M's 5th Birthday Part ONE

We started Maddie's birthDAY off with chocolate chip pancakes, peaches, and hot chocolate per request :)

Then it was time to get ready for school!

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How old are you Maddie?....."Fiiiiiive"

I rode my bike to school with the kids in the bike trailer per request as well {and I have to admit I was sweating to death upon returning home}

I met up with Maddie for lunch and ate with her and her cute kindergarten friends---although they go to lunch at 10:55am so I wasn't that hungry.  We bought lunch at the cafeteria and I had to catch up her account from back charges. Speaking of which...funny story:

Apparently several weeks ago she realized she could just walk up to the cafeteria ladies and buy a chocolate milk on her card without telling me.  Finally her teacher e-mailed me saying that she wasn't allowed to buy milk at lunch anymore until we updated her account {ie: payed up}.  What????  I didn't even know that they would allow a child to buy things off a card that has NO MONEY on it.  Needless to say Maddie and I had a discussion about this and I promptly paid up. 

 After eating lunch, Maddie asked if I would come to the remaining of lunch recess with her.  It was so neat to stay and watch her interact with all the kids at school.  I always have this worry that my kids won't have friends, will be picked on, or just plain not fit in (I am sure every mom worries about this), but it was fun to see Maddie run around with all sorts of friends and play.  She has a fun group of about 12 girlies that ran with her, played Red Rover, chased boys, talked about silly bands, and all searched to find ladybugs in the grass with.  I even felt like a rock star!  They all thought I was awesome being at school and would run over and tell me all kinds of funny things!  Wow, I never knew a group of kindergarteners could make me feel so good about myself :)

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Finally it was time to come home and begin the cooking/cleaning in preparation for Maddie's family birthday party.  Robby and Eli were little champs in the kitchen helping me.  After Maddie got home from school, we had last minute touch ups to the meal and dessert before familiy arrived. 

Maddie with her balloons!

The yummy food buffet style as usual

Maddie's requests for dinner were:

#1 Chicken

#2 Broccoli

#3 Strawberries

*I think I can handle that*

The cute three year old cousins!  Kaylin of course with her baby in tow and Robby with his "little blankie"



I am in LOVE with this little man's eyes {Zacky}

Papa with Eli

It is always amazing to me how much all my kids adore their Papa.  He truly has a way with children and it shows.  They know when they are with him he will protect them, play with them, include them in what he's doing, and more than anything love them with all his heart.  Many thanks to Jesse's father for showing my kids unconditional love

Cousin Kaylin

I accidentally bumped into Lori spilling on her shirt....good thing she has a little Sis like me to clean up my mess :)

{I LOVE this cute apron my Sissy-in-law gave me for my birthday}

Maddie with her "cake" (Berry Trifle Dish)

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I had been trying and trying to decide what I was going to make on her actual birthday for dessert.  I didn't want to do my traditional Giant Cupcake because I had just made it the day before for Nona and Joanna's birthday.  And besides, I was already planning on making that on Saturday for her friend party.  I was in quite the dilemma until Maddie mentioned to me she wanted "berries" on her birthday {specifically strawberries}.  That was when the lightbulb turned on and I made a trifle instead.  I have to admit it was delicious....now I just need another excuse to make it again.....

Maddie with her Aunt Jo

Joanna, Maddie, Esther, Lori and Kaylin

Maddie holding her Mylar Balloon that she loved.  I don't know what it is about kids and balloons, but mine are pretty much obsessed with getting balloons for birthdays.  I made sure I picked up enough so that each of the kids got to play with one.

My sweet brother, Ben, even came all the way out to our house for the party.  I was so excited to see him, even with all the chaos that a normal family party entails.

This year Maddie had a specific wish list of things she wanted for her birthday:

#1 "Big Girl" Scooter

#2 Barbies

#3 Barbie Movies

#4 Silly Bands

#5 Make up

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It was hilarous to see how excited she was for her presents.  She especially LOVED the new Mermaid Barbie doll we got her.  Awhile ago we rented a Barbie Mermaid Movie and it was the same doll that was in that movie.  She was hilarious as she went from present to present saying "ohhh thanks".

While Maddie was busy opening presents, Robby entertained himself by trying his hand at the new scooter

Even Eli joined in on the scooter fun

It felt like non-stop partying, or preparing to party from the time I woke up until I went to bed, but we had so much fun!  When Maddie went to bed that night she said "Mom I had so much fun on my birthday....can it still be my birthday tomorrow"

:)