Birthday Bowling

We have always enjoyed doing something special on our girls' birthdays. We decided to celebrate Hannah and Sarah's birthday with bowling. Since Sarah's day is on Sunday we decided to go during the week on Hannah's day. It was nice because there were only a few other people there while we bowled. We invited Grandmom, Grandad, Dan, Lorilyn and Ariana to join us. Since they homeschool too and work overnight the early day plans suited them. The girls were very excited to share this with their best friend Ari!

Hannah ready to bowl!

Sarah saying hi before her turn.

Ariana showing off her ball before bowling.

Lydia holding a ball for 5 seconds. She is too little to bowl but she had fun watching!

Mary was very excited to bowl. This is only her second time doing it!

Ariana got her cousins each a webkinz horse. I think Hannah named the pinto Saddle. Sarah named her pink and white horse Milkshake.

Grandmom gave them sweet cards with birthday money.

Grandmom with all her grandgirls except Kamryn who is in KY.

After bowling three games we were all tired and hungry so we headed to Cici's for some pizza. We like the one in FL better, but it was good. Btw, Sarah moved herself out of the pic at the last minute.

Can you tell they had Cartoon network on the TV. It was 35 feet away and they were still riveted.

Our happy Lydia!

Mary sporting the pizza facial.

Later that day Hannah helped make her cake. She mixed it and I did the icing. Then she came to put on candles and decorations. She wanted to ice it too, but I was too tired for that. LOL

Hannah was very pleased with her new necklace, watch and I-Dog!

Sarah opted to open her gifts today instead of waiting until Sunday. She knows I am bad about buying the same thing because I know they will both want it, so I think that is why she did it. One year we should make Hannah wait until Sarah's day! Sarah also received a necklace and and I-Dog and by request a set of cap pistols.

So after playing cowgirls and trying on different pendants with their necklaces they went to sleep listening to Christmas music on their I-Dogs. I just hope we can afford the batteries! :)

Her first decade

Hannah at age 3. She was enjoying a tea party with her dolls.

This was Mommy (with Mary in my tummy), Hannah, Sarah, Daddy and Mamaw.

Hannah loved to build and she still does today!

Ten years seems such a long time. Today, however, it feels as if it just flew by! My first baby girl is beginning her second decade of living. I remember how nervous and excited we were for her to be born. My parents were staying with us and from Thanksgiving on we passed all free time playing Mexican train and thinking about the baby coming so soon. We were scheduled to have an induction because the baby (we didn't know the gender) was already pretty large. The labor was pretty easy considering. The epidural worked wonderfully and other than pushing for 2.75 hours, trying the vacuum twice, and then using forceps, the birth was a wonderful experience. I remember Alpheus quoting scripture and whispering endearments to encourage me. I remember the joy when the baby was out and they said she was a girl - the first granddaughter on my side of the family. She was 8lbs. and 9 oz. and nearly 22 inches long born at 8:21PM. She was an angel the first night and a screaming terror the second night. On the third night we were home and she was on the bottle. She slept wonderfully at 4 hour stretches. I however had to watch her nearly all night. I just knew she was going to stop breathing if I didn't watch her. We didn't have a bassinet to put by our bed, so I made her sleep in the stroller all night so she could be right by the bed. She scared me a second time by sleeping 8.5 hours the day before she was a month old. She said Daddy first for a week at 5 months and then didn't talk again until she was nearly 8 months. She was walking by her first birthday and showing her interest in drawing at an early age. She has always been a cheerful girl who loves to laugh and be silly! She is a great big sister and a big help to me now as she has grown. I am so thankful God gave her to us. I look forward to the next 10 years. I know there will be many challenges as there were in the first 10, but I trust God to work in her life and to guide us as we guide her to be ready for adulthood.

We love you Hannah!