A Princess Spa Party!!

Paisley turned 5 years old this week. For her party, she chose a princess spa theme. She invited 12 lovely little princesses to be pampered, primped and spoiled at the OohLaLa Day Spa (our house). After all of the royal spa treatments, it was time for the girls to dress in their princess attire and enjoy an elegant princess luncheon. It was truly a fun party for everyone - even the moms!
Here is how it went down:

First they were given manicures and pedicures

Then, it was time for the facials. We exfoliated their skin with a watermelon scrub and put cold cucumbers on their eyes to reduce puffiness.


followed by a little relaxation time...

Next, it was time to get dressed.

We mustn't forget our princess make-up...

and hair accessories...

While they waited on everyone to finish getting ready, they played at the princess craft station.


Once the girls were all pampered, refreshed and fancied up, it was time for a mini photo session.


We ended with princess luncheon. It was such a fun party!!


Of course, they grabbed their spa bags as favors on the way out.

Happy 5th Birthday, Paisley!

Dear Paisley,
Today you turned 5 years old. I can't believe it. Where have the past 1,825 days gone? It is amazing to see the changes in you this past year specifically - both physical and emotional.

• Physically, you have thinned out - your face has lost some of it's chubbiness and your body has become more toned and fit. In my opinion, you become more beautiful (on the outside AND the inside) everyday)!
• Emotionally, you are more helpful, more willing, more obedient, more respectful and more mature.
• You are very inquisitive - you ask a lot of questions and want to understand how the world works and why things happen.
• You can be dramatic and overemotional at times but I'm sure that is mostly due to your age.
• You are sweet and thoughtful - making cards for your friends and family almost every day! In fact, one of your favorite things to do is to deliver mail to your friends in the neighborhood.
• You love art. If I'd let you, you would draw and paint, cut and create all day long. I wonder if you'll be an artist one day.
• You sing all of the time - you sing while you're drawing, you sing while your playing with your dolls, you sing in the bathtub, you sing while you're playing dress-up. Sometimes you sing the right words and sometimes you make up your own. Either way, it always sounds beautiful to me.
• Your favorite doll is still Allison - your American Girl Itty Bitty Twin. She goes everywhere with you and you love to wearing matching clothes with her. You call her your "dolly", which I think is really cute. You also love "My Little Pony", "Barbie" and "Play Mobile". Those sets will keep you occupied for hours!!
• You swim, play soccer and do gymnastics - all of which you really enjoy! And this past winter, Daddy signed you up for Ice Skating and you have already moved up to the 3rd level. You have great balance!!
• You are a good eater - love fruits and vegetables - and will try most anything.
• You hate to be hot. You hate not having choices. And you definitely hate to make mistakes (you are a perfectionist). You hate being told what to do.
• You adore your baby sister more than anything in the world - you really want to be a mama and sometimes wish Whitley was your baby, not mine!
• Your favorite colors are pink and purple. Your favorite food is probably ice cream (you love Rainbow Sherbert). Your favorite princess is Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" which is one of your favorite movies. When you watch TV, you like "Max and Ruby" or "Ni Hao Kai-Lan".

These are just a few things about you this year so you'll have an idea of who you were entering Kindergarten. I believe you are a smart little girl with lots of possibilities ahead of you. You love to learn and I hope you'll always feel that way. Your dad and I are so proud of you.

Happy 5th Birthday, sweet girl.
We love you so much!

Love,
Mama

Happy 4th of July!

We had a delightful fourth of July...(we actually celebrated it on the 3rd as it would turn out because that is when our city decided to celebrate everything). Erma Bombeck says, "You have to love a nation that celebrates its independency every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." And we certainly fed our faces and celebrated with much fun! First, we went to the parade downtown (Paisley loved the southern belles the best (the pink and yellow dresses were her favorites),
and Colby loved the police motorcycles and the firemen. Next, we enjoyed time at the pool together - it was hot but the water felt refreshing. Then, we came home, took naps to get refreshed for the evening's festivities and went to a friend's house to watch the fireworks (they have a great view of them!). The kids at the party played with glow sticks, sparklers, pop rocks and downed quite a few cookies and popsicles.

Around 7:15 pm, our really good friends went to the hospital in labor and we were able to find someone to stay with our kids once we got home at 10 pm so that we could be there when sweet little Eliza Maria arrived. The sex was a surprise (however, I did call it all along)... and it was such fun to share such a special time with our dear friends. Welcome to the world, sweet girl!

While there is so much fun surrounding the Fourth - fireworks, parades, watermelon and ice cream - let's not forget the true meaning of this holiday. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness!"

I thank God every day that I live in a country where I have these rights. May God Bless America!