Her Seventh Year

It's hard to know where to begin because I've been thinking about the day I'd be writing this post for quite some time.

I have filled this post with a ton of pictures because Princess has had A LOT of things going on the past week.
She had a dance competition, dance banquet, end of the year recital and her 7th birthday.

Dance life has felt crazy lately.

Her banquet went well. She got a little diamond plaque for completing another year with her SNS team.

She got to spend the evening with her favorite dance friend, J.

And she got to give hugs to her favorite Miss Cassie.
Cassie is the teacher who took Princess under her wing this year. She gave her the opportunity to do a solo and believed in her when Princess started to doubt her abilities. Cassie was sincerely an answer to my prayers.

This hasn't been the easiest dance year for my girly. She has worked really hard and at the beginning of the year, she was getting a lot of recognition and her confidence was high. But due to a lot of factors, some of them regarding home life and some of them regarding studio life, she started struggling mid-year. As her mother, this isn't an easy thing to watch. I have wondered a lot this year if I was making the right decisions for her by allowing her to stay in dance but her solo really brought back some of her sparkle that had gone missing and it was nice to see her feeling so loved and appreciated.

Anyway, more on that late...

Princess turned 7 this week and I had big plans for her main birthday present. I planned on redoing the kids' room while they were with their dad from Wednesday to Friday. I stayed up late each night painting and decorating and somehow, it all came together!

When P walked into the house after school, I told her I needed her to go look in her room.

She walked in and looked around for a good minute or two, commenting on how I had put a desk in her room, etc. before she asked where her bed was.
Ha! That was her expression when I told her the room she was standing in was no longer her room.

When she walked into what is now her room, she started jumping and squealing and pointing out all of the things she loved about it. Ninja was pretty excited too, since he shares a room with her.

I bought this doll bed because she had told me a month ago that she wished she could sleep with her AG doll but that it was too uncomfortable. So now they can sleep close to each other every night.

I did all the painting on my own but some of my awesome friends helped me decorate the walls in yellow and gray.

Then we asked P if she would prefer to do presents on Friday afternoon or after her dance recital on Saturday.
Of course, she picked Friday.

So it was time for presents from her brother and I.

Ninja got her some craft stuff and that baby unicorn. She has hardly put the unicorn down since she got it.

I mostly just got her clothes for summer since they were things she was needing.

But she did specifically ask for a maxi skirt "because that's what big girls wear to church" so I made sure to buy her one to go along with her other clothes.

A few more crafts and she was done opening presents!

And boy, was she happy!

After presents, it was time to go down to the QC Arts Center for the kids recital rehearsal. The fun part, or super duper not so fun part, about having BOTH of your kids in dance is having them in two different time blocks. We ended up being at the arts center for close to 3 hours on Friday night.

And naturally, Princess found creative ways to stay entertained.

Saturday morning, we woke up to celebrate the BIRTHDAY GIRL. We did breakfast and then we had to start getting ready for recital.

I woke up feeling all sorts of nostalgia. We have done recitals at Club Dance for three years now and Saturday was Princess' last recital with them. I haven't really opened up about this because I wanted to wait until after her recital but she will not be returning to Club Dance for next year. We have nothing against Club. In fact, Princess had some pretty amazing teachers there and she is sad to leave but this year really showed me that Club isn't the right place for her at this time. It was a struggle for her not to make the Allstars team (and let's be honest, it was a struggle for me as well) and then she struggled not feeling like she was a good enough dancer for most of the year---and this is where mom decision comes in.
Princess doesn't want to leave Club. She has friends there and loves her teachers. But I already teach dance at another studio and I believe it will better fit the pace Princess needs right now. She needs smaller classes, more positive and laid back environments, and a chance to breathe this year.
She will be on company at my studio which means she will be dancing more hours but she will be performing a little bit less than this past year and I think it'll be better to have her with me more often.

This wasn't an easy decision for us because really, Club has been her life. It is all she knows about the dance world. And after the recital, I started having second thoughts because we love the people we have met. But I know she will love the people at her new studio too.

Anyway, I know that was kind of long and maybe it seems silly but this was a big deal for us! It's exciting and sad and scary and happy, all mixed together.

My girl did amazing in her recital. We ended up being there most of the day since she performed in the 11:30am show and her brother performed in the 2pm show.

She got to spend most of the day with her mom AND her dad and since she struggles a lot with our divorce, I am happy she had the opportunity to have us both on her birthday.

