SEVEN!!!
Seven years of making us laugh, making us smile, and often making us crazy (!) - Maelee continues to grow into quite an extraordinary little lady! She has a creative streak that comes alive every day, whether making up songs, writing stories, or choreographing her own unique version of gymnastics/dance, and she wears that heart of hers on her sleeve. There are days when we wonder if she's in 1st Grade or 11th Grade with the mood swings, but she still has a contagiously joyful, exuberant spirit with the energy to match!
She still has a pretty strong stubborn and defiant tendency, but we have really seen a lot of growth and maturity in this past year with how she handles disappointment and not getting her way. It has been a sweet change, especially with how she interacts with Lilee who still completely adores her big sis and wants to be just like her. :) The Lord is working on her heart little by little!
I could write on and on about this one-of-a-kind gal of ours, but I'll move on to the pictures from her 7th birthday celebration for now. Starting with our recent shot of this beautiful girl and her many expressions!
Seven years of making us laugh, making us smile, and often making us crazy (!) - Maelee continues to grow into quite an extraordinary little lady! She has a creative streak that comes alive every day, whether making up songs, writing stories, or choreographing her own unique version of gymnastics/dance, and she wears that heart of hers on her sleeve. There are days when we wonder if she's in 1st Grade or 11th Grade with the mood swings, but she still has a contagiously joyful, exuberant spirit with the energy to match!
She still has a pretty strong stubborn and defiant tendency, but we have really seen a lot of growth and maturity in this past year with how she handles disappointment and not getting her way. It has been a sweet change, especially with how she interacts with Lilee who still completely adores her big sis and wants to be just like her. :) The Lord is working on her heart little by little!
I could write on and on about this one-of-a-kind gal of ours, but I'll move on to the pictures from her 7th birthday celebration for now. Starting with our recent shot of this beautiful girl and her many expressions!
Link to more of the "photo shoot:"
My mom picked her up from school and they spent several hours at the store, and Maelee was thrilled to get her doll's ears pierced. It was quite a special day!
Birthday morning with one gift to start off the day.
From Lilee, her words:
"I love Maele to the stars and back again."
(heart melting.)
Lilee picked out this cute penguin pair for Maelee to "sew" for herself and her doll!
Thanks, lil' sis!!!
And onto the party!
Oh my, the birthday party... So far, every time we've planned an outdoor birthday party for Maelee, it's rained. Last year, and the year she turned 2, we decided to play it safe with indoor celebrations, and both days were gorgeous and sunny. The weather was warm and beautiful even during Lilee's indoor party in Jan this year!!! Sigh.
So, we shouldn't have been too surprised this year when the forecast turned bleak a few days before the big party. This was the first year her party could be on a Sat that was actually her birthday, and given that her birthday is also Earth Day, we thought an Earth Day Birthday would be a fun theme. Of course, we had planned for the festivities to take place at a nearby park, with various outdoor games planned. Knowing that there was really no other day we could have a "rain date," we really started stressing that morning when it was clear the rain was not going to let up.
One of my friends from church mentioned we should check in to see if a room at our church location could be used and I almost didn't bother, assuming (and understanding!) that could be a precedent that shouldn't be set. But I figured we were desperate and it was worth a shot and much to my surprise and relief, our church connection graciously offered one of the kids' classrooms to be used! It worked out perfectly, but we had to bump up the time by 3.5 hrs to start at noon! The cake still needed to be frosted, fruit still needed to be prepared, etc etc, and add to that Steve was out that morning supporting some friends in a 5K walk so it was quite a mad rush to get everything ready.
But, it all came together thanks to some fast and furious set-up and the help of my folks and friends who got there early, and Maelee (despite a head bonk in the middle of the activities) had a blast!
And even more kiddos could make the new time!
We barely had enough for everyone!
Decorating reusable totes :)
Our SEVEN year old!!!
With MANY of her pals!
Trash or recycling relay game!
Time for pizza!
Pinata!
It was a strong one. So by the end, everyone got to take a shot with no blind fold.
Lilee tried her darndest. :)
But we had to let daddy finish it off!
Then, cake time!
(Yes,
that's supposed to be the earth. And, that white swirl is supposed to
be a cloud. Not a tornado like most kiddos thought :)
Make a wish!
Happy Birthday to you, sweet girl :)
So grateful for their love for her!
So grateful for their love for her!
The earth tastes yummy!
With some of her besties after everything wound down.
When everything was said and done, we all had to agree it was one successful birthday bash. After our whirlwind party, Maelee was ready to tear into her gifts!
Getting a kick out of the singing pizza birthday card!
Her own set of books to write!
A new pose begins...
When we told Maelee to smile when modeling her beautiful new outfit from Mee-Maw and Grandpa, she did this bent over wide smile that we all got such a kick out of, it became her new standard of smiling all evening!
Of course, Lilee had to get in on the fun!
Admiring the cool anglerfish key chain and hedgehog card from Uncle Dan!
WE LOVE MAELEE!!!
Working on one of her new gifts- a crafty "pom pom kitty" set.
It was so sweet that she wanted to make the first one for Lilee!
A final wish over left over cake that evening!
With the now infamous wide smile and bow... :)
Tickled over a generous gift of $$$!
Caught this priceless expression with our selfie attempt- and we love it!
What a personality she has. We are so grateful for this girl and the joy (and challenges!) she has brought to our lives. She teaches us every day and we feel blessed to have the gift of raising her!
Slideshow of Maelee's birthday fun!
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