Celebrating Abby

A certain young lady in our house turned 5 this week. 5!  I've been through it twice already and yet I'm still not prepared for how big that number sounds.  Due to our summer plans, her celebrations were many and very spread out.  She didn't mind.  We started in June.  A Build-A-Bear party with her preschool friends.

 Abby picked a princess outfit.  A real shocker, I know.  She named her bear Snow.

 The second celebration came the week before her birthday.  A chance to celebrate with those closest to us. She and her brothers spent all afternoon working up and practicing this grand entrance:

IMG 3797 from Stephanie Campbell on Vimeo.

This was the cake I prepared.

 She loved it rainbow and sprinkley-ness.  I did, however, feel a small twinge of guilt that I never actually asked her what kind of cake she wanted.  Especially when she informed me that she wanted to help decorate her cake and she wanted it to have a picture of her eating strawberries with a cow behind her.  Maybe we can use that idea next year?  After dinner, her brothers and Eric entertained us with a magic show.

 Then it was back upstairs for the cake.  I've taken to using my iPhone 99% of the time for pictures.  It did not do very well in this instance.  

I love this video!

(She asked that we not invite her brothers next year.  Just kidding....)
 After the party, she opened each of her gifts and modeled them for us.

 And lastly, we celebrated her ACTUAL birthday.  Benjamin had her well-trained that she should expect breakfast in bed.  She doesn't usually sleep late and her daddy and I reminded her that to get breakfast in bed she actually had to stay in bed.  We told her we would be up about 4:00 in the afternoon.  She didn't think that was funny.  And wouldn't you know, this was the one day she actually slept in.

 Next up a visit to the farm with her good friends Sophia and Leo.

 I'm not sure why there are so many sour pusses in this picture.  But I do know a lot of people will be unhappy to see it when they are teenagers!  

 She got to chase butterflies - another favorite activity. 

Daddy met us for lunch.

And they got to play in the soaker hoses.  All-in-all, a perfect farm outing.

 After a quick stop home to change and freshen up a little, we were off to Target so she could spend some hard-earned birthday money.  Another pony to add to the collection.

She took her pony upstairs to her room and a nap sneaked right up on her.  As we had a late night planned, I thought it seemed appropriate.  Glad her little body thought of it.

Starlight Theater was putting on The Little Mermaid.  As her special birthday trip is on hold for the unforeseeable future, we wanted to do something special with her. This seemed like the perfect activity.  They had some extra activities set up before the show so we got there early for that.  Because of the long lines, we didn't get to do much but she seemed pleased.

She loved the show and all the singing and dancing.

It is hard to believe she is really only 60 months old.  I can hardly remember life before her!  She is such a joy and loves to smile and laugh.  She loves to cuddle and kiss.  She loves to help and to just be at your side.   She loves color and can brighten any room.  She loves to sing and dance.  We are so lucky to have her as our daughter!  We love you, Abby!!