8/19/10

All things birthday.

Was it really only a year ago that Haley turned five? Our life looked so different a year ago. At the time it was so uncertain, no plan, no place to go, no job. Now we have all those things and realize that nothing is certain in this life, only the life to come. What a year, what a realization! But this is Haley's birthday post, so I will take a different path down memory lane for now. We had a polka-dot, cookie party when she turned five. It was fun to plan and decorate for, it was on a whim, it was in the middle of a move, so we kept it simple and easy. I made mini-bandana aprons and put them inside Chinese take-out containers with a cookie, some frosting and some sprinkles. We called them "make-your-own-cookie-kits" and sent them home as favors. We played "guess how many chocolate chips are in this jar?" And we ate a giant cookie instead of a cake, giant cookies are easier to make! This year we went to see Toy Story 3 in 3D.

It was also not so long ago that I was on my knees daily asking God to instill some self-control in my squirrely little girly. And now I am praising Him daily because I can see some fruit in her heart! It wasn't so long ago that she was still chubby cheeked, chubby bellied, little bitty. Now she is slimming out, getting longer and growing-up. Over the last year she has begun to develop the self-control that was so evidently lacking. She is making better choices and thinking (a little bit) before she acts. Older girls will tolerate her now that she can sit down and carry on a conversation or play doll-house. Younger girls look to her for help, and she is so helpful. She hasn't lost her giggles yet. She still loves to have fun and make the most of every moment. She is still squirrely, just a little less so. She is still girly and she will still wrestle with her brothers on the floor, she is still Haley Pie. And here is my evidence:

As per Stordahl Birthday Tradition Section 1 Article 1, each person chooses their own birthday dinner and dessert. Last year Haley chose strawberry ice cream cones for dessert, this year Haley chose strawberry ice cream cones, with sprinkles. See? She is still Haley, just a little more sophisticated! Well, on second thought, maybe sophisticated isn't the right word...



4 comments:

Seizing My Day said...

Happy Birthday to your little girl! We are planning my 9 year old little girls birthday... a baking theme is in our plans.. planning birthdays is one of my special things for my kids... I love it! One day to make them feel Over the Moon special! Love your giant cookie - clever!~

Sarah M. said...

Love the Cookie Party idea! I think I might have to borrow it. :) Happy Birthday to you and Miss Haley.

Tracy said...

Hope she had a great b-day!
Our birthday tradition is that the birthday boy or girl gets to choose all of the meals for the day ;o) Thay have a blast doing it too...
I have one who likes his cakes home-made, one likes store bought & one who hates cake & wants birthday pie or cheesecake ;o) It amazes me how they can be raised together, yet have such different tastes.

jenny said...

I think sprinkles are very sophisticated. :)

She's darling, Christian!