Well, the birthday girl is happily singing in bed, and we have had a very fun celebration day. It's hard to believe that four years and six hours ago, I met this precious girl for the very first time. Time has passed so fast, and as I sang our bedtime songs to her tonight, I couldn't help the tears that welled up in my eyes at thinking of the way her little face has changed and grown to be a young girl....but how much she still looks like that precious tiny baby I held for the first time on this day. Man, this is only gonna get tougher!! They grow up so fast!
So, we had a great day, celebrating with little Miss Kendyll. The best part is that she still has partying left to do! She gets her "real" party (with all of her friends) next Monday, so she still has more to look forward to.
I do wish the spring-like weather we've had for weeks could have continued for her birthday weekend....because the one thing she wanted to do today was ride the train to Fort Worth for lunch. But, seeing that it was in the 20's instead, we opted for indoor activities. We got to spend the day with our very good friends, Shea and JoLynn, and their adorable son, Jackson. So, the seven of us went to the Children's Museum, rode the carousel at the mall, went to the Disney store for a special present she got to buy with birthday money, and then to Chuck E Cheese for the ultimate birthday lunch! Tonight, we had dinner at home with a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party, strawberry cupcakes included. :)
She was VERY excited about her big surprise gifts from Mommy and Daddy---a new "bigger girl" changing table, highchair, and stroller for her baby dolls, along with all of the other wonderful surprises she got from friends and family. Everyone knows just what she likes, and she has been in birthday heaven!
Well, the singing has already stopped....I think that girl is exhausted from the fun. What a wonderful day for a very big four year old.
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Well, the singing has already stopped....I think that girl is exhausted from the fun. What a wonderful day for a very big four year old.
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The second part of my blog is still dedicated to Kendyll Grace. Since this blog is meant for her and Carlie someday, I wanted to record some things about her at this four year old mark in her little life. So, I was inspired by the blog that so many friends have done in the past weeks. The blog of "fours" (perfect for bday #4!)
So, here is Kendyll's:
Four Places She Has Lived:
1. "M Streets" Dallas, TX
2. Irving, TX
3. California (in pretend play)
4. New York (yep, pretend again!)
Four Jobs She Wants to Have:
1. Waitress (aka, a "ladyworker in a restronaut")
2. Dentist
3. Teacher
4. Mommy (Daddy asked her if she would want to be a business woman and work like Daddy someday. She laughed and said "No, silly!! I have to be a mommy all the time and cook!")
Four Vacations She's Been On:
1. Hawaii (where Grandma & Pops reside! She's been there 6-7 times...)
2. Disneyland /California (more family there. Been there 4 times....)
3. Tahoe / Reno / New York trip (when she was six months...we thought we were moving there.)
4. San Antonio & Sea World
Four Favorite Foods:
1. Anything MEXICAN! (a girl after my own heart.)
2. Popcorn (yep, my heart again!)
3. Cheeseburgers (3 for 3)
4. ANYTHING with icing! (That one's from Daddy...)
Four Places she wishes she could be:
1. In a princess castle...being the princess.
2. at Disneyland
3. In New York at Central Park (she has a book about it.)
4. At the mall (for the playground, McD's, and carousel...not the shopping!)
Four Things she Loves to Do:
1. Paint, Draw, and "do crafts"
2. Watch movies and "her shows"
3. Play hide & seek, chase, and "freeze tag"
4. Play board & card games
Four Favorite Books (this week!):
1. Hermie the Caterpillar
2. I Loved You Before You Were Born
3. Harold and the Purple Crayon
4. Momi, the Hawaiian Mermaid
Four Websites she looks at often:
3. All of the blogs (to see pictures of her friends)
4. www.bigidea.com (very recent addition!)
Four Favorite TV Shows:
1. Caillou
2. Max & Ruby
3. Dora the Explorer
4. Angelina the Ballerina
Four Favorite Movie Characters:
1. Cinderella
2. Snow White
3. Dorothy (wizard of oz)
4. Maria & Liesl (Sound of Music)
Four Favorite Toys (right now):
1. Puppet Playhouse (also serves as a drive thru window)
2. Dress-up Clothes
3. Princess Scooter
4. Pretend Food / Kitchen / Tea Set
Four Things she Loves to do with Mommy:
