Happy 6th Birthday to Marin Elise

My biggest girl turned 6 years old in January! She is such a special part of our family: she is a peace-maker, the most generous person I know, a very hard worker, the first to offer to help, and has the best smile I've ever seen. I love this girl, what a special gift she is to all of us.

The theme for the parties this year was HEARTS, and let's just say it was super easy to find decorations right before Valentine's Day :) We had a family party with grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins. Daddy made the heart cake.

On her actual birthday, the birthday girl chose Cocoa Puffs for her special birthday cereal, the whole family went to The Spaghetti Factory for lunch, and then Marin got to go with her kindergarten friend Joanna to a special gymnastics class in the evening (it was "bring a friend" week).

Then a few weeks later (once Mommy was back on my feet), we had a little birthday lunch with a few of her girlfriends from kindergarten. These little girls are a riot. When it was time to sing, I told them "belt it out ladies!" and you have never heard a LOUDER version of Happy Birthday in your life. Crackups, I tell you. They had fun just racing around the house exploring Marin's pad, then had some yummy lunch and dessert, opened presents and worked on a coloring project together. The perfect birthday playdate!

Who are we kidding here, the child had an entire birthday MONTH! She deserves it,  Happy Birthday Marin Elise!