Monday, November 21, 2011

Happy birthday, Ashleigh

I'm way behind on my blogging...oops.

On November 5th, Ashleigh turned 9 years old. It's a momentous birthday for me because it means she only has 1 more year until she is in double-digits! :-) I need to start planning now for her big 1-0 birthday party!

We took some pictures of her the night before she turned 9. Isn't she cute?!?! I love my Ashleigh so much. She is my constantly sweet and loving child and she is my companion and my friend. I've said for years that she is very much like her aunt Quinn and I love that so much about her! Like Quinn, Ashleigh knows my moods and my habits and she shows me she loves me even when I'm in a bad mood.
Ashleigh is so artistic and crafty and loves doing anything having to do with those things. She is dramatic, but not a drama queen. She has so many expressions and loves to take pictures of herself and the world around her. She is friendly to everyone and will always give someone the benefit of the doubt. I don't even know if she knows how to judge people yet. ;-) She is open and honest and kind and energetic and loving and respectful and happy and wonderful!
Ashleigh is an amazing big sister!!! She loves her little brother so much and is patient with him when he annoys her. She is such a little mom to him and takes such great care of him anytime we need her to help out a little. And Preston worships her and wants to do everything that Ashleigh does. I've told Ashleigh that can be a blessing and a curse...she needs to be mindful of his little eyes watching her as she grows up so she can be a good example to him.
Ashleigh is incredibly smart! She loves school so much. She is an awesome reader and does so well in Math. She's so helpful in school and her teacher just loves having her in class. She's a friend to everyone in her class and knows to stay away from bullies or generally mean kids. She has already decided that she doesn't need those kinds of people in her life, but she'll still be kind to them if they talk to her.
Ashleigh is so obedient and respectful. With new people she comes off as shy/nervous, but with in minutes she's warm and friendly and respectful. She gains more and more confidence daily and I can see her blossoming and coming out of her shell all the time.
Ashleigh is my pride and joy and my rock star. I see so much of myself in her and I see so much of her dad in her. She is the most wonderful daughter in the world and I am SO proud of her and I absolutely love being her mom!!! I feel like the luckiest person in the world that she is my daughter.

Ashleigh and I started a new tradition this year...a date to Starbucks in the morning on her birthday. :-) I asked Vanessa and Liliana to join us too for this first year so it was a mommy-daughter date.


In the early afternoon Bridget came over and we all went to the Kids Club indoor jungle to play. Vanessa, Adam, Liliana, and Korbin came too. We haven't been there since before we moved to Utah and Ashleigh was about 3 so she didn't really remember it, but she and Preston both loved it so much!!! Nick had a lot of fun playing in the jungle too! It was awesome!



Then we went back home and while Ashleigh hid, Bridget and I hid Ashleigh's presents. She looks so cute here patiently waiting for Nick to get back with the pizza so she could find her gifts.



Her gifts...after the party was over I realized that I forgot to hide 2 more gifts so I just gave them to her instead.

A hairbrush from Preston
Crafts

A DVD she wanted

gum balls for her....
gumball machine
more crafts
Scented lotions
Art supplies

Nick hijacked the gift and card from Gma and Gpa Call
Another craft
Gift from gma and gpa call--Barbie from the new Charm School movie
*Love*
I think that's a CD
And another CD
a personal stereo/boom box. :-)
A digital Arts and Crafts Studio. This is an awesome gift! She loves it!!!
She also got a gift card from gma and gpa Ballard-not shown, because she got it and opened it the day before. We have yet to go spend it. She and I need to go on a date to do that soon! :-)
And finally a couple of videos from her birthday. It was really special having Bridget over for the whole day. Ashleigh really appreciated being able to spend the day with her cousin and best-friend.

It was a wonderful day. I love my Ashleigh so much!!! She is such a joy to me and to her whole family and she is truly a blessing to us!

Happy Birthday, Ashleigh! Love you SO much!!! :-)

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