Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Birthdays and Recitals and Dentists

This picture of Ella was taken just 6 short years ago.   She's has this laugh that lights up my world.  She's snuggly and thoughtful and tender-hearted.  She's always the first one to say "hi" and makes new friends where ever she goes.  She's spontaneous and full of surprises.  She's true blue.  She tells you like it is, whether she loves it or doesn't.  She's imaginative and creative.  Her plate of food or her drink always has a little extra flair and she asks LOTS of questions.  She leaves a trail wherever she's been.  Now she's 7.   

Unfortunately, this is what I was doing the day of her birthday.  And I was in no mood to party.
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_505/12742689145UOADo.jpg
So instead we celebrated by doing something special each day for several days leading up to her birthday.  Grammy made her a special Sunday dinner and Ella got to chose the menu.  Shrimp and bacon-wrapped steak!  Yum!
 
 And a special confetti cake, Ella's request :)

 Abby's first violin recital was the day before Ella's birthday.  Here is Abby with her violin teacher, Mrs. Collins.  Abby loves violin and did a great job on Twinkle Variation by Suzuki.

while Ella was in school that day I decorated the dining room.  Paper chains made from 

construction paper we had and

tissue paper rainbow made from this tutorial

grand total?  One Dollar!

then cake mix and food coloring

and pretty dishes

and a stack of colors

and frosting

and then, her smile when she walked in the door...

the reason

I do
 
what

I do :)

a certain 3rd grader informed me the rainbow colors were not in Roy G. Biv order

Ella didn't seem to mind


as usual, each gift was her "favorite"

and she even got a visit from her Grandma!




7 comments:

Barb said...

Cute post..Neat decorations and cake! Enjoyed Abby's first recital...loved being with Ella on her 7th birthday...ONLY ONE ELLA...She's adorable!

~Carla~ said...

Hey Janie, this is Carla, found your blog off of Deanna's I think. Hope you don't mind me checkin' up on your family. Your kids have grown SOOO much. Your family is just beautiful. LOVED Ella's face in this post. It is priceless...you are such a good mom! ~Carla~

The Dickinsons said...

Happy Birthday, Ella! You are a sweetheart! I'll never forget when you wrote me that nice Thank you note when I passed out Rice Krispy treats at your Jr. Church. =) It looks like you had a VERY Happy Birthday! Loved all of your fun expressions! Your cake was adorable! And your Mom did a great job decorating your house for your party!
The Hausmans said that Abby did a great job playing at the violin recital! Darla is so thrilled that Abby and Samantha are taking lessons for her same teacher! =)
~Heather~

The Dickinsons said...

Forgot to say that I drooled when I read about y'all eating Grammy's SHRIMP. YUMMMMMMMMY! =)
And that picture of Ella when she was a baby is adorable! =)

Heidi said...

So cute!!! She is getting so old. Which I'm sure is not what you want to hear. :)

Daryl Hausman said...

Cute birthday pics! Happy Belated birthday Ella!
Abby did a great job on her recital! Loved it.
NH~

mmsbryan said...

Dear Janie, What a delightful little Ella you have. And the personality came through when she saw the birthday dinning room. I would loved to have seen her face when that innocent white cake was cut to expose such color for a colorful little girl!

Thank you again for the wonderful gift of your time and talent taking the pictures of our family time in honor of our 50th and the most unexpected wonderful gift of the album of those pictures that you made for us.

Just thought you might find it of interest, if you read Heather's post on "Our Daily Bread" that the missionary offering mentioned was sent to our friends the Brocks in Papa New Guinea. I secretly remembed that last New Years Day that you were being such a blessing to us. Who could know that one of the little girls in that family would grow up to give so much back to us and that our attempt to give is still giving in return. Love, Martha S. Bryan