Party Like a 4 Year Old!

This was the first year we let Emerson invite friends for a birthday party.  We invited her entire class plus a few others.  Unfortunately, the kids at the school don't have a great track record for attending birthday parties(all the ones we have been to have only had 1 or 2 come from the school) and our other friends were all out of town this weekend.  That did not stop us from having an awesome time!  The Little Gym is a great place for a birthday party!  They plan so many fun activities for the kids and handle all the set up and clean up for everything.  Grandma, Papa, Aunt Sissy, Gransan, Aunt Janet, and Patsy all helped us celebrate along with Em's friends Page and Madisyn.  After The Little Gym, all the family came back to the house to open presents and eat to eat some jambalaya for dinner.  It was an absolutely perfect day!

When Emerson saw her invitation she said "Hey Mom, that's me!"

She got her birthday girl nametag and was ready for action!

Emerson didn't waste any time trying everything out!

Emerson and Braelyn on the balance beam

Jump and jump and jump!

I never in a million years thought I would ever seen Shawn Brooks hula hoop!

Em and Page

Em and Madisyn gave hula hooping their best shot!

Daddy and Papa taking it all in!

Madisyn, Em, Page, and Braelyn riding on the inflatable trampoline as it was inflated.

Janet, Patsy and Gransan

Grandma and Aunt Sissy

Em and Momma

Braelyn liked deflating the trampoline much better than the loud pump inflating it!

Papa and Sissy showing Emerson the instructor doing a handstand.

Grandma chasing Braelyn

Emerson loved her Ariel cake!

Light the candles,

Make a wish, and

blow 'em out!

The birthday princess looks like it has been a pretty good day!

Now it's a party!

Momma and Daddy with the birthday girl

She looks pretty worn out but there is always enough energy left for presents!

Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Kristi, Tanner and Keaton sent some Color Wonder paint and markers...she will love it!

She couldn't wait to put on every piece of dress up clothing from the dress up trunk from Jerry and Janet!

The look on Braelyn's face and how she is sitting says it all..."I am plum worn out you guys!"

Gransan and Janet getting one last birthday hug before hitting the road back to Shreveport!

Fantastic 4!!!

UNBELIEVABLE!  I know, I know, I say it every age milestone but it is so unbelievable that Emerson is 4 years old!  It is not just the number itself but just the way she acts that makes us realize that she is growing up so much these days.  We could not be more proud of our sweet girl who is always so polite, so loving, and so appreciative of anything someone does for her.  She is an amazing big sister who is so protective of her baby sister.  I love hearing her say: "Well, hi sweetheart!" in the sweetest voice when she sees Braelyn first thing in the morning!  She is still loving her ballet class and her skills are definitely improving.  She is amazing me with her letter recognition, letter/word association, and her ability to write many of her letters.  She loves to play outside, draw, color, and of course watch cartoons!  Dr. Fershtman was very impressed by her development as she is ahead of many of the developmental milestones for her age.  Her weight falls in the 75%, her height is in the 50%, and she passed her hearing and vision screenings with flying colors.  Her birthday fell on Presidents' Day this year so Shawn and I were off work and we all got to spend the day together as a family.  Unfortunately, it was a rainy day but we were all kind of in need of a lazy day.  We hung out around the house but of course had to include a trip out for ice cream at some point!  She celebrated with her friends at school on Tuesday with some pink and purple cupcakes.  Ms. Hailee is the best and they even got to watch The Little Mermaid!  She is anxiously awaiting her party this weekend!  Happy birthday sweet girl!  We love you so much!

Off all the things she could have picked for her birthday breakfast...oatmeal!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!!!

Emerson's birthday creation!

Our sweet birthday girl would rather have ice cream than cake any day!

The bowl was as big as she is!
 

Keeping with the theme of favorite things...finishing off the day coloring in her favorite ballet outfit and silver sparkle shoes!

Our big birthdy girl in her "Ariel" shirt all ready for school!

Being silly with her new friend Daniel!  He doesn't speak a word of English and Ms. Hailee said that Em befriended him from the start!

I wish this wasn't so blurry but it is Emerson and "Pagey Wagey"!

How cute!

One of their new favorite things to do is sit at the table coloring together.  Emerson colored her birthday card she got in the mail from Gran and Grandad while B colored princesses!

Almost Famous

Shawn had a great time at the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk competition on Saturday night.  His seats were awesome so he got some pretty great pictures.  It wasn't til after that we realized he was on TV!  The guy he went with had recorded it and when he got home sent Shawn a picture that he took of his TV...Shawn was on TNT!!!

Lebron James

Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade...Shawn Brooks!

Girls' Night Out

Shawn took clients to the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest tonight so we had Girls' Night Out.  I needed to run to Dillard's to pick up some make-up so we just made the mall a one-stop-shop.  I picked up my make-up, then we headed to the food court for dinner.  The girls had Sonic and I had Great Wraps.  Fron there it was on to the merry-go-round and we finished the night at the Cookie Co.  We had so much fun!  I hope they will always love a Saturday night at the mall with Mom!

It's a blurry picture but I want to remember this time on the merry-go-round with my sweet girls forever!