Anne's 7th Birthday

Where has time gone? 


So when did this:








Turn into this?




Tell me please - so I can make it stop!  I can't believe she's 7.  Wasn't it just yesterday that she was born?

People warn you.  They tell you that it goes by fast.  But when they are first born and crying and keeping you up at night and you feel like you won't sleep longer than 2 hours at a time for the rest. of. your. life. - you don't believe them.

Then one day, you do fall asleep and before you know it they are big.  I know I still have a long way to go.  Many of you are reading this and you are already grandparents and you also wonder where the years went. They just fly by - one after the other - and before you know it - your oldest is eye to eye with you.  It's quite crazy.

So, Anne turned seven on Wednesday.  Here's how we celebrated this week......

First of all, Anne requested cupcakes for her class at school.  She designed them.  Strawberry/Vanilla swirl with pink icing and gray sprinkles with a cherry on top. I obliged.

Then on Friday, we had the family over for dinner and a party.  She requested a Repunzel cake this year as "Tangled" is one of her favorite movies right now.  Mine too, actually!  LOVE it!

Not too bad, I guess.  The kids always challenge me.  But Anne liked it so that is all that matters.

Chloe helping!  How cute is she?

Opening her present from Nana and Papa

Helen and Anne share January birthdays and their birthstone is Garnet.  Carl had given Helen a garnet necklace years ago and they passed it down to Anne for her birthday this year.  Needless to say, I cried.  Such a sweet moment.

Afterwards, Anne opened a ballerina jewelry holder from Sasha!  How perfect is that?  A special place to put her special necklace!

You can see the necklace hanging on the ballerina and Nana's sweet note to Anne.

Anne and Nana (along with her new Zhu Zhu pet from Uncle Ray)  Love the headband Nana!!!

Time for cake!

Chloe making funny faces to help everyone smile!  She's such a nut!!!!

Big brother!

 Helping light the candles

 "Happy Birthday to You!  Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday dear Anne Girl! 

Happy Birthday to You!"

I guess it was yummy!  It's all gone!

Anne and Papa!

Uncle Ray

 Uncle Marc and Aunt Sam

(This pic is actually from Christmas - not sure how I missed them on Friday but I did. - oops!)

So the party on Friday was fun and we continued celebrating on Saturday.  We gave Anne a gift card to Build a Bear workshop.

Meet Izzy - the Koala Bear.  How cute is that?

We also went to lunch at Red Elephant and to see Beauty and the Beast in 3-D.  Fun stuff!  At dinner, Anne said, "After this, we are going to go play Putt-Putt" and Russ replied, "No - after dinner, your birthday is officially OVER."  

Until next year......