Per her request, we headed to Texas Roadhouse after the recitals were over because this girl is a steak lover! She finished her steak and then asked if she could eat some of mine. And I was proud of her for being brave enough to sit in the saddle while everyone sang happy birthday to her.

On our drive home, Princess mentioned that we hadn't had cake for her birthday.
Little did she know our favorite Lenahans had been decorating their house and baking a cake for her as a surprise.

She got to help decorate it and it turned out super adorable.

She was so happy to be able to play with her best friend and celebrate the end of her birthday with her.
And I was happy and so grateful for all of the love that was shown to her.

I think my favorite part was when A covered D's mouth during the blowing out of the candles.

All in all, it was an incredible and busy and wonderful week. Celebrating my daughter and watching her participate in something she truly loves made it a happy day for the rest of us.

I am in disbelief that my BABY GIRL is 7 but I am so proud of the little lady she is. I love her so incredibly much and would not trade her for anything in the world.

Happy birthday, Princess.

Her 6th Birthday

 Petey turned 6 yesterday.
Yes, you read that right...SIX! I can hardly believe that my baby girl graduated from kindergarten and just continues to get older. I keep telling her to slow down.

Yesterday, her dad spent most of the day with her so I got to see her for her class party (The most awesome part about having your birthday on the last day of school is that they have a party for you---or at least that what it feels like.) and then we went out to dinner before her dress rehearsal for dance.

 She loved eating at Joe's Farm Grill (free birthday food!). And that face, oh my goodness THAT FACE. She has quite the little personality and I love her so much.

 She really looks so much older already. I know---impossible, right? I am just getting used to the fact that it has been six years since I became a mother. This girl is my life! I love her so much!

I love Petey's attitude. She is such a helper. She is a very selfless 6 year old and loves making other people happy.

Petey is emotional. She is very dramatic and although this gets hard for me to keep my patience sometimes, I wouldn't change it because this girl feels. She feels the good and the bad and I love that she is sensitive.

Since today was Petey's last dance recital for the year, I have been thinking back to this time last year, when she was anxiously awaiting try outs to see if she could make the dance team. I remember those days like they were yesterday and now she has finished a whole year and learned SO much!

 Petey has a gorgeous smile. I love seeing the twinkle in her blue eyes when she is really happy about something. I love seeing her giggle when she plays jokes on her brother or I. She is a pretty funny kid.

Petey is a little princess. She loves to do girly things. She loves getting her nails done, wearing lip gloss, and PINK. She loves Hello Kitty, Minnie Mouse, Tinkerbell, and My Little Pony. Right now, her favorite movie is Teen Beach Movie. We watch it once a day... {don't judge...}

Petey loves to tumble. She is always working on new tricks and every time the tv is on and I walk in the room, she is in some contortionist position. She almost never stops moving.

Petey is still an eater. My goodness, she is always hungry! She eats the most out of anyone in our house and it cracks me up.

Petey is on the verge of reading fluently. She still has to sound things out but it's a lot faster than it used to be. She can figure out almot any word she looks at.

Petey loves chewing gum! Seriously. She asks for gum all of the time! And she will chew it for hours if I don't make her spit it out.

I love my six year old so much. I can't imagine life without Petey in it. She keeps me going when I'm ready to quit. She is my helper and my buddy. I'm so glad she is on summer break because I love having her around.

Happy birthday, baby girl!!!

Weekend of Birthdays, Dance Recitals, and More Birthdays

 On Friday, Boss turned another year older and wiser. Since he had to work and Petey's birthday was a busy day, I took her and a friend to see The Croods. All month she's been asking to go to the movie theater for her birthday.

She had a hard time picking since I told her she could only bring one friend. I wish we could've taken more but that would've been expensive.

 They were excited for popcorn, of course.

 The movie was super cute and the kids laughed a lot.

Boss got off early so when he got home, we had him open his presents.

 Petey insisted he would love this pack of mints, which he did. :)

 I got him a new shirt.

 Spidey picked out this awesome Captain America shirt for his daddy.

 And I also got Boss a spotlight for when he goes camping. We didn't much else the rest of the day but I did let Boss nap and not do much that day.

On Saturday, Petey had her end of the year dance recital. I was happy and sad and excited and more sad because this is probably her last dance class with Miss JaNae.

 Petey has adored JaNae since she started classes with her last July and as a mother, I've appreciated everything JaNae has done for my girl. She has so much patience and is such a fun teacher. It's going to be an adjustment to have a new dance teacher but Petey is so excited for dance team this year.

