Abby's Birthday 2012

One of the best things about the beginning of summer, is that we always get to celebrate Abby's birthday during those first few days.  It seems like the perfect way to kick-off summer - plus it gives us a chance to celebrate one of our favorite girls.

This year, Abby's birthday was on a Sunday which interfered with her typical birthday celebration: sushi for lunch, a mani/pedi, and a little birthday shopping, and dinner with the family at a restaurant of her choice.  But even with her birthday falling on a Sunday, it was still a pretty great day.

It started off with all of us singing heartfelt rendition of "Happy Birthday" to wake her up, followed by a yummy breakfast of French Toast and the opening of presents.  The first few presents she opened were small little craft items for her "Never Be Bored" box, a bag of salt-and-vinegar chips (her favorite food on earth) and an i-tunes card.  But there in the middle of the table was a large box, wrapped in green paper.  Abby knew it looked promising and she waited until the end to open it.

Blurry i-phone shot, but you get the idea.

Inside the large box was tons of tissue paper that Abby dug through looking for whatever was in that box.  Finally, at the bottom of the box, she found an envelope and inside the envelope was something she had been wanting and asking about and dreaming about for nearly four years: a ticket to see the musical "Wicked." When she saw that ticket, her eyes lit up and she ran over and threw her arms around me.  She was so excited.  Andrew, of course, quickly joked that this was the first and only time that Wickedness ever brought happiness.  I am so excited to go see "Wicked" with her.  It's just too bad we have to wait until August to see it.

That night, we went to Oma's and Grandpa's for dinner.  We had birthday cake for dessert and then following dinner and dessert, Oma planned a "Summer Kick-Off Fiesta" - the perfect celebration for Abby's birthday.  The "kick-off" started with a treasure hunt around the neighborhood.  The prizes included things that everyone needs for summer: bubbles, sparklers, candy and at the end, each grandchild got a towel with his or her name embroidered on it.

Once the treasure hunt was done, it was time to do a piñata in the front yard.  This piñata was huge and stuffed with more candy than 20 kids could eat in an entire summer.  Each of the grandkids took a turn trying to hit that piñata, but even then, it took awhile to bring it down.  When it finally fell, there was a shower of candy and the chaos that ensued was impressive.  

The rest of the night was spent roasting marshmallows over the fire pit, doing sparklers, and enjoying a perfect summer night.  It was a pretty spectacular way for Abby to spend her 11th birthday.

There are so many things I love about Abby.  She is one of the funniest people I know.  Seriously.  She can make me belly-laugh with her witty observations and comments.  She is kind and makes an effort to be a friend to those who need one.  She is a loving big sister.  She has a fabulous imagination and can always come up with amazing games and activities for her younger siblings to play.  She loves to read.  She is quick to smile and laugh.  She looks for the humor in every situation.  She is willing to try new things.  She loves to set and accomplish goals.  She loves music and is learning to play the piano and sing beautifully.  She has a good understanding of decisions and consequences and always tries to do what she knows is right.

I am so grateful for this beautiful girl, who, eleven years ago gave me the gift I had wanted my whole life: she made me a mom and I have treasured every single day with my girl.  Abby, we love you, love you, love you.  You are such a light and a joy in our family.  Happy Birthday my baby girl!

Beginning of the End

Summer vacation was so slow in coming this year.  The weather in Utah turned summer-like sometime in April and for nearly six weeks, it felt like it was time to be done with school.

The whole routine became torturous:

Those last few weeks of school, the afternoons were so warm and gorgeous, the only thing my kids wanted to do was play outside in the sunshine.  Which meant that homework was postponed until after dinner.  Except i was always late getting dinner ready and then the evenings were so lovely, all we wanted to do was hang out in our backyard until it started to get dark.  Except it wasn't getting dark until nearly 9:00.  Which meant homework wasn't getting started until it was past bedtime.  Which meant my kids were getting to bed much later than they should.  Which meant they were soooo tired in the morning. Which meant we were always running late for school and we had usually skipped practicing.  Which meant we had to do it in the afternoon - except, did I mention how gorgeous those springtime afternoons were?

Anyway, you can see that I had lost all control of our schedule and for weeks, the kids and I were all dying to be done with school.

When school finally ended on June 1st, I couldn't have been happier.  I was so excited to have my kids to myself for the summer and was so excited about all the activities and lack-of-activities we had planned for the next three months.   Those were my thoughts as I walked to the kids' school for the closing flag ceremony.  But then halfway between home and the school, I had the sinking realization that another school year had come and gone.  I thought about the past year and it felt like only weeks before, I had been at the school for the opening flag ceremony.  And wasn't the Halloween parade just a few days ago?  And the Christmas program?  And the school play?  How had this year flown by so quickly?

I thought about Abby, who when we first moved into this neighborhood from Minnesota, was just starting Kindergarten and somehow, that same little girl will be in sixth grade next year.  How did that happen?

Abby's first day of Kindergarten - which was yesterday.  Ouch.

I thought about Isaac, whom I still think of as that little first grade boy who, on the first day of school, clung so tightly to my hand until the last possible second and then gave me the tightest squeeze that his little body could manage.  How is it possible that he's now a couple of inches taller than Abby and is going into fourth grade next year?

Isaac's first day of Kindergarten - also yesterday.

I thought about Henry, who on the first day of school this year, was a little shy and timid about being in school all day and about learning Spanish.  Now he's my boy who sings Spanish songs non-stop and stays up late into the night reading Magic Treehouse books.  When did he make that shift?

Henry's first day of Kindergarten - wasn't it yesterday?

I thought about the fact that when school starts again in the fall, I will have my four older children all at the same school and that they'll all be able to walk home together in the afternoon.  How sweet will that be?  But, behind the sweetness I fee as I anticipate the coming year, is the gnawing feeling I have, that once Abby hits Junior High, life will be on fast-forward.

So, as I walked to school on June 1st, ready to celebrate summer and free time and late nights and all the things I love about this time of year, there was a part of me that longed to turn back the clock and just slow it all down.  

I felt a little emotional as the flag was lowered for the final time this year and my kids and I said good-bye to their teachers for the last time.

But then, before I got too carried away by emotion, we went boating and I forgot all about feeling nostalgic and all I could think was, "HOORAY!  IT'S SUMMER!!  BRING IT ON!