Four?!

OK - so as parents, we may have varying opinions on many different topics: breastfeeding, co-sleeping, binkis, spanking, etc, but I think there's one thing we ALL can agree on: Our kids grow up too fast!!

Seriously, will someone please explain to me, how my sweet pea went from this:



to this:

in seemingly the blink of an eye?

It truly amazes and baffles me how quickly they grow!

My sweet Miss McKinley turned 4 years old yesterday - on 9/9/09! In fact, she was born at 9:24am, so that makes this a pretty special birthday!


This year, McKinley had SUCH a hard time holding in her excitement. The night before her birthday, she kept saying "Mom - I just CAN'T WAIT for my surprises!" She said it in an excited way, but also frustrated because she just wanted her birthday to be here NOW! I just love it, because I was the same way growing up. Birthdays were a big deal!

So - here's the re-cap of her special day:


We woke her up about 8am, singing happy birthday. She only took a second to wake up and said "You're right mom! It IS my birthday!"

("breaking through" to the next year)

Her birthday breakfast request (after we denied her request for pizza) was for ebbelskeevers (it's a family recipe - if you don't know what they are - they're like little puffed pancakes that you dip in butter & powdered sugar/cinnamon/syrup - or all 3 if you're McKinley). She got to wear her birthday crown, eat on the birthday plate, with her birthday tablecloth, & enjoy all the birthday decorations we put out for her. All through breakfast, she kept asking "What does a 4-year-old do? Do they go to Kindergarten? Do they reach the sink? Do they wipe their faces?" It was pretty cute.



After breakfast & she got to watch Super Why & Dinosaur Train, she searched for & found her presents downstairs that were hidden. She got a Mermadia DVD, a My Little Pony, and a Polly Pocket from mom & dad. She got some clothes, shoes & socks from Grandma & Grandpa Devenish (thank you!), and Aunt Keeley & Uncle Jeff got her another My Little Pony & a drawing calendar. Aunt Kim got her a princess chair.


After that, we were off to Sherrie Price's house, because mom had a prenatal appointment.


For her birthday lunch, she again asked for pizza, but settled for a ham sandwich and she got to watch her new Mermadia movie! She also helped mom & dad make her cake!


After the movie, we took off for Jumpin' Jacks - where she had her birthday party! What fun! We had the way-cute Castle Room & we decorated it & got everything ready for all her friends! Here's who came: Alyssa & her mom & sister Krysta, Jack & his mom & brother Sam, Amanda & her mom & sister Isabelle & brother Nathan, her friend Lizzy, Hendrix & his mom & sister Lilly, Michael, Aunt Cindy, Joshua, Aunt Trisha, & Uncle Darrin.

The kids had so much fun eating pizza (finally!), cake & ice cream, opening presents (she got lots of Littlest Pet shop stuff, a Mermaidia barbie, some foam necklace beads, some clothes, and an Ariel toy) and OF COURSE, JUMPING!


(the castle room)


(ready to PAR-TAY!)


(4 candles! No problem!)


(enjoying the cake & ice cream)

(Hendrix on the BBall "court")

(Sam hanging out)

(Jack lovin' the helicopter)

(Lizzy hugs!)

(gifts! I LOVE how all the kids gather round & want to help!)

(Some of the party-goers: Alyssa, Amanda, Michael, Krysta, McKinley & Isabelle!)

Happy Birthday sweet girl! And thanks to everyone who came to celebrate! We love you!