Addie Kate's 6th Birthday

Well here we are. I now have a six year old. 

To celebrate being six, Tommy and I decided on taking Addie Kate and her sweet best friend Olivia, to American Girl for a girly, pink, weekend. The girls LOVED it. 

Addie Kate and I took the day off of school and work, dropped Drew off with Mimi and Googa, and headed up to Greenville. We wanted to do a few fun things do a little shopping before meeting Olivia and her mom to head to Atlanta. 

Addie Kate didn't feel great, but we were so excited about our trip! We had been waiting for a long time, and Daddy was in Japan. This helped the time go by faster until he returned home to us!

The trip to Atlanta was fun. Road trips are always fun with friends. 

When we got to the hotel, the girls and their dolls were able to walk in to check in on the pink carpet. There was a separate check in for American Girls. It was adorable. Addie Kate and Olivia were at the perfect age for this. 

They had all this personalized stuff for them, things for them to sign, treats, and a gift card they could spend on a treat in the hotel gift shop. 

The real treat was the adorable pink room they had waiting on them. The dolls had their own bed and the girls had pink robes that they could wear while there. 

AK was a little excited! 

We were going to take the girls to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner but the wait was so long. We just hit up a nearby Mellow Mushroom instead, which was fine. 

When we got back to the hotel we took the girls swimming. The Atlanta American Girl offers a few different hotels for the special weekends. We chose the Marriott because of the indoor pool. Who doesn't love that? Then the girls got to spend their gift cards on a treat at the shop and we had room service cookies and milk waiting on us when we got back! How fun! 

The girls settled in and played a few games that we brought. 

And then we settled in for a ridiculously not-restful night of sleep. Poor Addie Kate just felt horrible at bed time. She coughed all night and could not sleep. Finally in the middle of the night she and I got up and she was just about hysterical, she felt so bad. I got Motrin in her and finally she was able to settle for a few hours of sleep. 

The next day, everyone was happy and we enjoyed a nice breakfast and playing on the suitcase cart.  

Checked out and put our names in for a drawing of a new American Girl doll. We did not win. 

And headed to American Girl! 

Olivia knew exactly what she wanted. Addie Kate thought she did, but she really wanted to shop and spend her money. First on tap was for us to get McKenna's hot mess of hair fixed. Addie Kate got to pick out a hair style and the  lady trimmed it and fixed it all up, plus gave us tips for keeping it nice looking (which I will say, AK has done a great job of it). We also got her ears pierced. Addie Kate thought that was great. 

Addie Kate finally decided on Julie. She originally wanted Caroline but changed her mind to Julie, who I also think is adorable. She bought a few other accessories and clothes and a bag that carried two dolls. 

We went out into the mall for the girls to see each other's things. They were so cute. Olivia got Saige. Addie Kate climbed up on these columns and started reading. Funny girl! 

We then had our lunch reservations. 

And Addie Kate loved the men singing Happy Birthday to them! 

As soon as we got in the car she fell asleep. Bless her heart. I knew she was sick. I got amoxocillan called in and had Mom keep Drew one more night so we could get a good night's sleep and him not catch it. Olivia turned up with strep a few days later! Geez! 

I loved our sweet little trip and they are memories I, and hopefully Addie Kate, will keep forever! 

On Addie Kate's actual birthday, we had family over for cake, ice cream, and gifts. Daddy made her cake and bought some of the pinkest icing I have ever seen!  

That day before school, in a birthday outfit, likely the last real "birthday outfit." 

Cinnamon rolls with candles for breakfast: 

Mommy and Daddy joined her for lunch: 

And Mommy went back to pass out birthday treats to her class that afternoon. Here her Spanish teacher is asking her questions, in Spanish, about her birthday. Addie  Kate did really well, seeing as how this was only two months into school! 

Before her birthday, we invited a few new friends from her class (and a few "old" friends from school too) to ChickFilA. We just let them play, have a kids meal and cupcakes, and let Addie Kate open gifts. This was more for us to meet parents and meet children that we'd be spending a lot of time with in the future! 

My dearest Addie Kate,

You have made me so proud. You have made me the one thing I've ever wanted to be - a mommy. I pray every night that I am a good one to you and that you continue to do the right thing, like you always have so far. I hope your birthday was as happy as you have made your Daddy and me. You are the love of our life sweet girl! Happy 6th Birthday!

Halloween 2013

On Halloween, Tommy was out of town. We were super sad, but made the most of it. We invited Mimi and Googa over (they haven't gotten trick or treaters in years, and when they did, it wasn't very many) and Paul and Sue. I made a big pot of chili and put AK in charge of the dessert: 

Drew was happy to show off the pumpkin he decorated at school.

We trick or treated in style - wagon and umbrella. Why does it always rain on Halloween?

Pretty soon they realized the wagon just slowed them down, and walked despite the rain.

Addie Kate originally wanted to be a cowgirl. (Despite my attempts at something much cuter.) Halloween isn't my favorite holiday, I can admit that. It also takes a massive backseat to Addie Kate's birthday and kind of sneaks up on me. In fact, I didn't have anything for Drew either, and Kelly came to the rescue with this adorable pirate costume from her boys years ago. The (poorly thrown together) cowgirl costume I guess did not suit Addie Kate, and she just grabbed a Belle dress from her dress-up stash, and the new crown that we got when we saw Beauty and the Beast on Broadway at the Koger Center the weekend before. So she was Belle.

Our neighborhood is tiny, and we love it. This was our first year trick or treating in it. I think they kind of forgot about trick or treating, as our children are the youngest. At one of the houses, a friend of ours that is hilarious, wasn't quite ready for us. We heard all her dogs barking, and her screaming wait on her! When she came out she was so excited, saying she hasn't had trick or treaters in years. Our kids loved it. 

After we trick or treated at about 5 houses in our sweet little neighborhood, we headed to Mt. Horeb's trunk or treat. It was huge and massive and like nothing I'd ever seen. 

Here's Brett, dressed like Willie Robertson, and resembling him remarkably well! 

I brought Paul and Sue with us, and I was thankful since it was so dark and so crowded. Addie Kate convinced Uncle Paul to dance, which is always entertaining. 

Back at home, I tried to wind the kids down.... 

Earlier that week, on dance night, we passed Lexington Baptist Church and Addie Kate saw the massive display they did. Fortunately, that is Tommy's parents' church. Also fortunately, they were picking her up from dance. Lastly, she was already dressed in a costume for dance. So they just took her after dance. She had a great time and I'm glad it worked out for her to go. 

Some pictures of the "after" of Halloween: 

Addie Kate passed out in my bed. 

And Drew, the next morning.... who climbed in the bar stool, then over the top of the bar, to get to his pumpkin of candy. That boy! 

I love his little squat!