OHHHH We're ready!!! SOOOOO ready!!!

Sea World is all ready for Christmas.  Today was the first day of their Christmas season! It really was mood inspiring! The music was awesome, the shows were fantastic!!!!  I just can't remember such a great day!!!! 

  

 Us trying to do a self family picture LOL - we were smiling and talking through our teeth HA!

On the bus to go to SEA WORLD!!!  We got there early before the gates even opened up because there was no way we could stay in the hotel one more minute!!!  My first Sea World recommendation is that you stay in a hotel that offers shuttle service, not only do you not have to pay for parking but you also get dropped off and picked up at the front gates - TOTALLY awesome.  We were at the park from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm.  It.was.awesome!  Beyond all expectations and hopes!

Second Sea World recommendation is that this time of year was PERFECT!!  The weather was phenomenal - not hot and not cold.  The lines were short, the most we had to wait for a ride was long enough for the one that was running to finish, food lines were short and show lines were perfect!

Mikayla told me, Mom, this is my dream coming true.  I have always dreamt of this and NOW it's coming true!!!! 

This child was daydreaming and pretending herself into all of the shows we saw.... it was amazing!

 

 

"Mom - I am smiling......"   "are we there yet"

Yes baby....we're here!!!

Birthday Fun!!!

Rewind to Thursday Morning - 6:50 am (how do I know the exact time?  well 1st clue is that my girl is EXACTLY 7 years old at the time this picture was taken - and the 2nd clue is that I read the clock that was in the picture (on the microwave) HA!).  She was finishing up some homework from the night before that we didn't get to finish.

Then we had time for a quick photo shoot..... as you can see, she was up for the challenge.

 

Seriously mom....have we taken enough?!!!!!

Then I was lucky to get to have the day off from work (there is a twofold reason why) but the first reason was so that I could go have lunch with my best gal at school.  I brought us Subway to eat and we got to sit at the special table!

 

 

In the picture below, she was handing out her birthday cookies to her friends. 

She was SO afraid that I forgot that she wanted me to come, she remembered as she was leaving for the day, and was panicked about it.

She was SOO happy that I did and how it made her feel special.

She even told her Papa (my dad) that I came up there and how it was awesome.

He told me how truly important it was to her (I did know it was but I guess I didn't really know how big of a deal it would be to her).

She told me I could come back every year!  (yay for me...I said I'd go as long as she wanted me to).

I loved it!  I can't wait to do it again.  It really was fun to go there and see her in action!! 

More birthday posts to come :)

WOO HOO MY BABY IS 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!

Birthday DAY!!!!

Wow....where has the time gone?  I remember this like it was yesterday......

In this picture, she was 7 days old - sheer luck that she opened her eyes at that exact moment in time!!  It's one of my favorite pictures of all time.

Here's my best gal at her first birthday party, we were completely overwhelmed, it was our first  big party with Mikayla and well, we were just overwhelmed, what fun we had though - I couldn't believe that a year had gone by already.  From this day, little did we know we'd only have Leslie with us for a little over 2 months :(  She loved Mikayla so much!!!

Then on to the 2nd birthday.... WOW!!!!   Now we're getting the hang of this!!!  I love that I was chosen to be Mikayla's mom!  I love making her happy!!!

On to the 3s... oh as challenging as they were, there are so many things that I cherish!!!  Such a fun little personality...when it's good...it's really good....and when it's challenging...well.... you know.... ha!

Wow, 4 already - how on earth did this happen, how can it be that our little baby is getting so grown up.  The 4s.... OHHHH such a fun age!  We did (still do) everything together!!  AMAZING!  She is so crafty and creative!

Moving into the 5s, totally getting her own sense of style and what she loves to wear and what makes her feel good.  I hope she never loses that!!   (for the record, she still wears this dress...except now it's too short so it's for home days...)

6, wow!!!  She has grown in so many ways and is so so so smart!!!   She is the most loving child I've ever met!!  To this very day - when she hugs you.... you have been HUGGED!

Sweet 7 - I wonder how much she'll change and grow this year.  I look forward to it!!  She is doing so well in school and absolutely thriving. 

