Maddie's 11th bday

This past weekend we celebrated Maddie's 11th birthday. I know I say this all the time, but really....Where does the time go???? 11 years??

My beautiful little girl.


My little girl who thinks she isn't a kid anymore, who emphatically tells me that she is a PRETEEN now.

My little girl who NEVER wants to order off the kids menu.

My little girl who says she's got style. And I apparently don't.

My little girl who is strong and independent, yet will still occasionally reach for my hand while we are walking through the store or through a parking lot. (be still my heart)

My little girl who loves to laugh and can get giggling at the drop of a hat and laugh so hard you start to cry.



 My little girl who carries her true thoughts and feelings very close to her heart. Please know that I love you deeply and am here for you no matter what. No matter when.

My little girl who loves to watch you tube video's on how to do hair and how to apply makeup.

My little girl, don't grow up to quickly.

My little girl, enjoy these years ahead of you. They will be hard years. Years of learning who you are and what you want to become. But they can be fun years. Build friendships. And the most important relationship you need to build is the one with your Creator, God Almighty. He loves you most, He formed you, He knit you together and you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

You will always be my little girl.

We had a family party on Friday night. Aunts and Uncles and Grandma's and Grandpa's where there to celebrate.


These girls are just growing up way to fast.

This year instead of doing the big slumber party like we normally do ( Momma just can't handle it ) I we decided to let them choose a special place they wanted to go and we would spend the day with them.

Maddie wanted to go to Woodfield. And she wanted her girl cousins to go along.

So Saturday Jeremy and I with the 3 girls in tow headed to Woodfield.

Trying to get the girls to stand still long enough to get a decent shot of them was very difficult.

We ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. (I might have given a little push in the decision on where to eat dinner. )

All Maddie wanted for her birthday was a Nook. So that is what she got. Needless to say she is one happy camper and she hasn't put it down since.

I think right now she is attempting to read Pride and Prejudice.

(Jeremy is trying to find some reason to ground Maddie....from her nook......so he can use it. )

My favorite memory of the day......

~watching the girls just be together. I don't think they know how lucky they are to not only have each other, but live close enough where they have a real relationship with each other. I don't think any kid would really get it.

~just being able to spend the day away from the cares of real life and have fun for a day.

~ oh, and Ikea. (now I think I need to want to redecorate my house)

Sunday was Maddie's actual birthday.

We went to church.

Then went to her favorite restaurant where she did NOT order off the kids menu and got her usual chicken strips and cheese fries with a side of ranch.

(I had to throw in a little Emma here somewhere!! ;) )

I also want to say a HUGE thank you to Joanna who watched Emma and Nathan while we were at Woodfield. I think the day would have been to hard on Emma and I think Joanna enjoyed some cuddle time with Emma.

And later in the afternoon we went on a hike.

We had a lovely little day. Even though I thought the kids might kill each other on the hike. And by kids I think I will add Jeremy in on this one. He kept teasing Maddie till I thought she might cry.

I really thought Emma might fall asleep on the hike. But nope, she was to interested in seeing what was going on around her.

We had such a lovely weekend. I am exhausted today and am going to take it easy, and by that I mean catch up on laundry and get the house back in order from the busy week and weekend. And a nap, I hope a nap is in the agenda for today.

Have a blessed day.