Happy 5th Birthday, Madeline! (Plus a bonus feature!)

Wow!  What a memorable 5th birthday you had, Miss Madeline Grace!  You had a blast with a small glitch.  Starting from the beginning of your birthday weekend, you knew you were going to be 5, and you.were.excited!  This meant "big kid" school.  This meant "holding up a WHOLE hand when strangers ask me how old I am!"  Five is clearly a big deal to you, my sweet girl!

 

Grandma and Grandpa had grand plans for your fifth birthday!  You have been begging them to sleep over at their new house since they moved.  Grandma made a special plan since your birthday fell on a Saturday.  You were going to spend the night on Friday, have a special dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, sleepover, wake up on your birthday to go to the marionette theater, have lunch out, and come home to celebrate with us!  Grandma pulled out all the stops - candles, acrylic wine glasses, cookies, and cake!  Unfortunately, you don't look so happy in these pictures because as Grandma was preparing your special birthday dinner, you took a tumble.  You were dancing, twirling, squealing, spinning, and who knows what else in your socks on Grandma's hardwoods.  You fell, landed on your elbow HARD, and screamed bloody murder.  Well, Grandma doesn't get too worked up about "injuries", but this one got her.  She knew something was up.  You wouldn't let go of that elbow.  You wouldn't smile.  You wouldn't eat.  However, she proceeded with the birthday dinner, and everyone tried to make the best of it.  Grandma put you to bed, called us at 11 PM because you were crying in pain, Daddy did some chopping an adult ibuprofen pill conversions over the phone with Grandma, you insisted you were staying the night, and back to bed you went.    

 

After your ibuprofen pill that Grandma fashioned into a kid version, you woke up all smiles even though you were still cradling the elbow.  Grandma decided it wasn't broken, but it wasn't right.  Grandma consulted with us and shared your insistence on the marionettes, and we agreed to let you carry on with your special date.  Grandma's old school nursing came in handy, and she fashioned you a sling, let you wear one of her diamond necklaces (um, Grandma?! Seriously?!), and off to the marionettes you all go!

All smiles at the marionettes.....

Upon your arrival to the house, you were cradling that arm pretty badly, and we decided to hit the urgent care.  Daddy snapped a few photos of the swollen arm and elbow area.  It was kinda nasty.  This over the top, freak out Mama is actually REALLY glad this little incident happened with Grandma and Grandpa who do not get rattled.  I would've been at the ER in a flash.

But, being the awesome parents we are, we celebrated Madeline's birthday BEFORE hitting up urgent care.  She was okay with it, and we wanted to celebrate.  SHE wanted to celebrate!  So, we did, sweet girl.

You loved your cookie cake!

You loved your gifts!

Your little sister also loved your gifts!

You loved your crown from a card.

 

Despite your little birthday glitch, you had a WONDERFUL DAY, and you were such a trooper which was no surprise to us!  Grandma and Grandpa sure did feel awful about the mishap, but falls, bumps, and bruises happen. 

 

Urgent care told us it was a broken elbow.  The pediatric orthopedic doctor told us it was a bruised growth plate in the elbow.  He put you in the cast for two weeks because you started Kindergarten on Monday, August 19, 2013.  Yes.  That's right, you turned 5 two days before you started Kindergarten, and you were put in a bright pink cast the afternoon you started Kindergarten.  It was an awesome beginning to the school year, seriously.  All the "little people" counselors, helpers, and teachers knew Madeline Grace!  You didn't need their help, but you sure had the extra help ready and waiting if necessary! 

 

Sunday, August 18, 2013 - Wild Wing fun after church to continue the birthday celebration.

 

First Day of Kindergarten - August 19, 2013 with your fancy pink cast - Madeline, you no kidding asked for a "pink, purple, and glittery sparkle cast" when the orthopedic tech asked your color preference.  He was dumbfounded & looked to me for guidance.  I said, "Nope.  Dude, she's serious. Got sparkles anywhere in here?"  We settled for hot pink!

A week into the cast, and she barely notices she's wearing it.

 

Happy 5th birthday, you sweet, sweet girl.  Our Madeline Grace!

Madeline's 5th Birthday, Part I

Madeline's fifth birthday was phenomenal!  She celebrated for days!  Part one of her celebration began today when my mom and her best friend from church, Ms. Ginny, took the girls to get manicures and pedicures, lunch, and a little shopping.  It was a glorious day for the Stewart girls.  From Grandma and Ms. Ginny's reactions, I'd say they had just as much fun as my girls did!

 

What a wonderful start to a fifth birthday!  Madeline and Amelia are so fortunate to have a grandparent living close that wants to take them out to do special treats like this.  Ms. Ginny's daughters live in Texas with her grandchildren, so my girls are her "special grands".  Ms. Ginny definitely aids and abets my Mom's indulgence of my girls.  It's a sweet little deal for everyone involved!

Eric's Birthday

My sweet fella is 37!  We celebrated just the two of us on Monday.  We went to the gun range to shoot handguns.  Eric was so impressed with my instructor that he requested a formal lesson to sharpen his already gun savvy skills.  The two of us shared a lane after his lesson, and we shot at the target.  Eric's holes were spot on, and mine, well, I still need a little practice.  But, it was fun for the birthday boy, and I was much more relaxed making mistakes in front of Eric.  Afterwards we headed to the Liberty Tap Room on the Lake for some dinner and birthday celebrating.  It was a nice "just us" evening.

 

Meanwhile, at home, the fabulous Ms. Kristen was holding down the fort with our monkeys.  She's such a sweet girl, and she loves my girls dearly.  And, my girls think she's a princess.

 

On Eric's birthday, the girls and I made him an ice cream sandwich cake complete with 37 candles.  

 

We are so fortunate to have Eric as our solo man of the house.  His patience and love for us is incredible.  Madeline sums it up perfectly, "WE have THE.BEST.DADDY.EVER!"  

Happy 37th birthday!