Ella turns 5 years old!!!!!!

We woke up and Ella requested quote, "Unicorn tat sleeves."

Heaven help me.

Uncle Corey & Uncle Bill were so thoughtful and ordered Ella an ice cream cake!!! The first one the kiddos ever had!!! (Mom fail??) It lasted 2 days. YUM!!

We had lunch at Fuddruckers. 

Every. Single. Time.

Without fail, I can stare at the room in the back where I struggled to feed my little baby Joe. I had a bottle to help him eat and remember the self loathing I had for myself because I couldn't get him to breastfeed. The sorrow I feel every time I go is real, yet somehow I'm still able to know the present and live in the joy my other 4 kids bring so readily.

Birthday milkshake fun!! And free cookies!!

Then on to free fudge!! And ferris wheel rides!!!

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUN!!!
Good thing we have the best big sisters in the world!!!

Eli has issues after Papa rocked the ferris wheel once and he feels like he's going to fall off. It's definitely not a height fear, because this little boy can CLIMB!

We ended the day with more sugar. Best dinner ever.

Ella at 5 loves unicorns, dancing, singing, and anything pink.

She loves her bobo, playing barbies, and legos.

She loves movies and popcorn.

Her best friend is Ramya. (And Janie)

She loves to listen to books and is an excellent artist!!

She is a fast runner, great swimmer, and loves to shake it when music comes on.

She loves that stupid show Miraculous Ladybug. (I swear it kills brain cells)

She loves being my bed buddy, snuggle buddy, and cuddle cake.

Her favorite song is Alicia Key's This girl is on fire.

Yaya would have been proud.

She is proud.

As we all are of this beautiful, kind, sensitive, loving little sweetheart.

Her birthday wish this year, "That Jesus, and Yaya Kota, and Baby Joe could all live again."

Valentine's Day Class Party

Alicia was so kind to let Ella come over and play. She had a blast!

Meanwhile, I headed over to yet another great party for 2nd grade! We are so blessed to have such great teachers!

When Eli would walk by Mrs. Clark she always called him "happy boy". He truly is!! And he really is his father's son. So friendly. He was high fiving people left and right. Giving hugs and thank you's to people for the Valentines they gave him.

One kid even saw another kid that was playing with a yo-yo to close to him and said, "Hey man. Knock it off and don't hurt Eli. We want him in one piece."
Classic.

Happy Valentine's!!! (Ugh. Get me through the day please!!)

Romance is not going to the doctor's with your husband in the morning. Or him falling asleep on the couch. But romance is shallow and I find with time that my love I have for him hurts terribly. Because I know he isn't yet who he needs to be and this period of time where he needs to grow is hard to bear.

I pray for patience. I pray for help for him. For me. For the kids.

And time ticks away.

But there is small improvement. It's coming. Slowly.

And slow and steady wins the race.

Thank God for my kids. 

At least I have cool boots.

Jody had breakfast and came home after we ate. The kids were really happy to talk to him. He got them all special valentines. 

Fleeting

I feel it. I fear it. I accept it.

She's my last and these are my last moments enjoying her childhood.

My kids are the way they are because I stayed at home with them. (Thanks to Joe) I loved them fully. I love them fully.

It's hard to give up this phase, so that's why I soak up the moments.

The magic of the preschool age. The sweetness. The wonder. The joy. The pure joy.

I just missed one flip on that. Yay for the art teacher.

We enjoyed a doughnut. We snuck in with a school group. What is wrong with me?

We stayed just a bit and then ended up with a rotten cold. GERMS!!!!!!! But still worth it.

SNOW!!!!

Play in the snow.... and of course Mama gets sick.

Still worth it!!

I remember buying these pants years ago thinking/praying I could fit them in the winter.

They were big.

Ha!!!

15 more lbs to go!!!

Cornrows!!!

10 years ago when Joe died I was sad I might not have a little boy to cornrow his hair. 

It was a happy day for me. Dreams do come true and Heavenly Father is gracious.

Handsome little man!!!

Little future Caleb Martin boy.

Superbowl. No Touchdowns in the first 3 quarters. Yay!

I'm not going to lie. I've only recently started really enjoying watching football. I get it!!!!!! And I love the athleticism of it all. It's not too hard to follow if you actually understand it.

But.

This game stunk.

Like a cross between fermented sauerkraut and a dead emu.

So boring. I mean, the defense was phenomenal, but really... I like it when they have big runs.

Whatevs.

The underdogs lost. It snowed.

But we had good food and company! And the commercials and half time show were fun too!

The kiddos didn't watch any of it. Stinkers.

Next year. Seahawks! And Raiders!!

Ella turns 5! Magical Unicorn Rockstar Birthday Party!!

MY BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABY!!!!!

MY!!!! BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5

It hurts! I'm not going to lie. All this growing up and getting bigger business. 

It was a magical party for a magical little girl. 

And it was rather loud and chaotic.

But you know it's a good party when you find lollipops stuck to the wall.

What makes a good party? After all these years I've found that it's making sure your guests go home with candy and lots of fun things- like blow up guitars, echo microphones, unicorn horn headbands, unicorn lucky charms, unicorn candy bags and unicorn stickers. Oh! And rockstar sunglasses that are glittered.

I didn't have the guts to add the unicorn eyes. But it was 3 layered and extra sugary! Yum!!

Poor little baby had a cold, but she managed to have a great time with cousins and friends. Not to mention the very best siblings in the world.

Unicorn Bingo, 4 corners, and dance off where they just stood and looked at the TV.

PARTY PEOPLE!!!!!!!! 

I love that little face. I could kiss it for all eternity and have not kissed it enough. 

My doll. My everything. My joy. My little precious sweetheart.

We have the VERY BEST friends in the entire universe. Truly my heart is so full. Aunty Ramy Mommy is my better half and I love that Ella adores her almost as much as I do. I'm stealing her BFF necklace!!!

I wish I would have gotten a picture with Jody. He was so helpful at the party cleaning up afterwards. I'm glad to be able to throw crazy parties because of him. He never complains at how much I spend or of how trashed the house gets. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET ELLA COPELLA!!!!

Also, I have to mention Miss Summer. She gave Ella the sweetest, most genuine cards. They were meticulous and well drawn... just so thoughtful. We are so BLESSED!!!