A whole hand!

Emma is officially a whole hand! I can't believe my little snuggle buddy is 5 years old! She turned 5 on May 4th and we have had a week full of birthday activities.

At five, Emma is the most thoughtful, warm, caring child that I know. She is quiet most of the time but definitely has a voice when it's necessary. She is the peacekeeper of the family. She loves to hug, snuggle, get kisses, and care for all of us. She continues to have a true servant heart. She is very smart, and very serious. She sleeps with every stuffed animal, doll and blanket in her bedroom. She makes sure all her dolls are dressed appropriately for bed or for the day. She LOVES Barbie and her Barbies are probably the best cared for Barbies in the city of Valdosta. She is still quite stubborn, but I see it developing into a strong character. I hope she always stands up to others for what she believes in the way she can stand up to her sister over silly things (that drive me crazy!!!) Yes, they fight fairly regularly. They have completely opposite personalities, but when it comes down to it they love each other very much. (Even though it is definitely a parenting challenge making them understand how to respect the differences in personalities they have.) Emma looks up to her big sister so much and honestly would do anything in the world for her. Emma is another mama to Mack. She is always making sure he is hugged, he has his blanket, he has a drink, he has ANY toy he needs. He truly will not know how to survive when Emma leaves to go off to college.

The actual day of her birthday (Wednesday,) Emma requested doughnuts for snack at her preschool that morning. So I took doughnuts and her precious class sang "Happy Birthday" to her. It was so cutes. Once Ellie was home from school and Worth got home from work, we all went as a family to Claire's in the mall for Emma to get her ears pierced. A right of passage for a girl that comes at age 5 in the Bowers house. Emma was so brave. She wanted to hold my hand, but didn't even jump and certainly didn't shed a tear. The girl doing it was so surprised. I think she had been nervous about how Emma would respond, and I think Emma was expecting the worst after Ellie's experience at 5.  She was pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it was.

After the uneventful ear piercing, we headed to dinner at the girls' favorite restaurant, The Mill. We had a fabulous pizza buffet and played fun games. We then headed to our traditional birthday frozen yogurt shop, and Emma ended the night with orange frozen yogurt covered in gummy worms, sprinkles, reece's pieces, and skittles.

Friday was the day of the birthday party. Emma had been planning her birthday party since last year. Although the venue changed a couple of times, by February she had decided it would be at the Valdosta Country Club swimming pool. She wanted it to be in the same place her sister had her 5th birthday party. Make no mistake, they don't forget what you did for the other one!!! She planned every detail of her Barbie Spy Squad swim party. She had tons of friends there and she had a great time.

It has been a whirlwind week, and it honestly hasn't hit me as hard with this fifth birthday as it did with Ellie. I think I emotionally prepared myself better this time around, and/or  I didn't have a newborn baby controlling my emotional state this time. We love our sweet Emma so much. I'm honored that God gave me the opportunity to be her mom, and I look forward to being a witness to her journey through life.

Emma's big birthday gift. A new playground that had monkey bars (her new obsession.) The old swing set had dry rotted, so we convinced Emma this was what she really wanted for her birthday. 

It took Worth (with my dad's help) over a week to get this thing together. Obviously, its a sturdy one!

They love the tree house in it. 

I love to try to get the kids' pictures when they are waking up on their birthday. They love it now, but will hate it on their 15th + birthday.  I'm savoring every moment! 

The birthday girl before school. 

Ellie was about to bust for Emma to open the card and gift from her. 

A sister birthday hug. 

The card from Ellie. I'm DEFINITELY saving this!

Emma got to lead the prayer before snack at school. 

Emma wasn't a big fan of all of the attention, but she handled it very gracefully. 

The girl loves a chocolate doughnut with sprinkles

Her sweet preschool class. Only 2 of them will be going to the same school with her for Kindergarten next year.  Most of these kids she has been with since 2 year old preschool. She is going to miss them so much! 

Opening a small gift from Mommy and Daddy after Daddy got home from work. She wanted to wait for him to be home to open it. 

Jumping into the pool at the country club. It has been about 90 everyday for the past 2 weeks, until her birthday party on Friday and the temp was in the low 70s. Didn't seem to bother the kids though. 

The slide was a popular attraction

E.W. and Mack

Taking the polar plunge. The kids were all shivering, but we couldn't get them out of the pool. 

The Barbie birthday cake with colored flame candles. 

She needed her sister for support during the happy birthday song. 

Still hanging on to Ellie to blow out her candles. 

The girls. 

The Boys

The Waltons - Laird, Holden, Rory, and Tierney. A family that are close friends of ours. 

Another table of the big boys (the siblings of the kids Emma's age.) Most of these boys are 1st graders like Ellie. 

Mack, Ellie and Anna Beth

Anna Beth's 2 sisters, Maggie and Claire. 

The men

These pictures are all out of order - this is at Claire's before the ear piercing. 

After the ear piercing. A lot of red ear, but no tears. 

Playing air hockey at The Mill

Mack riding in a plane- imagine that

Ellie and the duck game

Emma dominating the popcorn game

Traditional birthday froyo. 

The birthday cake with Flip Flop the class pet looking on.