A Million Thoughts Update

Oh, my friends . . . what a busy week it was. I've got lots of stories to update you on, and this time, I am going to do my very best to do just that! It's Sunday morning here . . . the house is still quite (yay!) . . . I just cropped all the photos from my camera . . . I have a full cup off coffee . . . and blogland is my oyster! I thought I would just sit and write as many blog posts as I can this morning. I have a list a mile long of all that I wanted to share on here. So this morning, I hope to get as many written as possible. With any luck, we'll have at least a week or two of some new material to ponder . . . YAY!

Before we get into any deep thinking . . . I'll leave that for Tuesday or Wednesday, perhaps . . . I have to share our major weekend celebration with you.

Drum roll . . . please . . .

Because, my friends . . . I have . . . a TEN YEAR OLD!!!

Yep. Katie Girl, Katherine Josephine, Katie-Potatie, (and all the other names I've given her through the years) has turned 10.

And I feel like I'm 80.

Ok. Maybe 70.

To think, she was a meer SIX YEARS OLD when I began this blog . . . I am amazed at how much she has grown. The very first post I ever wrote about Katie was called "Katie and the Red Dot" (you can read it if you click on the post title.) I remember really thinking long and hard about whether I was going to write about my kids on this blog, or not. But truth be told . . . my kids are a HUGE part of my life. It seems almost unrealistic, the thought of not writing about them. And while I know some day they will probably be upset with me for sharing so many stories about them here . . . I hope that deep down they will love the fact that they have these memories captured somewhere. I think they will.

So, Katie . . . ten . . . sigh.

Planning a birthday party for the big 1-0 was not a small feat. We decided upon a pool party sleep over with some of her dearest friends, followed by a trip to the shopping mall - where the girls were allowed to walk around, brace yourself (gulp), BY THEMSELVES - and ended the festivities with a lovely spaghetti lunch at Buca di Beppo (one of our favorite celebratory restaurants). YIKES!

It was jam-packed, but such a great way to welcome in her 10th year.

And me? I couldn't be prouder, happier, or more in love with my new 10 year old than ever before.

Here are just a few photos of the fun . . .

Pool time! I love our little donut pool . . . it is still just the perfect size for the girls

(and for Phil and I, too!)

Cupcakes, anyone?

She is such a ham . . . I wonder where she gets that from! ;)

Getting ready to go to the mall . . . they are just as beautiful on the inside as they are out.

The girls had their own table . . . because, you know, they're like . . . 10 . . . !

(all but Ella . . . thank goodness!)

But even this 10 year old snuggles!!

And a super-duper-Buca-brownie sundae!

Is there a better way to end the day?

I think not!

Happy Birthday Katie!!!

Thanks for allowing me today to share her special day with you!

Make sure you come back on Tuesday, where I've share a special "Liebster Award" I received from my dear Blog friend Nat!!!! Evidently, there are some questions Nat has asked of me that I need to answer . . . will be LOTS of fun!!!

And then stay tuned all week, where I'll have a new blog post every other day!!! I feel those creative writing juices flowing, friends!!! Life is Good!

As always, wishing you peace!

xo