Happy Birthday Haley!!

Yesterday was Haley's 5th Birthday!! She said that she's never been so excited for a birthday before. All day, she just couldn't believe it was her birthday!! After breakfast, Nanny took her and Gracie to the mall to do some shopping. Then we met up at Libby Lu, where Haley, Grace, Alayna, Alyssa, and Ashlyn all got made over. The girls had a blast and Haley totally felt like a princess.

After the makeovers, we headed over to "The Cookie Store" (aka, The Nestle Tollhouse Cafe) and picked up the cookie cake. Haley opened her presents, which she loved all of them very much. We headed home, where Nanny and Papa Perry took Haley and Eli swimming. After that, Haley went down to Grace and Daniel's for dinner (James and I stayed at home with the boys. We are having our shower retiled, so one of us needed to be home all day), where she spent the night. I stil haven't seen her today! ;)

All in all, it was a wonderful day. James and I can't believe she's 5 already. The time has flown by. We love what a wonderful, caring, sweet, independent, fiesty young lady she's becoming. We continue to pray that God blesses her and she follows His will for her life. We love you, Haley!!!

The "before" pic


Picking out her hair style



Ashlyn watching what they were doing to Haley, very closely! :)




Alyssa waiting her turn




Ashlyn patiently waiting her turn.



Alyssa getting pretty!



Alayna



Haley's "after"!



Ashlyn still waiting! (Bless her heart, they did her last!)



Checking out her nails!





Alayna looking pretty!







Gracie



Ashlyn finally is finished. ;)

Blake's way of winding down for a nap!

Blake is a horrible napper. He isn't on any sort of schedule, no matter how hard I try! I tried to get him down for a nap earlier this morning, but it was a no go. So, around 11:15, I put him in his highchair for lunch. It got quiet after a few minutes and this is what I found! :D

Visit from Grandma and Granddaddy

My mom and dad were able to come for a quick visit this past week. They drove in on Sunday around noon and left Thursday morning. It was nice to have them here. Of course, Haley was in heaven, but Eli is starting to realize that people are fun too!

Haley got her early birthday present, a new bike. Eli got a couple of new Thomas trains and a bubble mower and Blake got some neat books and toys and a baby pool just for him. James and I even got to go out for a date! We went to see Iron Man. (Totally AWESOME movie!! Of course, I came home in love with Robert Downey Jr., but who can blame me! ;) )

Then Thursday came and it was time for them to leave. That's always a sad day. As the kids get older, they realize that none of their grandparents live close by. But, they adjust pretty well. It makes the time we spend together more precious.

Here's a few pictures from that week.

Busy week part II

As I said a couple of post ago (before Blake got sick!), the past few weeks were crazy! Haley graduated pre-K on the 27th, then had her ballet recital rehersal on the 28th. Thankfully it went pretty quickly, so we were out of there in about an hour. Here's a few pics from that! Sorry they aren't the best quality, I didn't want to use the flash and distract the girls!







Then Friday night, the 30th was her recital. She had to be there at 5:00pm for a 6:30 recital. I thought that was a little crazy, personally. I had to have her eat something, dress her, do her hair and make-up all at 4:00pm (after having a root canal that moring, I might add!) Then take her, with the boys, up there and drop her off. I came home and my friend Sabrina came over to watch Eli and Blake for us. We got to the recital around 6:50 and were still about 6 or 7 acts before Haley.

But it was worth the wait. She knew only the first line to the song, but they were the only group that SANG as loud as they could! It was all over the place craziness that makes dance recitals so adorable!! :) We weren't allowed to take pictures or video, but there is a video coming that I'll have to see about uploading. Here's a couple of pictures from afterwards though.

With her flowers from Daddy! ;)