“this is the best birthday ever!”

Adelle keeps telling me, “this is the best birthday ever!!” It’s true that she’s had a pretty awesome week.

Tuesday Grandma took her shopping and she picked out the pink and orange princess dress she is wearing above, as well as the swimsuit below and the fancy blue birthday dress. There was more too! She loves getting to go on special dates with just her and my mom.

Then Wednesday  we met at Hovander with friends to celebrate Adelle and her friend, Colton’s, 5th Birthdays. It was beautiful and warm and the kids had fun running around and playing and eating cupcakes!!

Wednesday night when Jeff went to mutual up at the church he took the rest of the cake from the picnic with him. Adelle said, “If the men eat my cake they have to tell me happy birthday,” so sure enough she got a phone call and it was all the boys/men singing Happy Birthday to her. It was so funny, she was so excited. When they were done she ran out to the trampoline to her brothers and yells, “dad and his men sang happy birthday to me!”

Then on Friday we kidnapped our own kids! We acted as if we were just taking Braxton to school and all the kids got ready and Jeff and I secretly packed and loaded them all up and then we drove right past his school. They were all confused and like, “where are we going?”  We ran a few errands and then told them we were going someplace special for Adelle’s birthday. They guessed ice cream and the waterslides but when we showed up at Lesha and Peter’s house, 7 hours later they were beyond excited and said it was better than ice cream and the waterslides.

Lesha made us Taco’s for dinner and then we spent the evening at the local park and skate park. The kids were in heaven to be with cousins. They played so hard and then stayed up all night talking and laughing.

The next morning the kids all woke up and we all got ready and went out to breakfast. Adelle’s request was to go to the Space Needle but we were far past Seattle so we went to Elmer’s instead. It was delicious and while we were there the balloon man came and made crowns and swords for our royal party.

Then, after another trip to the skate park, we went to the local indoor pool for swimming and water slides. Why doesn’t our town have fun stuff like that??

It was so fun to visit my sister and her family. We have missed them the past few weeks and although it was a long trip, it was totally worth it. I love doing fun things with my kids and surprising them. They were so good and so grateful.

When we got home Adelle had mail waiting for her. Uncle Brent and Aunt Jess sent her a painting and $5 and she put the painting right on the fridge. Then she opened her birthday package from Gramy and Papa in Utah and was beyond excited to receive this lovely Rapunzel hair and the movie, Tangled. She had to put the hair on. It matched the Tangled nightgown that my sweet friend Tori gave me to give to Adelle for her birthday.

After the kids were in bed Jeff and I got busy finishing the crowns that I had started making with my friend Jama earlier in the week. We were pretty impressed with how they turned out! The kids loved them and looked so cute in them.

Here is my sweet 5 year old princess.

Then last but not least we had a party for Adelle on Sunday with family and a couple of friends. Jeff and I were so exhausted from the already busy/fun weekend but it turned out really good and the sun shone so we got to be outside.

Adelle chose ice cream cake, which was super good and easy but of course I had to complicate things by also making some little blueberry tarts.

Adelle got so many beautiful gifts. Dresses and beads and money. Uncle Bryce got her hair bows. Last weekend he had asked her what she wanted and she said, “hair bows.” Then a few days ago he texted again to make sure and she goes, “I already told him, I wanted hair bows!” So that is what she got from him. A whole bunch. I guess now that her hair is blonde and 2 feet long she will have someplace to put all the bows.

The grand finale of the day was getting to go on a real motorcycle ride with Umpa. Five is the legal age so she had been waiting to turn 5 and sure enough today she got her own ride. I think she was scared to death but she held on and made it back home.

I love this little girl so much. She is bright and bubbly and sweet and sassy. She is growing up to be so kind and thoughtful and she is a really good friend and neighbor. She is the best sister to her brothers and the best little mommy to 2 of them.

At the end of the day she came up and gave me a hug and a kiss and she said, “thanks for a fun party and the best birthday, mom.” Then she walked up and said, “you too, dad.” Like she’s an adult or something. So sincere and sweet.

Happy Birthday Miss Adelle!