Happy Birthday, Bug, You're My Little Girl

Delainey turned 14 on Monday. I am so proud of her. That she made it to 14. Ha, ha! No, just kidding. I am so proud of how she has grown and matured in the last year. Happy birthday, Delainey-Bug! I love you! I am so thankful that God blessed my life with you. You have challenged me, made me grow and made me seek after God more intensely. You have given me countless joys over the years, bringing many a smile to my face and much laughter to my lips. Your hand in mine is still as precious now as it was when you were born. I am so pleased when you choose to move forward and press into Jesus despite what fears you may have or what hindrances may come... Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid... for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deut. 31:6

You're my little girl, but you were His first
the one that He created
No one in this world could ever be like you...

The Forgotten Bug Party

I think I already 'blogged' about the Bug Party at the library to which I fogot to take the kids. Kynzie still sadly recalls the day we forgot to go the the Bug Party. Friday evening we went to my mom & dad's to celebrate Kynzie's birthday and give my sister a mini, family baby shower.

We had the bug theme going for Kynzie's part of the evening.

My mom had the kids search their large yard for various bugs and see who had the most at the end of the time allotted. Kynzie paired up with uncle Clayson, and they came out winners in the end. Kynzie kept saying she just couldn't believe she won the bug game on her birthday.


Kynzie had to try four times before she blew out her one (non-trick) candle. I didn't get real elaborate on the cake. Kynzie liked the grass from a previous cake I made, so we just decided bugs on grass would be perfect.

Kynzie put on her ladybug costume, and Max put on his bumblebee costume for the present part of the party.

Kynzie was so delighted with all of her gifts, but here she is after opening up her Baby Alive. She thanked Scott and I over and over for that doll. It was just what she wanted, she said. She didn't even seem to mind that we decided not to get the one that 'poops', thanks to a heads up from my sister-in-law, Kerry. Thanks, Kerry. (Kerry asked me if I really needed another messy diaper to change. Good point.)


She also received an Aquadoodle mat, a Play Wonder frog toss set, a doorway puppet theater, as well as a few other odds and ends. Not that the gifts were odd...

Below is the quilt Mom made for Clayson and Tacy's new baby. It is a spinoff of the Noah's Ark theme she made for their first son, Elijah. Mom also made Tacy's 'shower' cake. We all loved it! All the little plastic shower favor babies on it and sprinkles, too. It was so 'Mom"! Good job, Mom.

So much wonder in a four-year-old

Kynzie turned four years old! We spent the evening at Chuck E Cheese. She was so excited. And as a last minute treat, Papa Dan and Grandma Pam and Aunt Kelsie met us there. We didn't tell Kynzie, so she was quite surprised. I forgot to take my camera. Not that it would have worked if I had remembered it anyway... but that is a different story for a different blog post.

Kynzie is so much fun to watch in situations like this. She is so genuinely happy, and she lights up with such delight at each new event. It is refreshing. I love to experience things through my daughter's eyes, and all her senses really. She expresses such wonder, and her curiosity takes her on great learning adventures.

Papa and Grandma gave her a super cool bicycle complete with training wheels and pink tassels on the handlebars after Chuck E Cheese. She still gets these huge eyes and matching grin when she asks if she can go ride her new bike. It is so cute!

Her most recent learning adventures have been about what happens to our pee pee when we flush it, why God made the trees for us (as opposed to the trees just being for birds to build nests), and the life cycle of a butterfly. Growing a garden is always on her mind. She asked me today why I haven't put anything in our garden to grow yet. She said "we (her and Delainey and Max) have been taking care of it for you," as though to say we are waiting on you to plant something.

The best is hearing her say "now we are going to be able to drink my pee pee" after she flushes the toilet every time now. And this is somehow exciting to her! Not the refreshment of drinking water necessarily, but the knowledge she has gained about the water treatment plant process.