She's my special miracle!!  We prayed many years for her not yet knowing what goodness was to come our way.  I am so proud to be her mom!!! 

I hope she has the best birthday weekend ever (more to come!!) 

The Fairy flies again!!!

WOW!!!!  Time for our fairy to come for a visit!!  Mikayla has had a VERY loose tooth for what feels like forever...it's been about 2 months... and she could use her tongue to push it all the way forward...ACK!  but it wouldn't come out (believe me, we tried - well a little bit on Sunday, her friend Brandon lost one of his teeth at our house on Sunday and thought it would be cool for her to lose hers the same day...) (it didn't work).  So she was at school and she hit her mouth (NO idea why) and pop...out it came.....

So in trying to get a picture.... below is what I came away with.... 

Kirsten:   Smile....

Mikayla:  I am

trying again..... I want a nice smile

Kirsten:  smile......

Mikayla:  I am

um....

trying again....

Kirsten: smile......

Mikayla: I am

um....

trying again....
Kirsten: smile......
Mikayla: I am

Dare we try again?

um....

trying again....
Kirsten: smile......
Mikayla: I am

Well alrighty then LOL CLEARLY she's feeling no pain!!  I love when she's goofy!!!!!!  Even if I can't get a "normal" picture.

Ahhhhh there she is :)

SO you know we had to get ready for her to come visit, no tea party this time, Mikayla set up a bed for her to rest on in case she got tired.  Complete with decorative pillows and all!

 

 

Mikayla was OUT like a light!!!!  I'm pretty sure her fairy was nervous about getting caught..... ohhh look, her door is back (it's got a new look again)  HA!

  

Ahhhh she did rest awhile (we know she did because the note that she left said she did) and she also said that she and a few of her friends have used the fairy house out back!!  How cool is that!!!

Mikayla slept till 4:00 am this time!!!   WOW!!!!  I was 1/2 expecting the 2:30 wake up but it was 4:00.  The only problem with 4:00 is that it's nearly impossible to go back to sleep, it's too early to wake but too late to hope to finish the night's sleep.  Especially when bothered by a certain dog that wants breakfast and hasn't adjusted to the time change yet.....and gets up at 4:00 am EVERY.SINGLE.DAY....which means that I really can't go back to sleep... but I digress....

Here is our happy girl with her fun fairy goodies!!

 

P.S. the fairy may or may not have stolen borrowed from Santa.... just sayin... or not.... maybe she borrowed from her unicorn.

I love fairys!!  We have two more loose teeth then we should be done until she's about 11 or 12 years old. 

It's BIRTHDAY week!!!!!

We had so much fun!!!  We did a small party at Chuck E Cheese for Mikayla yesterday.  It was so fun!!!  I think she really enjoyed herself too.  Granted it isn't conducive to a lot of visiting (I didn't get to catch up with everyone) but the kids all had a blast!!! 

Of course I caught Baby R in the middle of telling me something LOL!!

Ski ball... I love ski ball!!! 

Whack that mole!!!!  Tyler did a great job!

Brandon and Mikayla up there looking for Dakotah... (Brandon chose a prize that is the "best friends" necklace, necklace that two friends wear.... he kept half and gave the other half to Mikayla) (she is elated!!)

Stomping the table for Chuck E Cheese.... here he comes!!!

Cheese!!

Crowning the Birthday Girl!

This was our 2nd candle blowing..... (video to follow) (you'll see why it's the 2nd)

In the video below...at the end of the birthday song.... watch to see our sneaky candle blower..... ;)  it was hilarious.  Our party hostess quickly re lit them so Mikayla could make her wish :)

Then she got to go into the blower!!!!  She was actually catching tickets!  It was fun!!  I don't know who had more fun with it...her or me!  LOL  I think I want a Chuck E Cheese party!!!  They really did a good job for us!!!

Here's the blaster action!  It was SO fun!....  (sorry in advance for giddy laughter and mom voice LOL)

I can't believe she's almost 7!!!  AMAZING!!!!!!