Kinley is SIX years old.
I can't believe it.
Each year that goes by seems faster and faster.
I just love the little person she is becoming.
I tell her all the time that she is my favorite girl in the world and it couldn't be more true. I just love being with her.
I cannot wait for summertime where I get to see her more and spend more time with her. Kindergarten is fun, but it takes up a lot of time!
I am ready to have her back to myself for a while.
Kinley decided months ago that she wanted a party at Sweet & Sassy. It was a big deal for us to scale it down to a small party of just a few girls instead of a big family house party that we've done in years past.
But, this was the perfect year for it.
She also wanted a Barbie theme!
It actually, coincidentally, ended up that she had two Sweet & Sassy parties for her birthday.
It truly was not ideal or Ben or I's intention to have two parties. It just sort of happened.
My amazing mom and dad purchased a party at their church auction for Kinley last year and we wanted to use it toward her birthday party and add to the party where we needed to.
BUT, Sweet & Sassy would NOT let us add to the party and it was only a specific time frame, specific type of party and on specific days that we could use the auction party.
Bummer. So, we had to end up booking our own anyway...AND use the auction mini-party because it was already pre-paid and we didn't want it to go to waste!
It actually was a huge blessing and ended up being the perfect scenario because we used the auction party over Spring Break when Allison, Ella & McKenna were in town!
We had a special girls night with just them Kristen, Avery, Sassy & Shea.
It was a Spa Party and the girls all got face masks, manicures, pedicures, glitter tattoos, and to make something from the creation station.
They loved it.
It was so much fun having just these girls together.
They love each other so much and thrive just being together.
We really didn't have much of anything Barbie for this party in the party room...we just sang Happy Birthday, had pizza and cupcakes and gave some Barbie party favors.
Show me your fingernails and glitter tattoos!
These are some of my favorite pictures ever!
I really wish these girls would learn to have a little personality.
There is a slight chance they get it from their mommas.
A couple weeks later around her real birthday, we had another round at Sweet & Sassy.
I had originally booked their cheapest party called the "Lights, Camera, Action" Party but, they were running a promo party for the new Cinderella movie and you could get twice the amount of stuff for the same price, so I went with it.
It was a bit of a hurdle to jump from Cinderella during the party portion to Barbie in the party room but, we just went with it.
What six year old doesn't love Cinderella AND Barbie!?
As the girls arrived they took turns becoming a Barbie in a Barbie box I made out of cardboard.
Of course, Aunt Mendy made Kinley's custom Barbie shirt.
It was perfect!
Aubrey
Erika
Claire
Aslynn
Annabelle Grace
They were playing music on the runway and the girls could see themselves in the TV on the runway and they LOVED it.
Kinley was so, so happy.
She was giddy dancing on that runway.
How many funny faces can we find???
As soon as most everyone was there and ready, they began being transformed into little Cinderellas. I couldn't believe how many Cinderella dresses they had.
I couldn't get over how happy Kinley was..she was just dancing by herself in her seat getting all "in character."
As they were dressed and ready they took some more turns "in character" with the Barbie box and tried to bridge the Cinderella to Barbie gap as best we could with a sign that said "Barbie as Cinderella."
Lila
Eden
Tatum
Aubrey
They had a Taylor Swift sing-a-long dance on the runway
And they all got introduced one by one before taking a group picture.
Arabella
Arabella
Annabelle Grace
Tatum
Eden
Kinley was last and they all said "Happy Birthday Kinley!"
Then it was off to the party room for food and cake.
I even went with the cheesy full wall mural of Barbie on one wall.
It was hilarious and the girls loved it.
Oh the cake.
I mean, it was the BEST Barbie cake you could ever imagine.
Mendy just constantly outdoes herself...every.time!
Even the girls that work at Sweet & Sassy were like, "We've seen lots of Barbie cakes...but, nothing like this one!"
We sang Happy Birthday and went on our way.
The prep and clean up of a party not at home, I have to admit, is so, so nice.
It was so easy and quick and we just got to enjoy the rest of our evening!
We are so, so thankful for the sweet friends that came to celebrate Kinley.
Even though she lives in Illinois now, Eden has not ever missed one of Kinley's birthday parties.
We are always SO thankful when she is in town.
Kinley and AG cannot miss an opportunity for a back-to-back pose!
Kinley's actual birthday was a Monday and we did traditional candles-in-your-waffle breakfast.
She was excited to wear her birthday t-shirt again.
We had the immediate family over for dinner and some presents that night.
Kinley's present for her birthday was a guitar and a mic stand so now, she really can channel her inner-Taylor Swift...
And, after that, we were totally birthday-ed out!
We had Kinley's 6 year old well check with the doctor and she was 46.5 inches tall (70th percentile) and 41 pounds (25th percentile). She is an itty-bitt thing and sometimes I worry about how skinny she is but the doctor assures me she is healthy and has maintained the same proportions her whole life and healthy as a horse!
Kinley remembers about her birthday questionnaire each year now and she couldn't wait to do it again this year. For previous years see here, here, and here.
Kinley Gay,
You are a dream come true for me. I love you more than I can express into words. You truly are my best friend and favorite girl in the world. You have re-affirmed for me this year that God has created you with a genuine heart of service and encouragement. You love to serve your brothers and serve our family. You always think of them. When you get something special or a treat for you, you always want to get one for Ty too. You constantly want to tell me how good they are doing at something and how proud you are of them. You tell me how Dylan is rolling over or eating or "talking."
