Amanda is SIX!

 Our sweet little Manda-Manda turned SIX!

This may sound strange, but it doesn't surprise me that she is six...more like it was odd to me that she was only five.  Weird, right?  Well, in so many ways she's always been beyond her years....her conversation, her depth of understanding of life, her heart.

She is free-spirited, passionate, tender, independent, affectionate. She loves fiercely, seeks justice, has a big, bleeding, generous heart, knows limits only by testing them and pushing them.

She is Tigger and Eyeore and back again all in the same day, often in the same moment.

She is our spice, our zest, our sunshine.  She has taught me so much about what it means to love, to feel, to care.  And simply...to have fun!

In talking about her birthday, she was really stuck on going to the zoo.  When it was clear that's what she wanted to do I checked the zoo schedule, just to verify they were closed for the season.  Surprisingly, they posted four days a year they are closed.  Alrighty, the zoo in 40 degree weather it is!

However, when the day arrived, so did snow.  Suddenly, traveling the 3-hour round trip to the zoo and walking around in the snow didn't seem like much of an option.

So after picking her up from school at noon and talking over her choices, we went with our slapped together carefully planned out Plan B.  She wanted to watch a family movie and have cousins over.

So within the hour I met my sister, picked up two of her kids, took them to the grocery store so Amanda could pick out some special snacks, things I would never buy otherwise, and we settled in for a family movie (she cried at the end...so sweet).

French toast and scrambled eggs breakfast.  She arranged her plate to look like its presented at Friendlys.  :)

 Cupcakes for school!

 While waiting for cousins to arrive, we met up with Uncle Nathan and Auntie for some pictures...and a snowball fight and feast.

 She thought she should be in some of the shots.  :)

 She really wanted to frost and decorate her own cake.

When I was tucking the girls in, Avery whispered to me, The kid is six and she didn't pick Chuck E. Cheese.  I cannot believe we didn't spend the night there...she's six!

When I went to Amanda, I was telling her how special she is, what great plans God has for her, etc, she said in all sincerity, Mom, YOU are a jewel.  YOU are the woman...the one I love the most.  You and Daddy and God...no wait.  GOD, then you and Daddy.

Of one thing we can be sure...six will be an adventure!  We love you, Precious Girl!  It is a complete honor to be your mom.