Pop Pop's 70th!

My dad turned 70 this year, and everyone headed to Rockport over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate. The girls had a 5 day weekend, so we were able to make it a mini-vacation. Getting there was a little rocky (multiple delays meant we arrived at nearly 5am!), but once there we had a great time. Mimi had requested that I make a book for my dad like the one I made for her on her 70th...pictures and letters from everyone in the family. My dad loved it and because I had to print it twice (made a mistake in one version), I get to keep a copy, too! We spent our days there as we usually do: boat trips, eating lots of seafood, playing in the canal, and hanging out. Besides celebrating my dad, I think one of my favorite things about the trip was getting to spend some serious quality time with my nieces. One night found us (me, Britton, Avery, Maddie, & Sydney) laying on the grass for hours, looking up at the stars and talking about all the stuff that nieces and aunts are supposed to talk about: crushes, first kisses, friend drama, dreams. Ashton was the bartender for the party and he was adorable and took his job very seriously...and made quite a bit in tips! Marra took a video of Britton and me singing "Riptide" by Vance Joy at the top of our lungs and dancing like crazy people...have I mentioned that I love my nieces? My nieces and nephews are the main thing that keep the possibility of moving back to Texas alive and well. Pics (there are no pics of Mimi!!! The couple I took were blurry or had eyes closed...can't let that happen again!):

And we end with my favorite pic of the trip, taken during the aforementioned night under the stars:

Midland Fair and American Girl Tea Party!

Every year, Midland hosts a fair and it is wild! Nearly every classroom is transformed for games/crafts/activities and outside is a bonanza of zip lines, climbing walls, bounce houses, and go-karts. Each class meets in the town square, and then there is a parade led by the 5th graderes on floats and everyone walks to school to start the fair It is a blast.

Then in May, our church hosted an American Girl Tea Party to raise money for the Mission & Outreach committee. The girls learned how to make fleece ponchos for their dolls, and we enjoyed tea and snacks. It was perfect timing since Lauren just sent a giant box to the girls with all her old American Girl doll stuff!

Eight is Great!!!

I know I say this every year, but I can't believe Delilah is eight years old. You are so fantastic, sweet girl, and I couldn't ask for a more wonderful daughter.
Some things about you right now:
-you love all things "fashion" and Noelle calls you 'the fashionista.'
-you love to read and will sneak a light under your covers to read after you're supposed to be asleep.
-you care a great deal about rules and fairness and it upsets you when people don't follow the rules.
-you are in choir and jazz and love performing.
-you LOVE to be outside and are so happy that the weather is turning warmer now.
-you and Noelle continue to grow closer and closer and watching your relationship grow and deepen is one of my favorite things in the whole world.
-you do everything with gusto, as you always have. People comment all the time after they watch you sing in church, (or do anything, really), about how you give it your all.
-you dance and sing and skip and twirl all the time. You are never still or silent.
-everyone loves you. Mrs. Nigg told me that in class, you are the girl that everyone wants to be friends with.
-your best friends right now are Emma, Liv, and Mia. Especially Emma. I love the way you and your friends support each other...you attend each other's dance recitals and plays and are more thoughtful with each other than most women three times your age.
-you love any type of craft or artistic activity. You have a wall in your bedroom that has become an exhibit wall of sorts; one day it will be covered with colored butterflies, then a few weeks later you will cover it with fashion drawings, then a few weeks later it will be covered with spirographs, and so on with whatever is your current artistic obsession.

You requested a painting party for your birthday this year. So we turned you and your friends loose in the backyard with canvases, paint, paper, brushes, chalk, bubbles...and a hose. You all had a BLAST!

Liv couldn't attend your party, so the next day I took you, Liv, and Emma to get pedicures and ice cream at Longford's. The three of you were so excited and kept calling it your 'fancy spa day.' I loved listening to the three of you sing in the backseat. Such sweethearts.

Happy birthday, Delilah. I have no doubt you will have a fabulous year. We love you!!!