Turning 5 in Princess Style!

Abree celebrated her 5th Birthday this past week in grand Princess style! The celebration covered 4 straight days of parties and fun. This year she chose a princess theme, which is quite fitting for our small statured, full personalitied little girl. It is so hard to believe that she is already a whole hand! Just seems like yesterday she surprised us with her early arrival and was so tiny! She has brought such joy to our lives.

We love her spunkiness, her bright cheery personality as she is the first person out of bed in our house each day, her love of wearing dresses, quick wittedness, that her boyfriend is her dad (and Taylor Rochestie which we know is impossible!), her desire to "go" everyday with anyone goineg any where and asking first thing each day "Where we are going today?", her need to cuddle and promising to cuddle even when she is big, her love of being a big sister finally, her excitement about finally showing a calf this year, her love of singing the clean up song but being sly enough to get out actually picking anything up, her desire to look good and wear numerous outfits everyday and thinking that since she wore everything it all must be dirty and goes right into the laundry. Oh, Abree you are special! We love you, our Peanut, Snippy, Missy, Rooty!

Proud to be 5!

Last weekend we found ourselves in Yakima cheering on our cousin and niece Lyndsey as her team, the Freeman Scotties, played in the State A Basketball Tournament. (Congratulations on your 3rd place finish, Lyns!) We were able to stay for two nights in a great hotel with a pool with Grandma and Grandpa Aune, aunts, uncles and many cousins. Swimming, playing, basketball, what more could a little girl want for her birthday. After the games on Saturday, we used a conference room at the hotel, ordered in pizza for about 25 of Abree's extended family members and then celebrated with a great cake! (It was so much better than standing in line with our crew at a restaurant for hours!) This was the first birthday Grandma and Grandpa Aune have gotten to share with Abree, they are usually in Palm Springs during March. But, they flew home for a few days to watch the basketball playoffs! YEAH!

The celebration at the hotel.

Grandma Lola and Gage enjoying some pizza! Mmmmm!

Her first birthday celebration with Grandpa Gene and Grandma Lola! We loved having them home and can't wait for them to return for the summer in April.

Sunday we found ourselves driving through Othello and stopped for another grand 5th Birthday celebration at Grandma Joleen and Grandpa Shannon's house. Once again Abree was surrounded by great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins (and a friend) who love her dearly. It was a wonderful day and we thank Grandma and Grandpa for sharing their house with us and hosting this special event.

This year, Abree was very embarrassed when we sang Happy Birthay to her, at all her parties she hid her eyes! Here with Gunnar, Rylee and Ashtyn.

Abree was thrilled with her new presents. All of it was so girly and "her"! She loves her new shades.

All dolled up with her new gifts and ready to do some yard work while looking good. She is practicing how she'll help mom this year by watering her flower balloon!

On her REAL birthday, Monday, March 9, Abree was awoken with the traditional birthday breakfast in bed. She was thrilled and could hardly stand it. When I woke her up, she looked at me with bright eyes and said, "Am I five?!!!" When I said yes, she thought for a minute, and replied, "I don't feel any different!" with a big smile on her face!

Pancakes!

Mom had the privilege of teaching Abree's preschool class today. She chose to wear her new pink dress Auntie Sara gave her. At school she had a party with cupcakes, Italian sodas and, of course, a princess pinata! After school she just crashed from celebration overload, as you can see! Yes, she still sucks her thumb and sleeps with "Nanny," her special blanket. I'm personally fine with her continuing to use it, don't want her to grow up!

After her nap, Abree had dance class in Colfax. We went early and took a fancy cupcake to Great-Grandma Bell. We sang to Abree and even blew out a candle. Abree is 5 this year and Grandma Bell will be 95 next month, and they are very special friends!

That night Abree got to open her big present that had been wrapped for a week on the mantel. She could hardly wait, but was quite disappointed it wasn't the baby she had been wanting. It was a cupcake tree to go with her pink princess apron and pink princess spatula.

Once she woke the next morning and found her cupcake tree filled with cupcakes, she was thrilled with it. And, said, "Oh, Mom, I love it, thank you!!!" Abree loves to help mom bake.

And the FINAL princess celebration was on Tuesday, the 10th. Abree had her first party with friends! She chose to have a princess tea party. Each of the girls dressed in their princess attire of choice, and her friend Tanner, eventhough it was a princess tea party insisted he wanted to attend, dressed in his Sunday's best with a tie and all. They were just adorable! Abree chose to wear the precious white dress Grandma Lola and Grandpa Gene gave her for her birthday. The tea party was great! We had fancy cookies (which Abree helped me make), flower cupcakes, cheese, crackers, grapes, pink m&m's, mints and tea (lemondade and apple juice). We played some fun pincess games...pass the tiara, pink marshmallow race, and pin the crown on the princess.

Waiting for the guests to arrive!

Tanner, Sydney, the Birthday Girl, Grace and Lilly!

Happy 5th Birthday, Abree Ryanne! We love you! Thank you for the joy, love and excitement you bring to our lives each day. You are special, Aber Baber!

(Whew, what a busy week of parties! Unfortunately, Abree fell ill Wednesday, from exhaustion I'm sure, and has been down for the count since. But, she had a great 5th birthday!)