The big 7

Ellie finally made it - she is now 7 years old!! She was so excited to finally be able to officially celebrate her big day! We celebrated her birthday on Dec. 7th with her friends from school and church. I happened to mention that it was her "un-birthday," so she was quick to tell everyone that it wasn't actually her big day. ha! The day of her party she got to go out of dress code to school and she took special treats to share with her class. After school, we had a skating party at the church. My camera died at the party. Mandy let us use her camera, so I will post pictures soon.

On Ellie's real birthday, December 19th, we let her open a present before church. Then, that evening we celebrated with Nannie, PawPaw and Mamaw. Ellie was so excited. I cooked a pork tenderloin (for the first time) for dinner and Nannie brought a cake. Ellie loved having everyone together.

Ellie and her new My Little Pony Mermaid set that she got to open before church.

No idea why the picture of her cake loaded side ways. It was a chocolate cake with white icing and colored polka dots.

Ellie blowing out her candles.

Opening her first gift of the evening...It was a new game for her DS from her Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Rick.

Mamaw gave Ellie the movie Despicable Me.

And she got her own portfolio and new art supplies. She was so excited.

We celebrated Ellie's birthday with Mimi and Papa Jim, Mom and Papa and the rest of the gang on Monday, December 20th. Ellie asked to wait and celebrate once everyone was home for Christmas. (see the next post for more details on the evening.)

Ellie asked Mimi to make her birthday cake - chocolate cake with white icing.

Ellie was so excited!

She loved her new innerstarU doll from Mimi, Papa Jim, Mommy and Daddy

Ellie checking out the new spy bag that Caleb and Stephanie gave her.

Ellie the spy!

Ellie has started collecting Madame Alexander dolls like I do. She was thrilled that Mom and Papa gave her a new doll!

god made little girls

Author: Unknown

God made the world with its towering trees,
majestic mountains and restless seas,
then paused and said, "It needs one more thing."
Someone to laugh and dance and sing,
to walk in the woods and gather flowers,
to commune with nature in quiet hours.
So God made little girls
with laughing eyes and bouncing curls,
with joyful hearts, and beautiful smiles,
enchanting ways and feminine wiles.
And when He'd completed the task He'd begun,
he was pleased and proud of the job He'd done.
For the world when seen through a little girl's eyes
greatly resembles paradise.