5 Years Old!

Yesterday Tess turned 5 years old. She had a wonderful day with friends and family. Her big present from us was her new bike! She was very excited about it and we all took a family bike ride first thing in the morning (I was even still in my jammies!) This year Tess got her first "friend party." (I've decided to do them at age 5, 10, & 15. That's it.) We're lucky that Tess has a summer birthday so we could do the entire party outside. We did a pool party with ten friends and lots of water activities. Here's Miles enjoying the Slip-n-Slide; this is about as wet as he got all day. He was mostly content to just watch the other kids play.

This is a Buzz Lightyear rocket. The kids really liked being able to make Buzz fly (and then knock him down, which was not supposed to happen...but kids will always find a way to modify the game! :)

The biggest hit of the party was the Bonzai Falls, which we borrowed from Bryan's parents. It's a giant inflatable waterslide, and the kids (& adults) in Bryan's family love it. We were very excited when they offered it to us for the party. The kids loved, loved, loved it! Here's Tess taking her turn.

When I asked Tess what kind of cake she wanted this year, she said a kite. That was great! Really easy to do! Tess helped me do the candy-dots on top.

Here's the birthday girl, making a wish. (Check out the darling tutu she's wearing--that was a gift from her cute neighbor friend.)

Here is the Q&A from Tess's birthday interview:

Favorite color: red, orange-ish, dark blue, purple, pink, & white

Favorite food: Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Mac & Cheese

Favorite drink: water & apple juice

Favorite thing to play: with Miles

Are you excited for Kindergarten? No, because I don't want to meet my new teacher & I'm scared to meet new friends. I want to be with my old friends and teacher. (I have a feeling this will change after 1 or 2 days at school--Tess is really good at making new friends!)

Favorite trick from Tumbling class: headstand

Favorite candy: bubble gum

Favorite book: Berenstain Bears

Favorite song: I Am a Child of God

Favorite TV show: anything on Sprout

Favorite movie: Monsters vs. Aliens

Favorite veggie: corn

Favorite fruit: blackberries & raspberries

Favorite place to go: Dollar Store

What makes you laugh? Elias (friend from preschool)

What makes you sad? getting hurt

Who are your special friends? Jaxsen, Mari, Forrest, McKensie, Rylan & Mabry

We sure are thankful to have Tess in our family. She is a beautiful, smart, funny, kind girl who we love very dearly!

In other news, I'm trying to help Miles be more independent with dressing himself. He did his shirt all by himself today and he was so proud!

He was pretty close; the head hole and one arm hole were successful. Now we just need to work on that third pesky hole!