 I love this picture of my boys. They were such good sports to sit through a 2 hour dance concert.

 My parents and younger brother and sister were also able to come and support Petey. She did really well even though she was having attachment issues that day and didn't want me to leave her in the dressing room with someone else during the recital. Unfortunatly, we weren't allowed to videotape this performance and though I've ordered the dvd, it won't be online for any of our out of townn relatives to enjoy.

Sunday was the last of the birthday celebrations. Petey had asked for a 'queen cake' and my mom went above and beyond and made this adorable cake jut for Petey.

It is exactly what Petey had wanted and she was a happy birthday girl.

 After dinner massages...Petey looked zoned out while Boss massaged her face.

 Petey opened her last present from us after dinner, princess barbies. She LOVES them.

 Grandma and Grandpa got her this Tinkerbell backpack/lunch box that was filled with Hello Kitty stuff. Our girl was in Heaven!

 Boss got a drill from my parents and though his smile is cheesy, he's been so excited about it.

 Petey and Aunt Gigi, admiring her Ariel barbie.

We sang happy birthday one last time this week to the birthday boy/girl and they got to blow out candles.

I love these two people so much and am so glad they are MINE!

Her 5th Year

 Well, she went ahead and did it. I told Petey to stop growing up so fast but she turned 5 anyway. Yesterday was my girly's birthday and we had quite the day!

She woke up early enough to open presents before Boss went to work.

Her sunflower plants were killed by my brother in laws puppy so we got her some new seeds to plant.

 Spidey got her Wreck It Ralph which she was SUPER happy about. She loves that movie.

 We got her new dance clothes.

 Hello Kitty pajamas.

 And a new scooter!

 We also got her 3 new dresses.

 Spidey was a good helper and took care of the wrapping paper.

 Daddy decided to put her scooter together before he went to work because she was so excited.

 She loves it!

 Then, the kids and I headed to Liberty Market for breakfast. Here they are washing their hands in the bathroom when we were done. I forgot to take a picture in the actual restaraunt.

We went to Toys'R'Us to get her birthday crown, balloon, and let her pick out a toy with her gift card and then we headed over to the mall for kids club so she could get her free ice cream from Dairy Queen.

 I had a doctor appointment around lunchtime so my friend, Lacey, watched the kids. When I came back to get them, they were just about to decorate cupcakes.

 Lacey was so sweet and stuck a candle in Petey's cupcake so we could sing happy birthday to her.

 She tried to blow it out but she couldn't get it so her bestie helped her out.  :)

 Spidey had fun licking all the frosting off his cupcake.

 "Look, mom, I have a beard just like daddy!"

Then we headed to Joe's Farm Grill for a late lunch/early dinner.

 As you can see, Spidey wouldn't take the straw out of his mouth for the picture. That kid is addicted to soda and doesn't get it often so when he does, he practically breathes it in.

I had a meeting for Petey's new school that night but when I got home, John and Darylle had left a present for Petey to open so we let her open it before bed.

 She was SO excited to see Vidia from the Tinkberbell movies. She loves those fairies!

And Belle! It was so sweet. She has been playing with the two of them all morning and telling me over and over how beautiful they are.

I have to brag for a minute because I have the sweetest daughter. Spidey had a hard time with all of the attention Petey was getting yesterday and Petey was such a good big sister. She shared pretty much everything from her day with him, she wanted to buy him some presents so he wouldn't feel left out {which I kindly explained that we wouldn't be doing}, she shared her treats with him, she let her best friend pick the color of the frosting for the cupcakes they made, etc. The hardest thing for Spidey was seeing Petey ride her brand new scooter, He wanted one so badly. She was so selfless and let him ride it as much as he wanted yesterday. What a good big sister. I love my Petey girl and I'm so glad she's mine.

I also interviewed my sweet girl this morning as part of her birthday. I hope you enjoy it!

How old are you?
5
What is your favorite movie?
Wreck It Ralph
What is your favorite color?
Pink
Who is your best friend?
Evalyn, Mallerie, and Jolie
What’s your favorite animal?
All the huge animals; tortoise and elephants.
What do you love most about Andersen?
I love when he helps me clean my room.
What do you like to do with mommy?
Play games.
What do you like to do with daddy?
Play games!
What is your favorite thing to do?
Play games and eat all day.
What is your favorite food?
Cheese pizza.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A gymnastic teacher.