of their day in the car, just so that they could be here to celebrate with her.

We are lucky, indeed!

Happy 6th Birthday, Jenna!

The much-anticipated day is finally here. The day we've been talking about since March 8, 2008. The day we've been planning for for the last 9 months. The day we've been counting down to since the day after Christmas .....

Happy Birthday, Jenna!

Despite the fact that I told you you couldn't turn 6, you went ahead and did it anyway. (but that's it, young lady! no getting any older! you promised me you'd stay a baby forever!)

Despite the fact that all of your other friends have had big, expensive birthday parties at big, expensive venues, you had your heart set on a birthday party at home. The theme? Simple! Barbie Ballerina, of course! Pink, purple, glitter, glitz, and beauty, all rolled into one.

Despite the fact that there are beautifully decorated Barbie cakes in all of the stores, you had your heart set on a homemade cake that was pink with purple frosting. Done! and Done!

You invited all of the girls in your kindergarten class, and almost all of them showed up!

You even allowed your sister to be a guest at the party, sweet girl that you are.

There were games, treat bags, a pinata, and a whole lot of fun!

I hope that you enjoyed your day as much as I did ... only 364 days until your 7th Birthday. If I were going to allow you to turn 7, that is!

Monkey See, Monkey Can Do!!!

Dear Jenna,

Do you remember last summer? When you just turned 5? Every single day, you looked forward to going out in the back yard and practicing the monkey bars on our swingset. Every. Single. Day.

And every single day, you would run out there, full of spirit and determination, and climb up that ladder and reach for the first bar, and hang on that bar ... and then fall off. Every. Single. Day.

And every single time you fell off, you would come running back to the house, with tears in your eyes, crying about how you still couldn't do the monkey bars. Every. Single. Time.

Well, look at you now baby! Look at you now!

You never give up. You always keep trying. I couldn't be more proud of you. Every. Single. Day.

Love,

Mommy