K8!

Kate is 8!  We snapped a few pictures in her 2nd white dress: her baptism outfit.  She was anxious to be done with the pictures after two minutes so she could get back to playing with Ava.  Eight year olds do not care much about photos and that is a good thing.

She was excited to walk across the golf course in her dress, though.

Our neighbor across the way made her laugh and we ended up with my favorite shots that encompass her charming, happy personality.

This birthday was more like a birthday week.  Monday was her friend party.  She invited 11 friends to her "Liv and Maddie" themed bash.  She is "obsessed" with Dove Cameron (her word), and so excited to come up with activities that would work with the theme.  We played basketball games, then divided into "Team Liv" and "Team Maddie" for minute-to-win-it games and relays.  The biggest hit was balloon-pop tag and match-up charades.  It was perfect having Mom and Dad there to help run the show, grill burgers and prepare lunch.

I was so happy that she invited 4 boys to her party.

The finish product Memory Boards we sent home with every kid.  In the show, Liv and Maddie pass a  "Sisters by Birth, Friends by Choice" memory board.  Brady, Mom, Dad, and I worked on making these boards in the (late) nights before the party and had the kids glue on creative buttons at the party.  I'm hoping it was more meaningful than sending them home with a bag of Walmart goodies.

Kate was the polite blend of enthusiasm and gratitude for each gift.  She received bracelets, necklaces, a purse, a slime kit, nail polish, clothing, and tattoos.

Her birthday party request: Heath Bar cake.

The day before her birthday, Kate asked me with a worried look, "Mom, will you feel bad if instead of making me breakfast tomorrow morning, Grandma makes me special birthday pancakes?"  I loved that she was so sensitive to how I would feel.  Of course, we are 100% game for Mom's cooking and she made pancakes that changed my mind about pancakes.  I learned that using real buttermilk does make a difference and cooking with love makes pancakes taste less like flour with sugar and more like a puffy pastry.  Look at those beauties.

Dad showed us how a man eats pancakes: like a breakfast burrito.  Zachary was on board for that new experiment.

I was so tied up the night before wrapping gifts that I did not contribute to Kate's posters.  Mom, Dad, Brady and Zachary all did one for her, but Kate noticed right away that I did not.  Kate, my love, you are FIERCE, SENSITIVE, LOVING, ENERGETIC, a GOOD FRIEND, MOM'S GIRL (move over, Dad), FUNNY, a GOOD SPORT, COMPASSIONATE, THOUGHTFUL, FIESTY, FRIENDLY, a MUSICIAN, LEADER, TEACHER, and DRIVEN.  I adore you, my love.

After our carb loaded morning, we spent hours making musubis for the kids' soccer snacks the next day.  The kids begged for them, and I agreed but only if they made them with me.  Zac had to make 11, and Kate made 8.  She was so happy to finish and hit the pool with Ava.

Lucky girl.

Kate requested Kalipaki Beach for her birthday.  Brady got off work a couple hours early and we made drip castles and a sand man, hunted for shells, and played a rousing game of sand tag that had the entire beach watching us and laughing.  Brady tossed sand with the paddle board, making the kids laugh and laugh.  Thankfully, the beach was almost vacant so we did not bother anyone.  I feel like I spend 50% of my time at the beach telling my preschooler, "No throwing sand," and all my effort was erased with that one afternoon.  At least it was a good afternoon.

We rushed home to shower and go to Keokis.  It was a late night and Keokis struggled a bit with orders and crowds, but we did finally eat and it was all gold when the musician serenaded Kate.  She blushed from head to toe with a huge grin and blew out her hula pie candle.

We went home and opened gifts.  She loved her dance outfit and jewelry box/stand.

Her birthday week continued with her baptism on Sunday.  Kate was nervous about getting baptized, mostly because all eyes would be on her.  She wondered if her entire body would go under the water or if she would have to do it again.  She worried the water might be freezing and she would shake.  She was afraid she would forget to hold her breath.  I talked with her, held her hands, and asked her again and again if this was what she wanted.  She was sure about it and excited.  I remember feeling the exact same worries on my baptism day.

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I loved being in the dressing room with her after.  She said she was so happy and also relieved that it went well.  Ava and Shay came in, so thrilled to help her out of her wet jumper and into her white clothes, and asking her 20 questions about how she felt.

Kate asked me and Mom to give talks.  I spoke on "certain women" who chose to be Christ's disciples.  I showed Kate photo examples of faithful women in her life, and encouraged her to be a faithful disciple of Jesus.  Mom reminded Kate of the gifts she received that would not last--the candy, slime, and nail polish--and compared that to the lifelong gift of the Holy Ghost.

We had a potluck after the service.  I told Mom that potlucks can sometimes have slim pickings, so we made food for an army.  An army came, but also contributed so there was plenty of delicious options.  So grateful for the friends who supported us that day.

Squinty family shots afterwards.

Happy Birthday Week, Katers.  We adore you and your spunky, gentle personality.