Milayla's Birthday

There just aren't the words adequate enough to explain how much we love Milayla (or any of our children, for that matter!). While she is sweet, so very smart, beautiful, kind, loving, hard working, helpful and so much more, I think that one of my favourite things is her expressions and genuine laughter. I included several pictures of her opening presents because I just loved the genuine, excited and grateful expressions on her face. She is such a treasure in our family and continually wows us with how much she is growing and learning. There really just aren't the words, or I am simply not able to craft the words well enough. I love this little girl so much. And we are so happy to have her in our family and to celebrate her birthday to help her feel extra special.

So on to that birthday. On her actual birthday we just has some fun little things around the house (she opted to do her meals on the Saturday that we would be doing her birthday outing). And our neighbour brought CUPCAKES for Milayla. Seriously, we have some of the best neighbours. Milayla was of course pretty excited and immediately realized that she would need to make them a thank you card (and she did - she made snowmen thank you cards for them - one for each of them). The cupcakes were thoroughly enjoyed. We ate them in our tree house. The kids seemed to love that. And Milayla also got to FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa Hochstein on this day which was pretty exciting when she got the conversation to herself. She LOVED it! It's so fun seeing her communication getting better and clearer all the time. 

Then on the big birthday Saturday, Milayla woke up to decorations, of which, the most important part are the balloons. First, she decorated her crown in her room which has become a sort of tradition. And then she went to town playing with the balloons while Jason and I finished the breakfast. Let me tell you, those balloon pictures are pretty pure joy!

Milayla opened her cards with breakfast. She loves cards. And promptly set up a display on her dresser of her cards and her crown. It's a big heart-melter for me when I see how much these kids love each other. So when they work to earn a little money to buy gifts for their siblings and make cards it is so incredibly special. Atticus made cards for Milayla and bought one. She is one very loved  sister!

French Toast Casserole, cherries, juice boxes, and whip cream for the chosen breakfast. It's a pretty big favourite around here. I love the berry stained faces. Oh, and Phineas wears a tie with everything right now. Everything. It's pretty darn cute. And Milayla's birthday seemed to be the kick off point for the tie-wearing.

Then Milayla got to FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa English and open her presents that had been in the top of our closet since Christmas! They planned ahead! She loved them - especially the lego. Though the princess shirt is pretty popular as well.

Then it was off to the birthday surprise. We have been doing this for a while now and it's still going strong. This year the choice was actually pretty easy. We headed to a special zoo which has animals that are natural to our habitat and that have been rescued. It's awesome! Surprisingly, we saw some animals that we had not seen before. And the zoo was the perfect size for three littles. Phineas was pretty determined to walk the whole thing on his own which meant we stopped a lot for him to examine different rocks but there were always animals to look at. Atticus and Milayla were pretty priceless as they read their maps and let us know where we needed to go. The series of pictures where Atticus and Milayla are reading their maps and Phineas is in the background picking up rocks is my favourite. They so perfectly show those three awesome personalities! There are some hopes to head back in July when a new sea otter exhibit will open up. And Milayla decided that the bears were her favourite part. We played at the playground a bit before lunch and heading home.

Then it was home for a bit of wind down time before the rest of the gifts. Milayla got a book from Phineas, a kite and car from Atticus, and a watch, fairy wings, wand and clothes from us. She was pretty well stocked up and made sure to say 'thank you'. I had made her a shirt with the sole intent that it would twirl for her (she loves clothes that twirl) and she definitely twirled in it! Milayla is a very good receiver (and giver, for that matter). She is so good at saying thank you and lending a hand to help.

Then it was on to dinner and cake. I wasn't sure if the boys had had pictures with the birthday girl yet so I made sure to get those. And then dinner was waffles with all the toppings and cake was a layered cake with strawberries and whip cream (something that she had come up with because Sister Bear has it on her birthday in the book, 'Too Much Birthday" :) ) with homemade strawberry banana ice cream topped with sprinkles. Milayla was very insistent that she get to make the majority of her cake. So I directed and she measured, mixed and poured until it was time for me to put it in the oven. Then I just layered the cakes together for her and she put the last strawberries on top. She was very proud. It was awesome! And she was excited to get to have the pinwheels on her cake again.

