Lottie's Birthday

We were going to try and have a dinner with my family on the Sunday before Lottie's birthday, but Kathryn and Nick were in town for a couple of days and so we had a party with them and for Lottie kind of combined the Thursday before her birthday. It was really fun. She requested tacos and that worked out great because everyone loves tacos!

It was so fun seeing how big and fun Evelyn is right now. We hadn't seen her since her blessing. She is so cute and sweet.

Uncle Nick is so great with the kids. When they heard Kathryn was coming they all asked about him too because he is super fun and always plays so great with them!

Present time! She got spoiled! Kathryn gave her a fun game and puzzles. Grammy a cute baby that she is obsessed with and that cute dress. Heather gave her the mermaid tail blanket!

I took Greta to this park for her date before summer started and ever since Greta told Lottie about it and the games we played there, she has been saying it's where she wanted to go for her birthday. It's really not that fancy of a park. We had a hard time nailing down what would make her happy for her birthday. She was all over the place and many of the requests just weren't really logistically possible. So, the night before her birthday we went and played for an hour or so there (also night before school...crazy!!).

It was fun.

Last night as a four year old. 

Unfortunately she woke up not feeling well. It was pretty terrible actually. She just was super off, not even excited about presents and I was so sad for her. No one should be sick on their birthday's! And I really didn't want her to have to miss her first day. I'm not sure what it was...she barely ate and we had to struggle through presents. So I knew something was up. She had requested roll ups for breakfast. 

She had requested this pig...

...and some high heel church shoes. I think she was most excited about the shoes! We actually got a little emotion out of her...

The rest of the stuff  - this aurora playset, the piggy bank and a jewelry box, were all surprises and I think she liked them. 

I died here. Tanner had come back from work to do breakfast and presents and take kids to school. With the not feeling well and all the birthday celebrating, we were not as on time as we wanted. She was SUPER nervous about going in but luckily this nice recess aid, who knows her, was super helpful. Then I went home and bawled. Kind of silly, but it was just so sad. I was sad she wasn't feeling well, I was worried about her, and I was sad that all the little stage of kids was gone. All of them in all day school for the rest of their living at home lives, and it was super sad for me. And then all the emotions of did I do enough, did I appreciate it, mom guilt, etc etc etc came creeping in with it and it was just a ball of emotions. A really nice friend, neighbor brought over some chocolates - her baby started kindergarten too. So it was so sweet. And I cried some more. Haha.

BUT - luckily - when I went a little early to help her pass out her treats she was much happier! Look at that smile! And we left a little early and waited outside for the bigger kids. She said she was feeling much better and it was the best day ever! Oh hallelujah. (Although...a few weeks into it now...we are still struggling going. They are long days for just a little tiny person). 

Our friends brought her over a little present - Guess Who. 

Then we picked up dad and went to Coconut Cove. That's what she requested. We wanted Millie and Mae to come, but they had softball. So Mimi and Pop came and hung out while the kids played, then we picked up Taco Time on the way back to Clare and Berrie's house, and ate dinner there. Preston and Nat and Emery came down and had cake with us. She had a million requests for different themes and cakes, so I just went with my own. It was fun to make and practice something different. 

The primary put this cute little sign up in our rocky gross yard. She was a little more disheveled at the end of a fun day!

And high heels and socks when we finally made it in jams!

Oh this girl is a riot. She has the wisest, maturest, funniest sense of humor ever. She loves music and knows lyrics like you wouldn't believe. She loves to dance and play and cuddle and even despite taking her favorite blanket away (that's been a painful thing for me, actually), she still sucks her middle fingers at night, just with a different blanket. She's smart and happy and still has small child crazy mood swings - it gets real wild and crazy when she's tired. She's fiesty and tough and we love her so dang much. Happiest birthday, sweet girl!