Many Happy Birthdays to You

The celebration of Lily's fifth birthday started off with a few gifts from Papa and Ditado...

Then Lily eagerly awaited the first of many choruses of "Happy Birthday"...

Now that our singing voices were warmed up, we sang a quick song for Sophia as well...

The girls picked out their outfits for a little birthday lunch...

But couldn't wait, so they snacked on cookies...

Once Joe came home from work, Lily finished opening the remainder of her gifts...

This one was from me and Joe...

This one (and a few others) came from Tami and Terrence...

From Michael and Nathan...

From Papa and Grandma Owie...

From Girlfriend and Uncle Boo-Boo...

What a great start her fifth year has gotten off to!

Favorites (For Now)

We all know that children are constantly changing their minds.

But at this precise moment,

I wanted to get a glimpse into my newly five year olds most favorite things...

Lily's List of Favorites:

Color: Pink

Food: Cheese Pizza

Vegetable: Broccoli

Fruit: Oranges (Clementines)

Activity: Playing Soccer

Book: Pinkalicious

Toy: American Girl Doll

Season: Spring 

Place to visit: California

Place to eat: Larry's Pizza

Movie: Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving

TV Show: Dora the Explorer

Character: Wonder Woman

Animal: Doggie

Bath or Shower: Bath

Time of day: Morning

Store: Mall

The following were add ons by Lily:

Bug: Butterfly (pink and purple with pink spots)

Baby name: Night

Would you rather be a princess or a superhero: Superhero

Superhero Name: Cat girl

Superhero Sidekick: Flower Power (Sissy)

Superhero Power: Shoot rays from cuffs to make people sleep ("only the bad guys")

One wish: To live in a castle with a princess.  Her name would be Wonder Woman.

Five

Today you are FIVE.

That makes me both happy and a little sad.

I am happy because you are becoming such a big girl.

You are forming your own opinions about things.

You are finding your likes and dislikes.

You are becoming more and more independent.

You dress and undress yourself.

You are just steps away from reading on your own.

All of these things make me proud of you.

It is what we have raised you to become.

So I am happy.  

I just wish it would slow down a little bit.

I want you to stay little enough for me to carry.

I want you to continue to hold my hand as we cross the street.

Most of all, I want you to keep all of your innocence.

It is remarkable to me how sweet and caring you are and I don't want this big world to change that.

I know I can't forever keep you nestled safely in my arms, but that doesn't mean I am not going to try.

Five years ago today you changed my life.

You gave me the best, most important title in the world..

MOM.

Keep growing as you are and becoming who you are because every day you make me 

PROUD.

Happy Birthday dear Lily!

I love you so much!

You make me smile.

You fill my heart.

I am so glad you chose me.

swim

Although there is snow in the forecast for tomorrow,

today the girls swim...