She's 5!!

Everyday it seems like a new milestone has passed and this weekend was no exception. And WOW, it was a biggie. Mia turned 5. With 5 comes the big K...grab your Kleenex, get ready, yes, K for Kindergarten. That's right, no more sweet little pre-school. I truly can't believe it. I'm rushed with emotions. Excitement, anxiety, sadness, comfort and disbelief all in the same breath. Moms and Dads out there, you know what I mean by each and every one of these adjectives.

It's crazy, where do the years go? With a blink of my eye, she went from just learning to walk to 5!!

Here's how the day went. Exhausted from the party prep the day before I was hoping to grab a tiny bit more sleep, but that wasn't in the cards. I was woken as I overheard Mia and Wyatt quietly talking in her room.

WYATT: Mia, what are you doing?
MIA: Getting my dress on, today is my birthday. I went to sleep when I was 4 and woke up and now I'm 5. It's my birthday today!
WYATT/MIA: YEAH!

After hearing the sweet exchange, I got up to soak it all in. Mia was dressed in her Snow White dress because Sunday, August 1st, wasn't just any ol' birthday party, it was her princess party.

The kids played while my Mom, Dad, Cary and I ran around getting all the last minute pieces in place.

At 1 o'clock the kids started arriving, the girls dressed like their favorite princess and the boys like charming princes. At 2 o'clock sharp we had a guest arrived that knocked the kids socks off...it was none other than Snow White herself. The kids stared at her in amazement, hugged her, stared some more and then started to pepper her with questions. "Where's the dwarfs? You could have brought your little bird friends. Who's at Disneyland if you're here?" TOO CUTE!! Snow White entertained the questions like a champ.

Ellie, my kiddos nanny and one of their favorite people on the planet, did the girls hair beautifully while Snow White's assistant did some face painting. It was great.

At the end of the day we all collapsed with exhaustion...but it's all about celebrating Mia's life and creating memories. And, at the end of the day, I think we succeeded.

Mia said it was "a great day!" Really, that's all I needed to hear.

We love you honey!
xoxo,
Mommy & Daddy

A Month of Being Thankful "M" is for Mia

There isn't a day or even a minute that goes by that I'm not thankful for having been blessed with Mia. Mia is the embodiment of love, joy, kindness, curiosity, adventure, and energy all rolled up into one exuberant little girl who has a verve for life like no other. She is a tom boy one day digging in the mud and a very girlie girl the next dressed in one of her many princess dresses. She is always asking questions and desires to know and learn all she can. Mia is a great big sister that thrives in teaching Wyatt how to do something. Mia is just Mia and we love her so much.

Now, don't get me wrong, we have our rough moments for sure, times when she hears you but doesn't move a muscle, times when she's just not going to budge when all you really want is an inch but the sweet moments wash all bad ones aside like a wave washes the beach clean everyday. There were footprints or anger there one moment and with one wave of water or emotion, they are gone and the moment is new again.

Mia is amazing in every sense of the word and Cary and I can't really remember life in such bright color before August 1, 2005.

I love you Mia!!