Five!!

Reese and Ryan are five and I can hardly believe it.  What happened to my teeny twin babies that we just brought home from the hospital?  I blinked my eyes and they've grown into these beautiful, articulate, sassy, funny, intelligent little girls.  It's so amazing.

We have been celebrating their birthday for days now and it's been so much fun.  I love birthdays and I think it's so special to celebrate the day you were born.  I always like to make a big deal each year, but 5 seemed like a biggie so we went all out.  This post is a long one, so pull up a chair and get comfy.  Here's how the big, crazy day went down:

We decorated the girls' bedroom the night before, after they fell asleep.  It's now becoming a tradition and you may remember this post from last year.  I only had my camera phone so the pictures were bad in the low light but we had fun decorating their room.  We covered the floor with balloons and draped streamers from the fan and doorway.  They were so excited when they woke up in the morning.

After they busted out of the decorated room then we headed out the door for a yummy birthday breakfast at Joe's Farm Grill.  They gave us a $20 credit for their birthday and all 5 of us chowed down for less than $20.  We were there pretty early and had the place to ourselves.  It was a great way to start the day.

We then headed to Mimi's house for a quick visit and then off to preschool.  It was picture day and the girls were dressed up and excited to share birthday treats with their friends.  Their teacher told me that cupcakes don't go over well because kids just lick off all the frosting and don't eat the cake part.  I opted for ice cream sandwiches instead.  The parents were loving me with that one on picture day.  I came armed with baby wipes to clean everyone up but the kids did great and stayed relatively clean.  We sang to Reese & Ryan and then they each got to stand up in front of the class and talk about what they drew in the birthday journal that came home with us the night before.  Ryan told the class that she went to Airworx for her party and drew a picture of her and her cousins jumping on the trampolines with dust underneath (that's the orange stuff in her picture below).  She's such a crackup!

 

Reese told us about going to Mimi and Papa's house for dinner that evening and drew a photo of their round table where we all eat.

 

 We love ice cream sandwiches!!!!

 After school we stopped by the office to say HI to daddy and Papa and show off the birthday hats.

 Then we rounded out the evening with spaghetti dinner and Baskin Robbins ice cream cake at Mimi & Papa's house.  Whew!  What a day!  I'm pretty sure they thought it was the best day ever and they are so excited to be five.

Five things I love about our little Reesie Michelle:

1) She is cautious and a little bit guarded.  I love that you have to crack through her exterior a bit, but once you're in she'll give you all of her heart.

2)  She is the best big sister to both Ryder and Ryan.  Only one minute older than Ryan but sometimes that minute really seems to show in her 'mother hen' personality.

3)  She's so inquisitive by nature and wants to know about everyone and everything.

4)  She loves talking about God tells me all the time that she loves having Jesus in her heart.

5)  She is an amazing artist.

Reese Michelle, you are my sweet baby girl. 

I love you more than all the grains of sands on the beach.

Five things I love about Ryan Whitney:

1) There is no one funnier than Ryan.  I could write a book of all her one-liners.

2) She is so articulate and an amazing storyteller.  I'm sometimes envious of the way she can captivate an audience and tell a story.  It's a gift for sure.

3)  She is a firecracker.  Wish I could bottle up that sassiness and sell it.

4)  She's tough but still so sweet.

5)  She loves being fancy and will always smile for the camera.  Just look at that ice cream face below. 

Ryan Whitney, you are my sunshine.  I love you more than all the stars in the universe.