You have taken to the transition of Kindergarten so well. You went into a school where you pretty much knew no one and made the sweetest and wisest choices for your friends. You love your friends so much. But, you have embraced and taken such an interest in "family time" over the last year. It was one of my dreams for moving to this house was to be a little more secluded and fiercely protective of family time and I can see how God is answering that prayer. Any chance you get, you suggest that we watch a family movie together and pop popcorn and drink hot chocolate. You don't even care what the movie is...you almost always let Ty pick. You just like being together. You suggest and love family walks around the neighborhood and we almost never turn you down.
You still love one on one time with me and your daddy. When the boys are sleeping, I treasure just picking your brain about school and friends and life and hearing your answers. You love when we have a girls day to go get our nails done or run some errands. Your dad absolutely LOVES taking you to school each morning. Ya'll watch the sunrise and thank God for such a beautiful day.
You still have a quick temper but, you very rarely have full blown tantrums anymore. And when or if you do, you are quick to apologize. It is so sweet seeing your tender heart grow and become more mature. We continue to pray that God will capture your heart and that you will come to know him at an early age. You are asking such relevant questions and seeking answers that we do not always have but, we are so thankful for your healthy curiosity.
You have some head knowledge about Jesus and the cross and what it means that he died and rose again and we cannot wait for that to become deeply seeded in your heart too. Each year that passes is a small reminder that our time with you is limited and I just want to hold on tighter. But, I know we can't stop time and that it is a natural progression for you to grow and learn and change. I am thankful and beyond relieved to know that God loves you even more than I could and that He will stay with you wherever you go in every stage of life. I pray that becomes a reality for you in your heart and comfort for you each day.
Kinley, I love you so much.
I thank the Lord for letting me be your mom. It is a great privilege and I am so honored to have this job. I can't wait to see what plans He has for you!
Happy Birthday.
- Love, Mom
Kinley remembers about her birthday questionnaire each year now and she couldn't wait to do it again this year. For previous years see here, here, and here.
1. What is your favorite color? TURQUOISE
2. What is your favorite toy? BARBIE CAMPER
3. What is your favorite fruit? STRAWBERRIES
4. What is your favorite tv show? BARBIE:LIFE IN THE DREAMHOUSE
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? HAM SANDWICH & GRAPES
6. What is your favorite outfit? NEW CINDERELLA DRESS
7. What is your favorite game? HIDE & SEEK
8. What is your favorite snack? GOLDFISH
9. What is your favorite animal? TIGER
10. What is your favorite song? LET IT GO
11. What is your favorite book? THE THREE TREES
12. Who is your best friend? ANNABELLE GRACE
13. What is your favorite cereal? ALPHA BITS
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? GO ON A FAMILY WALK
15. What is your favorite drink? CHOCOLATE MILK
16. What is your favorite holiday? EASTER
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? LITTLE BUTTERCUP 2
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? WAFFLE
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? TACOS
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A MOMMY
Kinley Gay,
You are a dream come true for me. I love you more than I can express into words. You truly are my best friend and favorite girl in the world. You have re-affirmed for me this year that God has created you with a genuine heart of service and encouragement. You love to serve your brothers and serve our family. You always think of them. When you get something special or a treat for you, you always want to get one for Ty too. You constantly want to tell me how good they are doing at something and how proud you are of them. You tell me how Dylan is rolling over or eating or "talking."
You have taken to the transition of Kindergarten so well. You went into a school where you pretty much knew no one and made the sweetest and wisest choices for your friends. You love your friends so much. But, you have embraced and taken such an interest in "family time" over the last year. It was one of my dreams for moving to this house was to be a little more secluded and fiercely protective of family time and I can see how God is answering that prayer. Any chance you get, you suggest that we watch a family movie together and pop popcorn and drink hot chocolate. You don't even care what the movie is...you almost always let Ty pick. You just like being together. You suggest and love family walks around the neighborhood and we almost never turn you down.
You still love one on one time with me and your daddy. When the boys are sleeping, I treasure just picking your brain about school and friends and life and hearing your answers. You love when we have a girls day to go get our nails done or run some errands. Your dad absolutely LOVES taking you to school each morning. Ya'll watch the sunrise and thank God for such a beautiful day.
You still have a quick temper but, you very rarely have full blown tantrums anymore. And when or if you do, you are quick to apologize. It is so sweet seeing your tender heart grow and become more mature. We continue to pray that God will capture your heart and that you will come to know him at an early age. You are asking such relevant questions and seeking answers that we do not always have but, we are so thankful for your healthy curiosity.
You have some head knowledge about Jesus and the cross and what it means that he died and rose again and we cannot wait for that to become deeply seeded in your heart too. Each year that passes is a small reminder that our time with you is limited and I just want to hold on tighter. But, I know we can't stop time and that it is a natural progression for you to grow and learn and change. I am thankful and beyond relieved to know that God loves you even more than I could and that He will stay with you wherever you go in every stage of life. I pray that becomes a reality for you in your heart and comfort for you each day.
Kinley, I love you so much.
I thank the Lord for letting me be your mom. It is a great privilege and I am so honored to have this job. I can't wait to see what plans He has for you!
Happy Birthday.
- Love, Mom
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