Let me start by being Captain Obvious as I state this fact...

The boys had birthday sleepovers many times, and I don't recall one time that there was as much drama as we experienced this past weekend celebrating Emmalie's 8th birthday.  I think we were a little naïve about things.  Of course, how bad can having a birthday slumber party really ever be, right?!  Well, let me share a little something to all you mothers of young girls... not only can some of these innocent, beauties cry at the drop of a hat... but some of them can be really mean trying to make the other girls cry.  WOW!  The good news is, we all survived.  (Well, the boys were smart and stayed over at friend's houses so they didn't have to suffer a night of Estrogen and hormonal tears).  I definitely must've forgotten what grade school girls were like.  And I'm even more fearful now about what middle school will be like.. UGH!

Seriously though... Emmalie's birthday party was a success and they all had a great time.  So good, in fact, that two of them cried and fought with their mothers about having to leave.  They had manicures, pedicures, facials, hairstyles, a fashion show, a talent show, watched movies and laughed A LOT! 

So, tomorrow officially marks the day we became blessed with our first daughter... Little Miss Emmalie Irene.  (Though she's not hardly the premature little girl any more).  Emmalie has grown to become a very intelligent, caring and kind-hearted young lady.  Her outer beauty is nothing in comparison to her warm heart and inner beauty.  We only hope that she continues to keep these wonderful traits and hold them dear as she grows older. 

THEN:  Emmalie was born at 35.7 weeks and weighed 5 lbs, 3 oz at 18.5 inches long.

NOW:  Em is among her taller classmates at just under 51 inches tall.  (She won't let me share her weight, but let's say it's two quarters + three pennies worth!).

THEN:  Emmalie made sure she was the center of attention by crying.

NOW:  Em makes sure she is the center of attention by singing.... NON-STOP!  (Good thing she has such a pretty voice when she sings).

THEN:  Emmalie's favorite foods were fruit and anything fruity... and anything that shouldn't go in your mouth!

NOW:  Emmalie's favorite foods are fruit and anything that tastes fruity (plus cake!).  Guess some things never change!

The last eight years have been a true blessing to us. 

The summer is half-way over already... WOW! It's been so fun and busy and just great! I absolutely LOVE making memories with my family. Devin came up to me the other day and said "Do you remember that summer we...?!" Hard to believe he'll be 21 yrs old next month. And to know that he remembers those summers we spent finding creating (and often inexpensive) ways to have fun with the kids makes a mother's heart melt! This has been another one of those summers...

We've made it through softball and T-ball season (even with me being the coach for one). Notice the stylish ways our darling duo decided to show up for softball. LOL! Definitely trend-setters!



We've made it through football camps, summer conditioning and officially into the Junior year of high school and all of the NCAA hoopla that comes with having a son that wants to play college ball.



We've made it through trips to the zoos and picnics in the park.




We've taught two little girls how to fish. (YES! They bait their own hooks, cast their lines and even throw fish back into the water. Now if we could just teach them to stop letting the 10-lb catfish swallow their hooks, we'd be in business!).




We've watched moves, played games, spent time with family, went for walks and even mustard up the guts to let one teenage boy go on a week-long vacation with a friend. (That was the longest week of this mom's life!).

I hope that everyone following our journeys as a family has been able to make some great summer memories too. Nothing is better than realizing how much those memories mean to our kids now that they are older. Now... on to the last half of our summer. Which basically means... school supplies, school clothes, haircuts, schedules and all that other not so fun stuff.

Until next time... :)