Reflections (Natalie's 6th Birthday Party)

I used to be a very organized person: everything in it's place. Now...not so much! Certain things are usually always in there place...while some I can't never seem to stay on top of...like things that others use too! My 2nd set of car keys are misplaced this morning and my husband has mine in his pocket. He went to church earlier today to work on sound for worship service, but they were practicing it before Sunday School so that they could all go to SS. He drove my car last. Thus my keys were with his keys and he just put them in his pocket. I was running late as it was because I was doing some last minute preparations for a baby shower (my gift). So we had decided to go in different vehicles anyway...but now I have to wait to go with Cari who was coming in her car. Yes, we were going to have 3 cars for 3 people to go to one place. We normally do NOT do this. Sundays are usually the one day we all go to the same place at the same time. So now I waiting on Cari to get her shower since she wasn't planning to leave until later because of the project she was finishing for the gift also. Wow! Sometimes the simplest things can be so complicated!

I don't have any photos ready yet to post, but I thought rather than doing some cleaning, organizing, or straightening that I would do a little reflecting on yesterday's big event. Yesterday was Natalie's 6th Birthday Party. The day before she has turned 6 years old. Yes, it still seems like it was just yesterday she was born, yet it also seems like she has been a part of family forever because I really can't remember what our life was like without her. So much our lives have surrounded her existence now for the last 6 years. The last school year, her first year of Kindergarten, we did begin to spend less time with her. She was in "real" school now her absences count. So no more staying an extra day on the weekend to spend quality time with Mimi just because she misses her little sweetheart. It was difficult at the beginning of the school year for me...dealing with the loss of this time and facing the fact this was all of Cari's lasts: Last first day of school, Last time to cheer, Last prom, etc... But as I look back, at some point, I adjusted and now I am face all kinds of firsts again...but I won't be there to witness many of them (like her first day of college).

So I digress, with all these changes. I did less for Natalie and her parents did more...just as it should be. Most recently, this was Natalie's first party that I did NOT play a big part in planning or putting it together. Her parents did an excellent job! It was a PURPLE BEIBER BASH! Justin Beiber (and the color) purple was the theme. It was her first "girl" party. She only invited girls. And it was a gymnastics place in Baton Rouge. It was also her first party in BR. Brittany and Cameron both did a wonderful job with the food, decorating and preparations. Natalie was very well behaved and thankful for gifts. It was a very nice birthday party for top to bottom. I was a very proud Mom and Mimi! I will try to post photos soon!

~~jami~~

WHAT A WEEK!

Summer's have always been busy since our children have been old enough for ball, lessons and camps, etc. But wow WHAT A WEEK this has been and it only the first week of June! I think I have had only had one day of work. Hopefully next week will be much better. It is always so bittersweet...I enjoy my little sweetheart and all our special time together. But I also enjoy time to work and catch up on so many things that I struggle keeping together (my business/home work).

It is Friday and it already feels like Sunday afternoon by exhuastion level. My house upside down from coming and going and spending time with Natalie. I guess it can wait until Sunday afternoon because babies (little sweethearts) don't keep. They grow up so fast.

Monday I got up very early and took Cari to Baton Rouge for cheerleading camp. What an exhausting day that was. I got home around 10:00 pm ready to crash into my bed. Worked all day on laundry/photography work on Tuesday until bedtime. Wednesday I picked up Natalie and we went to the library and did some wal-mart shopping all before lunch. Then swimming with one very eager 3-year-old-almost 4-year old! I wanted take her swimming again that evening in the "big" pool (aka in-ground pool at the Tanner's) so I didn't even give her a bath or wash her hair like I normally do after swimming before naptime. We also normally read ALL the books from the library which was 12 this time. I knew I needed a nap as much as she did so I told her we would read half of them now and the other half at bedtime. She was sound asleep on my shoulder before I finished the 4th book. And I was so exhausted that while I was napping with her I didn't hear the phone ring when I received calls from Randy and Brittany. What can I say, swimming is very tiring for Mimi's too. As promised, we went swimming again that night. She did not want to put her face in the water at all. So....it has been decided she need lessons in a class with others so that she can see kids her age doing it. We took her to the other pool so that she could sit on the steps and begin teaching her some swimming skills. [goal not accomplished!] Needless to say Wednesday was fun, but also very tiring too.

Yesterday we went back to BR to pick up Cari leaving here very early, but late enough to see if one of Natalie's cheerleading sets had arrived. Fortunately, her gymboree cheerleader set did come in. I wanted her to have something "cheerleader" for the camp reveiw. We dressed her in the parking lot. And as she walked up to the collisium, I saw a cheerleader born right before my eyes. She walked, jumped, skipped and everyway that SHE thought a cheerleader would. And it got even better. She done it again with a dance to the music as we walked in. The seats were full of parents watching their child perform, but they couldn't resist laughing and smiling at Natalie as she walked in like she owned the place...like everyone was watching her...like they were all waiting for her to make her debut! It was a priceless moment. I wished I had a video of it though I don't think I will ever forget the image! Though this excitement soon faded because she wasn't allowed to get down on the floor with all the other cheerleaders to cheer. She had a meltdown or two and was chased by a parent/grandparent or two. We had plans to go to the zoo, but I knew she and we were way too tired for something as tiring as a walk through a zoo. So we opted for a movie instead. We saw another 3-D movie, UP. It was good-- though for a movie geared toward children, it was quite sad! And yes, I cried. [I forgot to add this part. As soon as the review and awards were over, as soon as Natalie got on the floor with the cheerleaders, Natalie asked Cari and then Alexa to teach her how to dance like that! LOVE IT, LOVE IT!]

Today as soon as i finish this post, Natalie and I will get ready to go to Natchez to go to the "big" Wal-mart to find birthday gifts for my nephew, and his step-sister, Chloe. And since on the way home last night, Natalie asked about the zoo, and since I feel guilty for not taking her after telling her we would, I will take her to Duncan Park for some kind of picnic lunch with takeout from McDonald's. It is so cool out this morning. So it looks like it will be a perfect day for a picnic!

Tomorrow we will head to Oak Grove to visit family and to take Natalie to Dalton's and Chloe shared birthday parties. This party will be at his daddy's (my brother) house; he has already had one with his mommy's family (I know this because of facebook...I love it!). Last year Dalton's "real" b'day was the day of the wedding rehearsal. So our dessert for the rehearsal dinner was a cake for him. To see some photos of Dalton's birthday from last year, click HERE.

Natalie woke up this morning asking if this was Dalton's birthday. I had to explain to her what we will do today and then tomorrow. So it's time to get off of this computer. I just felt the need to document this week's event even w/o photos...which I have...I have just been too tired to get them off the card. So stay tuned, I will post some soon....hopefully?

~~ja~~