And with that she announced her self officially 5 years old.

There are really not words enough for me to express all the things we love about Milayla. She has a heart of gold. She is a great big/little sister. Loves to wear dresses and play in them until she's covered in dirt, grass and flowers. She has a sense of adventure. Loves cuddles. Can be crazy goofy. Is insanely smart and understands things really well (she's a deep thinker for a 5 year old!). Whenever she hears people talking about hearts, families, temples or Jesus she is always quick to share her thoughts on how important they each are and why. She is a hard worker and will do/figure out whatever she sets her mind to. She's great at soccer. Learning reading like a pro. And I really could keep going on forever. We are just so grateful she's ours. And at the end of the day I love that I get to crawl into her bed and hear all her lovely thoughts on the day, sing her songs, give her cuddles and write messages on her back. She is awesome. And we love her so much! Thanks for being you, Milayla. We love you! Happy 5th Birthday!!!!

Milayla is FIVE pictures

I try my best to capture the personalities of my children in pictures that I take of them, birthday pictures are no exception to that. Though, I did have to remind myself of that fact as Milayla was picking out her outfit - the pictures aren't about me, they are about her. I don't express that out of displeasure with Mialyla but out of pleasure with how much I love getting to take this time with her, laughing and capturing that incredible personality. 

With that in mind, I LOVE how these turned out. Pictures couldn't possibly capture all the awesomeness of Milalya, but you can see many of her faces, her incredible laugh (frozen in time), and even that sweet eye-sparkle. I had Milayla pick where she wanted the photos - the tree house was the clear winner, along with simply running around our yard and hanging out on our fairy jumping logs. Love this girl, her adventurous spirit, her big heart, that awesome smile, her sweet singing, and her love of rainboots as a great multi-functional play shoe (she LOVES helping in the garden and getting herself pretty covered in dirt and muck!). 

I had so much fun taking the pictures of our darling 5 year old who is awesome in every sense of the word. 

Milayla is FIVE!

This dazzling girl is 5 years old today. If I could see into this little girl's heart it would be filled with a love for books, dancing, her family, Jesus, art, music and exploring. Her eyes really sparkle when she laughs, when she's reading books with us, or telling us about something that she is really excited about. She is adventurous and loves teaching herself tricks on her scooter and bicycle. She is incredibly creative which we see come out with art, imaginative play, dance and music (she loves singing songs she has made up!). 

It is always a treat to spend time with her and she is so determined. Once she says she is going to do something - she is doing it. Like tying her shoes. She woke up one morning and said she was going to tie her shoes by herself that day and she did. And for this reason, I am learning when to push her versus encourage her; because I know she won't do anything until she has decided that she will do it. 

And she is brilliant. She has loved learning to read and is getting extremely good at expressing herself. She looks out for other people with a fierce kindness. When she found out a boy in her class at church has a peanut allergy she (and the rest of our family) will not eat peanut butter or other nuts on the days that we are going to see him and his family. Her idea. 

And just yesterday she went downstairs in the morning before the rest of us and said she was doing secret service. She had gotten all the breakfast items out, which is a lot of work for two little hands but that did not deter her. She loves to help. 

When I asked her what her favourite book was, she chose the one in the picture because they make goodies and give them away. She chose to dance ballet moves for the pictures that I took of her. And picked making and playing with play dough for a little at-home activity to do today. And we are just doing what the birthday girl wants to do with her time.

This weekend we will be doing her party and will surprise her with a little outing (a family tradition), along with her birthday meals and some presents. The weather is set to be gorgeous so it is very fitting that we will be outside for a large portion of her day because she loves to be outside. We are just excited to be celebrating her and the wonderful person she is and that she is becoming more of every single day. 

I may be biased but I count my lucky stars that this incredible girl is my daughter. With all her feistiness, kindness, intelligence, helpfulness, and radiating beauty I feel blessed to be her mom. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Milayla! May it be one of many wonderful, love-filled birthdays. We love you!