You are actually a couple months into being five now. Our life has become a little crazier in the last few months. In March, Daddy was diagnosed with Stage III Rectal Cancer, and he has spent the last couple months in treatment for that. It has changed how much quality time you get with him, and how often you see him. It has made an impact on you for sure.
You've had a couple of overwhelming experiences lately that I think have impacted your little heart and mind. You saw your brother's second seizure in March and you saw a friend accidentally fall on a duckling and break its neck... you watched it die. Then we shared with you about Daddy, and when we went to show you the port - it had opened up and was bleeding. It has been a little weird to say the least. You are handling it with grace, but you do feel like you can't breath some times, and you really don't want to be away from us.
You turned five with a bang. On your birthday we did a series of events... we had our traditional rainbow waffles. Aunt Jess and Reme Lynn came over. Then we went to Pump It Up and Epleata, Michelle and Willow joined us as well. We went and ate at Chic-fil-e, and then went home to watch movies and have popcorn. Aunt Jess and I stayed up the night before to decorate your bedroom, and you got to bust through a wall of streamers.
Last giggles as a four-year-old
Last Mommy/Daughter sleepy snuggles as a four-year-old
You're a whole hand! This is at midnight on March 16th!
At Pump It Up on your bday - you guys were moving too fast to get a pic.
Your trip around the sun at School!
Your brand-new bike!
Snow Cones at the park after we picked up your new bike!
Then... your party was on March 25th, and you had 6 friends sleep over (Keenan, Will, Linden (who didn't stay the night), Epleata, Emma, and Reme Lynn. So... 8 kids and 3 adults (including Aunt Jess). It was crazy and exhausting, but a blast. I always wonder what you will actually remember. We had a pinata, goody bags, a dance party with disco lights, did glitter scrapbooking with polaroid photos we took at your photo booth, we watched a move (TROLLS), we dressed up as Trolls (Aunt Jess - Cooper, Mommy - Harper, and Mollie - Poppy). We had a blast and so did you and your friends.
Guy Diamond Cake!!! You laughed so hard! The lady at Hermitage Bakery told you that she made a Barbie cake by accident and you were so sad, but handling the disappointment. Then she said, but with a wave of my magic wand... I bet I could turn it into Trolls! You said "REALLY?!" and she said yes. Then she waved her magic wand, and when it opened you screamed, giggled and laughed (because of Guy Diamond's bum) and then said... "Hey! You tricked me... you didn't use magic - it was Guy Diamond all along!" It was amazing!
You were Poppy!
I was Harper!
Aunt Jess was Cooper!
Dance Party
Piñata time!
Linden Bruner
Keenan Miller
Will Cotterman
Jessica... from next door
Epleata Stotts
Emma Crawford
Reme Lynn Miller
The zombies attacking the candy and toys
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Presents!
Happy Birthday Mollie!
Pizza Time!
Trolls Movie Watching!
Late Night Snack!
The morning after!
Popcorn for after the movie
Bath time to calm down (and decompress) for a minute and get all the Poppy color off!
You are still an amazing swimmer and getting stronger. You are a patient and loving big sister... I've never seen anything like it. You care for him and look out for him, and even when he hits you a lot (like lately - this is his new phase), you calmly ask him to stop and then just cover your body and brace for impact. How you are this patient - I'll never know, but it is amazing to watch.
School picture that won the internet! We love this picture so much that I'm not even going to post the normal ones!
Backwards fall... I have lots of cool slo-mo video of this
You are Paigey - FAMILY!
Your love for each other is amazing!
He adores you... I hope this always lasts. Always trust each other, always be there for each other, always cheerlead each other!
This love!!!
My babies
The hard-core face push and an ever-patient Mollie!
And then snuggles!
You wanted to experiment on how much it was raining by catching it in all of your cups and bowls.
You enjoy school, but mostly for the social interaction - you don't really want to work or focus. I'm not sure why - there could be a million reasons, but we aren't pushing it and neither is school. I want you to be doing more than you are, but you aren't worried, school isn't worried, so I'm not worried.
I do feel the stress of life sometimes - a lot. Overwhelmed and unable to believe that I really can get it all done... especially lately. You always bring me such joy and you are teaching me to slow down and enjoy life. To pay attention to you and all that you and your brother have to offer.
You are a light and a joy in our lives, and you keep me laughing so hard all the time. I've started making you laugh a lot with my new songs. I re-wrote the head song that you love to put you to sleep to the mustache song, and you want me to sing it so you can belly laugh and say that you don't have a mustache. You have such a fervor for life that is infectious!
I love you...
Mommy
