A Strawberry "Fiesta!"

The weekend was a success! Gabi 'fruit'fully turned six, I cooked, baked, decorated, and cleaned my little heart out and my new to-do list begins. Somehow, Gabi still thinks she's the one that needs to "relax" with her new Orbeez foot soaker... I'm tempted to fight her for it. She was nice enough to give me a foot massage, though. (Mom Perks).

We took lots of pictures today to capture everything I could. Some good videos too!

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Just a quick side note since I was reminded of it today: If you ever want a "First Birthday" gift idea or to replace a baby book (which are harder to keep up with) buy this Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal. I've had one for Gabi and get to write everything about her birthdays each year. It even has questions for your child to answer and pockets to put anything you want to put in them. Super cute idea.

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Saturday we spent a couple of hours with 10 of Gabi's friends at Skyzone.

Look at that height!

Trampolines EVERYWHERE! Which was GREAT!

However....

I feel this is a little...harsh. ;)

We ate pizza and cake -The Inspiration Cake- no Redbull though. Phew!

 Saturday flew by. Come Sunday, our house was in full party mode. It turned out great!

My table display.

Gabi's favorites.

My favorite compliment.

From Gabi...

"Oh Mom! You're making everything look so fancy for my party. Everything is just TOO cute!"

Gabi. You're too cute.

Tissue paper flower bouquet.

Well. Uncle Jason got his birthday in today, too...by the way.

He's a pretty awesome guy.

Stole this idea from the Party Planning QUEEN, Jenna.

No worries, I didn't spike the Jell-O

One of my faves. Big tissue paper flowers...which were suppose to be balls...

...the directions lied.

Mama and the Birthday Girl!

Strawberry Pie Cake

(Which I won a pie contest with, FIRST PLACE!...)

...no joke.

I felt like a picnic table or something...

BUT cute dress for 5 bucks!

At the end of the day...

(Oh yea. Mom, Papa and Ninny got her a Dsi..."The best present ever.")

She's six. SIX! Wow. By the time I'll get use to that, she'll be seven...I shudder at the thought.

I have to give a big THANK YOU to my mom and dad for ALL of their help.

Without them, oh boy...I don't even want to think about it.

OH and I bet you're wondering what happened to the Spectacular Strawberry Pinata...

My video skills still aren't up to par. So...it's split in two.



My Everything

My goal for this blog is to capture everything I can about Gabi's life; the things I want her to know and forever remember. Life passes us by, unforgivingly, not letting us stop for a moment to just push pause or rewind. With this, I hope she will someday be able to see the love that I have for her--that it's extraordinary and bigger than she or I will ever completely know. I want her to learn things, to believe in herself, to be strong, to succeed...to grow, to love, to laugh, and to lead the life she was destined by God to live.
My ability to write in a baby book is close to non-existant, so some day, whenever it may be, I want to put my writing collections and pictures in a book for her to have and to look back and reflect upon. I have a lot of catching up to do, as it has been almost six years of reminiscing and life lessons that I have to give her but it will be something no one else will ever be able to fulfill. 
Her sixth birthday has arrived...and as a mom, it is a reminder just how precious life is - and that we can't possibly grab every moment in our lives and hold onto them no matter how hard we try. Eventually these moments can only be cherished in our minds and in our hearts, where they will forever remain. Meanwhile, we get to celebrate God's greatest gift of all...life!

BIRTHDAYS

Newborn

"Going Home with My Mama"

1st Birthday

"Perfect Pink Party"

2nd Birthday

"Two Cute"

3rd Birthday

"Abby Cadabby and Gabi"

4th Birthday

"Bowling Bonanza"

5th Birthday

"No Bones About It, I'm Five!"

-Believe-

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,

It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people deem important,

Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart

Cling to that as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future.

By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give

Nothing is really over … until the moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,

It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks,

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.

The quickest way to receive love is to give love.

The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tightly,

And the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your Dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope.

To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget where you've been,

But also know where you're going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored every step of the way.

Author Unknown

Preschool Graduation

There is nothing cuter than kids in graduation caps and gowns.

June 2010

What is your favorite lunch at TT? - Tacos

What is the most exciting thing about going to Kindergarten? - Playing Outside

What is your favorite movie? - Barney

What will you miss the most about TT? -Miss Gwen

What is your favorite song to sing? - Barney

What is your favorite color? - Pink

What is your favorite thing to do at TT? - Play in the School Age room

Where is your favorite place to go out to eat? - Burger King because of the play place

What else do you want to tell everybody? - I love my family! <3

Spectacular Strawberry Pinata!

Gabi is turning six on Sunday! We are having a family get-together to celebrate. We picked out a "Strawberry Shortcake" cake which sparked ideas galore for birthday decor!

So begins the photo montage of the Spectacular Strawberry Pinata!

"The Balloon"

Thumbs up for making progress!

Warning: Gabi yells in this entire video

2 hours later...

The hardest part...figuring out how to make it red.

Solution: Cray paper and mummy wrapping skills

Drum roll....

Just call me the "Pinata Extraordinaire!"

I was absolutely in love myself after completing this AMAZING piece of art! :)

Too pretty to smash?

But why keep it?

A Must Watch

My sister sent this to me with a "Don't Cry" warning.

I adore the message and wish I could put words together as beautifully as
Katherine Center has.

Such a strong message for moms, daughters, and women.

She has other videos on youtube which I have posted to the right of my blog. Even one for boys...

"4 Pieces and a lot of Poop..."

Who is Gabi?

Imaginitive

Analytical

Critical

Hilarious

Witty

Intelligent beyond her years

Lovable

Kind

Stubborn

Strong minded

Inquisitive

Beautiful

Puppy lover

Creative

My Daughter.

Gabi and I 6 years ago at her baby shower. She was so little then...

Memory:
Mom's to boys know all too well the dangers of changing a diaper without the proper pee shields. No one told me that sometimes... little baby girls...when they are really mad... will pee on you. I found out the hard way while wearing the only cute clothes that fit at the time [no one told me I wouldn't "bounce back" either]. It was a whole new take on "baby shower" that I wasn't very thrilled to accept.