1. Cooking or Baking...or just making dinner
2. Reading (she is starting to like sounding out the words herself)
3. Playing School (I play the role of Mrs. Chelsea...original, I know.)
4. Running Errands (especially when little sis is not invited!)
Four Things she Loves to do with Daddy:
1. Watching movies
2. Wrestling & tickling in the floor
3. Cleaning Annie's poop in the backyard (fun stuff!)
4. Talking walks to feed the ducks
Four Favorite Restaurants:
1. McDonald's
2. Taco Cabana / Bueno
3. Chuck E Cheese
4. Spring Creek Barbeque
Four Wishes We Have for her FOURTH year:
1. That she would trust more and fear less!! (specifically---get her to swim!)
2. That she would learn even more about God as her Friend & Father.
3. That she would be physically, emotionally, and mentally ready for kindergarten by next year.
4. That she would continue to love life and experience the daily "little things" with such excitement.
Four Goals we Have as Her Parents:
1. That we would recognize her strengths already at this age, and encourage them.
2. That we will teach more about giving and less about receiving, make it more about others and less about us.
3. That we will have patience and appreciate the "kid" in her...have realistic expectations.
4. That we will be daily examples on earth of the love God has for her as His daughter.
Four Characteristics that Make Kendyll, Kendyll:
1. Her passion & excitement & love for people (her daddy in her)
2. Her timidity & fearfulness at anything new or any kind of change (her mommy in her)
3. D-R-A-M-A!!! Animated and dramatic in both positive and negative ways....and, the most expressive facial expressions I've ever seen!
4. She is a "thinker". She processes, and thinks seriously about everything you tell her and remembers it ALL!! It is always amazing to me!
Kendyll Grace, we love you the whole world full and are excited to celebrate your fourth birthday! You are a blessing from God and we are the luckiest two parents to be able to be loved by you....
9 comments:
Sweet Kendyll! I'm sad with you about her turning four but have loved being able to watch her do it with such grace. She is such a sweet girl and has such a precious heart for others. I love how much she loves her friends. She is going to be an encourager (just like her mom) when she gets older. She is beautiful and amazingly smart and such a joy to be around. Give her a kiss for me. Tell her Hollyn says, "Happy Birthday!" (really she says, "And then I'll turn 4?!" because it's all about her; not so much into the "others" thing like Kendyll is).
Parker and Kendyll have the same birthday! He only turned 2 though. We partied with friends last night, as a family tonight (at Chuck E Cheese!) and 2 more to go with sides of the the family. Kendyll sounds a lot like her mommy and she is just as pretty too! Happy Birthday!
Time does fly...I cannot believe it has already been 4 years since we sat on your hospital bed and cried as we got to experience the "1st"! She has such a special place in our family and I am so thankful she has two wonderful parents who nurture her spirit and encourage her to be who she is.
It's also been neat to see you and Mark as you have grown into amazing parents over the past 4 years. Kendyll is an incredible little girl and is such a reflection of her parenting. Thanks for being that example for all of us! You have quite the little family:)
Love you (and Kendyll!!)
Happy Birthday Kendyll Grace!! Like Cass said, time has gone so fast. It doesn't seem that long ago when I lived just a couple streets away and got to visit baby Kendyll every day!
She has grown into such an amazing four year old, with maturity and wisdom beyond her years! I know that sounds silly to say of a 4 year old, but it is so true! I enjoyed our birthday conversation, which ended with her saying "It was so nice of you to call me on my birthday!" I mean...what a great daughter you have! I hope I can teach Braden half of what you have taught your girls! You are an amazing mommy!
Love you!
That was a really sweet post, Chelsea. It made me tear up, thinking about how fast they grow! I read Kendyll's favorites to Mary Alice. She agreed with most of them, but said "Gross!" to the poop cleaning fun. She likes to read about her old buddy Kendyll.
I think it is wonderful that you and Mark are trying to identify her gifts and help her to learn to use them. You guys are doing a great job!
What a sweet girl--I adore her facial expressions in all of her pictures. Glad to hear that she had a very happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! Kaylee sends her love and says Happy Birthday too. She misses you so much! I cannot believe you are already four! It seems like just yesterday when all of us Mommies were in the nursery wondering if we were doing the right things and what each of you would grow up to look like. Of course we always knew you would be a little doll like your Mommy. You have to come see us soon. We love you and your precious family! Glad you had such a perfect birthday with more to come! Miss you all!
Sweet Kendyll! Chelsea, your post brought tears to my eyes... b/c of how fast these years have gone and what a precious little girl that Gos has used to bless all of us. :) I love your dreams for her this year...what a wonderful mom you are!!! Happy Birthday, Kendyll :)
Such a cutie! I can't believe that she is already 4!!! Cade turns 4 next month, I did not remember them being the same age. Your children are so beautiful!
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