We're finally back up and running! I have a ton of back posts to write so I'll just do one at a time. Let's start with March 2nd- Abby's Sixth Birthday. We were planning a huge party on the weekend so to celebrate her actual school-night birthday, we decided to do a family night. Her school does a lot of fun things and she was so excited- I don' t think she's ever gotten ready so fast!
She wore her "Birthday Girl" shirt and some crazy outfit she picked out to school and when she got there, found a huge bow, little gift and Birthday Crown at her table. She has the greatest teacher ever.
Then, at lunch, the whole of the lunchroom sang to her as well. She was on cloud nine when she got home. For the family festivities, Grandma and Grandpa came over and we had lasagna for dinner (her request) and a chocolate cake her Grandma baked... yummy.
She was so excited to get the My Little Pony "Sweetie Belle's Gumball House" from her Auntie Carrie she had been coveting for about a year and thought they didn't make anymore...
Our gift seemed to pale in comparison... her first real bicycle!
She quickly warmed to that idea and rode it round and round in the garage all night (it was dark and rainy by that time outside). What a fun day... and there was so much more to come that Saturday... her first school-girl party! She has grown into such a wonderful girl and we are so lucky to have her in our family. She just has a zeal for life and loves to make cards and do things for others. She is so smart and reads so much and loves her brother and sister so much and loves anything arts and craftsy and always tries new foods and can be so helpful... if only we could get her to have that same enthusiasm for keeping her bedroom clean...
Lily will sit forever if someone is reading to her and gets really involved- especially if that someone is her older sister. The book they're reading here is a book Carrie wrote and had published when she was in the second grade called, "The Robbery". The kids LOVE it and it's now a Baynes family classic.
So, back to Abigail. I know, Abby has a new hobby and/or obsession every week. This week (and for a while now) it is cooking, Asterix books and taking photos. A couple of weeks ago, she took a field trip with her class to the zoo and Paul got her a disposable camera to take with her. We tied a ribbon around it for a strap and she had such a great time taking pictures of everything... Paul is waiting until there is a coupon for printing so they are not developed yet, but she has been using the family camera to snap a few shots... here are a couple of her best:
