Saylor Turns Seven!

Saylor's birthday always sneaks up on me....school is starting, summer is over, Labor Day is upon us, football season has started....and then BAM, one more party to put on! So, because my brother was coming into town, we moved her party to Labor Day weekend. And, because I was a poor planner, we didn't have a "big party" with friends....Saylor just had a couple friends over after school one day! And, then of course, we had her actual birthday with just us. It literally seemed like the birthday that would never end. : ) But, she loved every minute of everything!

Here are a few photos from the family party, where Lettie was the real star!

Her favorite gifts included: apron, American Girl Cookbook, LOL surprise doll things, new clothes, playdoh, art stuff! The best part was when she cried when she got her cookbook! Hahah! She'd been wanting a kids cookbook all summer and I refused to buy her one! She was SOOOO happy!!! So, now I have to choose a recipe. And, she had outgrown her apron so she's thrilled to get an apron her size!

For Saylor's friend gathering, I booked a little time at a bakery and Miss Nini helped them make cupcakes in a jar. I had found aprons in the dollar aisle and the girls put those on and made cupcakes. It was set up really cute. Girls are so different in the car....they did not stop talking!! And, at the bakery, they giggled the majority of the time! The girls were pretty sweet and easy to accommodate! When we got home, they played, and we then put together cookies in a jar for them to take home!

She got some cute gifts: a chocolate pen, a unicorn bath set, and some hair bows/ties! She's a lucky little girl!

And, lastly....the actual day of her birthday! We had a little breakfast celebration and gave her our gifts! We got her two new puppets, another cookbook, and some Girl Scout oven baking mixes! She was thrilled with everything!

Finally...she's offically seven, the celebrations are over, and we have some new stuff to play with around here! Happy Birthday to our sweet Saylor!

First Day of School!

After a very busy summer, we were ready for haircuts, routine, football, and school! I think I was more ready than any of the kids! But, ready or not, here they come....

Joey and Maddox both got new backpacks for birthdays this year. And, as I pulled Saylors old backpack out, she looked at it like "That old thing?" She then said "You mean I don't get a new backpack every year???" Hahahaha. No, no you do not!

Everyone had a really great first day! The boys were definitely more quiet than usual....school has definitely lost its flair. But, Maddox had ten new kids in his class and seemed to really connect with a couple of the new kids, which was nice. And, Joey really liked the teachers. And, Saylor sat close with Ryder, played with her kindergarten friend Brooklyn at recess, and kept busy. She came home and started playing school immediately! She really needs school the most out of all of them....she's a different kid when she's more fully engaged....

Here's to a GREAT school year!!!

Saylor's Gymnastics and Softball

Saylor has officially joined the ranks of her brothers - sports, practices, gyms, games, hurried suppers, and schedules! It's a little crazy at our house right now with 3 in different directions, but we somehow manage to get it done.

Saylor had a nice little gymnastics year...it wasn't too intense. Two hour long practices twice a week and she really enjoyed it for the most part! There were some practices that she struggled through, mostly because she was tired from school, or just simply wanted to stay home....but, she showed lots of improvement throughout the year. And, when it came time to "try out for team," she was very willing and ready! And, she made it! She was so excited when we told her that she started crying....it was so cute!

Here are some photos from her final gymnastics "performance"...she did a great job and was oh so serious! Honestly, the best part of gymnastics is that it does seem to bring self confidence and bravery so it's been fun watching her develop those character traits too!

Now, on to softball...we had a rainy softball season so a slow start but a strong finish! She had about 6 games and she looked forward to each one. She also really wanted fans at each of her games too! She would say "Who's coming to my game tonight, mom?" ha ha! She hit the ball well, her throwing improved so much, she knew the positions at the end of the season, and has started to catch the ball! Most of all, she enjoyed it so we consider that a win! And, she loved it when her brothers paid attention to her! Here are some fun photos from the season! 

Saylor's Family Birthday Party

For Saylor's bday, we held a unicorn-themed brunch for the family! It was really an easy morning- Casey's breakfast pizzas, fruit, and cake!

Some of the presents she got include: Unicorn necklace, Wellie Wisher, Wellie Wisher matching pajama set, American Girl doll clothes, a school backpack, headphones, a unicorn outfit to wear to the party, an earring organizer, earrings, a Caboodle for her doll hair stuff, new jogging pants, an American Girl doll tent and basketball uniform, and some art stuff! She had a really great day!

A few things about my six year old:
* She talks non-stop.
* She gives lots of details in her stories.
* She often has to be told to stop interrupting.
* She loves playing school, dolls, and board games.
* She loves to organize with me and decorate with me!
* She does gymnastics twice a week.
* She loves listening to her headphones, watching videos, and watching t.v.
* She likes art projects....and likes me to sit next to her and watch her do art projects.
* She loves to draw!
* She and Brynn are two peas in a pod
* She did not want to play basketball this year and did not want to try swim team.
* Breakfast is still a challenge....it's not her best meal of the day
* She's getting better at eating other meals, and more open on it...
* She's a daddy's girl through and through...
* I love hearing her after-school stories....she tells me EVERYTHING. So different from boys!
* She loves wearing her skirts and jumper to school...she does not love shorts and pants.

So far, the year of six is off to a good start! : )

Happy Birthday to Saylor!

For some reason, I felt ambitious and decided to let Saylor have a birthday party with all of the girls in her class. We borrowed some gymnastics equipment from friends, asked a couple of gals to help me out, and set out to have the best party ever.....

It was absolute chaos. Very loud. Crazy. Busy. Messy. Girly.

But, overall...it was really fun actually. Here's the proof:

I filled the two hours pretty full....we had stations, we had photos, we had pizza, we had a gymnastics movie....and I had helpers. I think we did the best we could with the time we had. We had a few parents stay and watch but most dropped off and left. Most of all, I consider it a success because I learned a lot of names and faces....these are all new kids to Saylor since she didn't go to preschool at Sacred Heart. We had a couple of little spitfires but overall, the girls were really good and had fun. Saylor was in her element....she didn't seem bossy, or controlling, or emotional so that was good. And, Brynn got to come to the party and Brynn was really nice to have around - she's just a little more mature than the others and was good about being a helper and being patient! Then, Brynn got to stay overnight and help open presents at the end of the night.

All that aside, next year, I think a little get together with a couple of girls may be more my type of speed....