Birthday Party for Marley

This year for Marley's birthday we ventured into foreign territory...hosting a kid party! We have had parties at our house, but this was the first time going somewhere and renting a place out. 

Marley kept saying she wanted to have a "ninja birthday party." What does that even mean?! We decided that a trampoline park was a good fit, where she could jump around and do "ninja moves" as she calls them. 

The Saturday after Marley's birthday, we hosted a party at a trampoline park near our house and it was such a blast! So many of our family and friends were able to come and Marley was so happy. There was something for everyone to do, no matter their age. It made my heart happy to see the kids having so much fun. 

We had a room to ourselves for pizza, and to do cake and presents and we didn't have to do any set up or clean up, which was my favorite part.  

We won't do big parties like this every year, but it was such a great experience for everyone, I'm glad we did it.  

  

Marley Turns 5

Its hard to believe that my little baby girl is now five! Marley was so very excited for her birthday, she was literally counting down the days. 

I grew up in a family where birthdays were pretty special, so I'm doing the same with our girls. On the morning of Marley's birthday I decided to leave a little early for school and stop by our favorite donut place. 

Marley went to school, told anyone who would listen that it was her birthday, and brought cookies to share with her class. We picked her up afterwards and headed to Chick fila to have lunch and let the girls play. Jason took the day off so that he could spend time with us, and Marley was very excited to have him there when school got out. 

After lunch, Marley opened presents and loved getting new toys to play with. Jason took Marley to the dollar store to spend some birthday money that his Grandpa sent, and it was funny to see the things she chose with her $5. She picked a giant birthday hat, red baton, box of starbursts, an orange ball, and a heart balloon. 

To keep the party going, we then headed to Grandma's house! Both our girls LOVE when we go there, especially since they have two dogs. We had lots of fun visiting with family, Marley had her favorite dinner (Mac n Cheese), and then we had cake. 

I loved getting to celebrate our sweet girl on her birthday, she is truly one of a kind and I love that about her. Marley is spunky, silly, tenderhearted, and SO smart. 

She loves to sing, play with friends (especially cousins), make new friends, be outside, ask questions, draw detailed pictures, and make her sister laugh.   

We are so happy to have her be part of our family and I can't believe how grown up she is now. Every day I am surprised by something she does or says, and I think to myself "How did you get so big?!" 

She will do great things, and I can't wait to see her take the world by storm.