Happy 5th Birthday Hallie!!

WARNING: Major picture overload ahead!

We celebrated Hallie's birthday twice this year-- once for her first "friend party" and another time on her actual birthday. She is starting young on the week-long or month-long birthday celebrations like someone else we know (her grandma Lisa, cough cough).

 I decided that my kids can have friend parties when they are 5, 8, and 12 because every year would just be too much, and I am not even one of those moms who goes all out with party favors and cute Pinterest-inspired decorations. Nope, I buy a few balloons and throw up some crepe paper streamers and call it good. Still, a lot of work though! It may have had something to do with the 14 kids we had, 10 neighborhood friends and 4 cousins. Good times, good times. It was a princess theme, in case you couldn't guess. And with that, let's let the pictures tell the story:

My two little princesses and one little prince

The first step was to have everyone decorate their crowns. This was probably their favorite part!

Alisa stayed to help us and I was oh-so-grateful. We also had our teenage neighbor, Ann, help, plus Lola. I needed all the hands I could get! 

Next, we played Pin the Lips on the Frog. Super funny. We had lips all over the place- different walls, the piano, a shelf... only a few actually came close to the frog. 

Before presents, we played a few rounds of Princess Bingo, which also seemed to be a hit. Then of course, presents, which were a big hit for Hals. She got spoiled, even though I specifically said in the invitations no presents. Sheesh you people. :)

Not so good at taking pictures, apparently. Hals big gift (and about only gift, let's be honest) from Devin and I was a new bike! There it is. I should have gotten a better picture of it. She was excited. Now she just needs to learn without training wheels.

All the kids, minus Ryder, who wouldn't get in the picture. Top is Brynlee, and Flor. Next row: Emma, Hannah, Abby, Ashley, Hallie. The next row is Jace, Brooklyn, Ellory, Samara. Bottom is Joseph, Cardston, Wally, and Megan. 

Again all the kids: Brynlee (cousin), Emma (friend), Ellory (friend), Wally (friend), Flor in the back, Megan (cousin), Ashley (friend), Hals, Jace, Hannah (friend), Abby (friend), Cardston (friend), Brooklyn (friend), Samara (cousin), and Joseph (friend). Again, Ryder did not want to have his photo taken. And who can blame him-- it was bright out there! 

After I subjected the kids to thousands of pictures, I finally fed them. Again, I was super glad for the extra help! 

Ashley wanted to sit under the tree all by herself. Whatever floats your boat, girl.

Well there's Ryder smiling and looking happy! I joked with Kirston (his mom) that next time all I need to do is feed him first and then try to take his picture. :)

Finally, we had cake and ice cream. Good thing we love Costco and they make cakes that feed a billion people!

This picture cracks me up. Can you tell it was bright outside? Hallie with her friends Wally and Cardston. Interestingly enough, in her 5 year old birthday interview (to be posted soon), she says that Wally is her best friend. Cardston, on the other hand, is the one she has said is going to marry her (not who she will marry, always who will marry her) since the time she was really young. Can't go wrong there, he is a cutie. 

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Phew. The party was a lot of fun! I am glad we did it, but also glad for the three year break before we do it again. 

Hallie's actual birthday (Nov 4) was much lower key. She got flowers and balloons from mom and dad as is tradition and had cereal (her request) for breakfast. She then had preschool and played at home. For dinner, we went to Sarah and Danny's house and made sushi because Hallie requested fish for her birthday dinner. Good call girl, good call. I cannot express in human words how much I love sushi, but it can become an expensive habit, so making it on our own was such a fantastic idea. It was just as good, if not better, too. We also had enough leftover that I ate it for lunch two days in a row and dinner for one more night. WIN. Yes. I need some right now. Too bad Devin doesn't like sushi. His loss. At least Hallie is following in my footsteps, though, right? 

We of course had to have another cake. Look how exasperated she looks, like "Another cake?!" haha. 

Well, she's cute.

As is this handsome little man! He loved his ice cream (Josh, my cousin Sarah's little boy)

Oh, and just have to throw these pictures in. Hals got a new dress, sweater, tights, and shoes from my mom and wore them to church on Sunday. She was loving posing for me so that I could take her picture. I mean, just look at this. Haha.

Enough pictures already, I know. I just have a hard time choosing and tend to include them all. Do forgive.

And here is some information for record's sake about our cute five year old:

*Hallie in preschool two days a week with her friends Abby and Brooklyn. We have a carpool going with them and it is fantastic, so we only drive every third week. Hallie loooooves going to preschool and keeps track of the days of the week so she can count down until the next time. She also does a computer program called Upstart (Rusty and Rosy) at home that is wonderful. She has done it through our stake center the last few years and was on a waiting list to get it at home, which is possible for children going into kindergarten the next year. She does it at least 15 minutes per day, 5 days a week and learns things like reading, math, science, etc.

*Speaking of reading, she is on her way. Hallie can sound out simple words and we practice reading each night. She loves it. I haven't taught her anything-- it is all the computer program and her preschool. Fantastic for a parent like me. :)

*Hallie really likes singing and has quite a cute little voice. She remembers a lot of words for songs on the radio and I often catch her (if I am sneaky and she doesn't see me) rocking out and really getting into singing in the backseat of the car. She gets really into the movements and sings quite animatedly. If she sees me looking, though, she stops. Totally wish I could get a video- it is super entertaining.

*At church, Hallie also gets really into singing the songs and knows all the words. I am in primary now with her so I get to watch her and I am always impressed. For one of the songs the kids have learned for their primary program, they are doing sign language as they sing it and she has mastered that as well. I think she really enjoys music and it seems like she might have some musical talent, though I am certain she did NOT get that from me!

*Hallie has a soft heart and likes to remind me to use my "nice voice" (scary that she knows I have a "mean voice"). She also is protective of Flor and Jace (at times). She can be quite the little mother to the other two, often calling them "honey" and such.

*Hallie is VERY attached to stuff. It is a little crazy sometimes. I have no idea where she gets this or what to do about it sometimes. I mean, we had to throw away a pair of socks because they had holes in them and she cried for like a half an hour. I have to really prepare her if we are getting rid of anything and let her be involved as much as possible (like, she threw the socks in the garbage herself- while crying of course). I may have a future hoarder on my hands! Every few days I will find massive amounts of things that she has squirreled away in her bed, too. Anything we try to get rid of is a big ordeal, even empty sticker pages, random jewels that fell off her dress up clothes, etc. Anyone else have a kid like this? I try to give her as much control as possible, but I am such an extreme opposite of a hoarder, it is hard for me to just keep random junk. I like to go through the toys every few months and chuck stuff. This does not sit well with Hals. Poor girl.

*Loves at age 5: princesses, fairies, movies (favorites according to mom: Despicable Me, Madagascar 3, and Wreck it Ralph), puzzles, barbies, riding bikes, drawing and coloring, playing with friends, dressing up, going to church, preschool, food (favorites according to mom: fish, pizza, broccoli and cheese soup, cereal, fruit, yogurt), and going to the park.

Well that's all I can think of. If you are still reading this novel, write me for your prize. :)

We love you Hallie Brynn!! You have brought us such happiness and laughter over the past 5 years and we are so glad that you are ours!