7 Years Old!!!!

Well, it's hard to believe, but Shelby is 7 years old!!!! Today was even more special because she got to be home from school because she wasn't well enough yet to return. Fortunately, she was on the tail end of her sickness. Last year on her birthday she was in the middle of being really sick and you can see it in her birthday pictures.

Anyways, she came downstairs to a decorated house as is tradition. I definitely missed Tom's help in doing that as it took quite a long time to wrap presents, blow-up balloons, and decorate with balloons and streamers all by myself. She was, of course, eager to open presents, but I had to reminder her that Dad wasn't available until about 6:30. She was a little disappointed, but wanted him to be apart of her birthday celebrations, so she agreed to wait.


Unfortunately, with every birthday comes an annual check-up, and this year was not different. In the afternoon we headed to Dr. Kubena's to get her check-up done. Shelby lucked out this year and didn't have to have any shots; she was sooooo excited about that. The doctor confirmed what we'd guessed . . . she hasn't grown much - only about 2 inches in the past year, but she was still 50% on height and weight, so I guess it's normal. She has really tall friends at school, so she looks so, so short next to them.

Finally 6:30 rolled around and we were ready to call Dad. My brother and sister-in-law introduced us to a program called Skype, which allows you to make phone calls across the Internet. It's free from computer to computer and you can pay to call landlines and whatnot. We called Dad, who was in Harlingen, TX, for a rotation, positioned the computer towards Shelby, and then were ready to begin.

The first present opened was the card from Nana and Papa. Inside was money and you can see her reaction to that . . .

Next she opened the earrings I'd gotten for her. Before Tom left town I had a few presents that I'd already bought, but I still needed a few more things. The day before her birthday we headed to Target to buy birthday decorations, and I snuck in a few more gifts for Shelby. She was shocked to learn that 4 of her gifts I had bought on that Target trip. Sneaky Mom!!! Anyways, she'd been asking for earrings, so that's what she got. As soon as we were done with the celebrations, she asked to have them put in. She loves wearing earrings.

Next she got a pack of colorful pens. This school year she has started to love writing. She could do it last year, but she didn't really enjoy it. Now she is constantly writing - Do Not Disturb notes for her sisters, journal entries, behavior charts . . . you name it. I figured colorful pens would be perfect.

Next came a new shirt.

Next came a gift that she has been wanting for awhile. For Taylor's last birthday, Taylor bought a cool dinosaur by Imaginext/Fisher-Price that the girls LOVE. We then got Payden one for her birthday, so Shelby has been talking about how she needed one. There are big dinosaurs and smaller ones. Unfortunately, this one was one of the smaller ones, but it was the only Parasaurolophus (I probably misspelled that), and that's one of the girls favorite dinosaurs, so we got it for her. She was so excited to get it and to find out what it does (Taylor's walks and roars while Payden's roars, moves it's body, and eyes light up).

Next came another well-loved gift - a Barbie movie. The girls LOVE the Barbie movies, and we have just about all of them. They didn't have Magic of the Rainbow, so we got it for her. Of course, she was excited to get it.

Finally, she got something she's been wanting - a Lite Brite. I'm so jealous actually. I always wanted one growing up. I'd actually gotten this a long time ago for her, but ended up having to use it for a one of her friend's birthdays. Shelby was so excited to give it to her friend, so I knew it was the right gift for her. At a playdate with another friend, Shelby got to use one and absolutely loved it. In fact, everyone was playing outside while inside Shelby was working on the Lite Brite. Anyways, she's already done a few, and thoroughly enjoys it. Now I just need to get my act together and get some batteries for it. :)

Tom was able to be with us and watch the entire birthday celebrations, which was wonderful. The unfortunate thing was that Payden moved to sit in the chair by the computer. I'd look up occasionally to see that she'd move the computer so she could look at her dad, but he was unable to see Shelby. It was actually pretty cute because she was so excited to talk to him, so finally after the presents were opened, I gave her a moment to talk with him.

Next it was time for birthday cake or, rather, birthday brownies. Shelby decided that since we don't really like cake all that much she'd rather have brownies. No problem with me. At least they'll get eaten (usually I dump 3/4 a cake in the trash a week after each birthday . . . we just don't eat cake). We got pink gel icing to write on her brownies, and she was a happy gal.

She blew out the candles and we got to enjoy the brownies. Unfortunately, we forgot the ice cream, but at least we got the good stuff.

It was then time to say goodbye to Dad and then get the girls ready and off to bed. Before heading to bed, Shelby grabbed her pens and wrote a little journal entry about her day. I found the paper after they'd gone to bed. (I knew those pens were a good idea!)


"My Birthday. We opened presents. Dad watched us. Then we had brownies. We went to Dr. Kubena's. We had a good day."

What a cute girl!!!! Anyways, Happy Birthday Shelby!!! We love you and are glad you had a wonderful birthday!!!