Birthdays

Happy Birthday Xiola!

Published on: by catballou24 1 Comment

Our baby is 5 today.  Where did the time go?!  It seems like just yesterday she was born in that old rambling farmhouse, the dining room to be exact.  Yes, she was a homebirth baby, born in water with her family surrounding her.  She was amazing!  She has been our snuggly, cuddly girl ever since.  She loved being carried, and we found it so much easier to use baby carriers and slings, that we never used a stroller with her.  I do believe she’s ridden in one maybe twice in her life.  You could always find her on one of our backs, happy as a little lark.  Our red-headed princess, who is so wonderfully close to her brother and sister.  Yes, she has her moments to be sure, but her spirit has always been so incredibly gentle.  She is our artist with the amazing imagination.  And now she is a big girl.  The dimples in her hands are all but gone, her baby chub turning into longer limbs.  Her smile just melts our hearts.  She is funny, and is an excellent joke teller!  Yesterday was her big party, the biggest one for her to date as she’s never really want much of a fuss made over her.  But this year she wanted to mark the occasion with a blow out!  After all the food was eaten, all the kids sleepily went home and sister was even in bed, Xiola sat up with Jason and I creating with her new play dough, new stuffed horse on her lap and a look that of such contentment that it brought tears to my eyes.  I didn’t take a photo, we barely dared to breath as we watched our littlest turning into a big girl right before our eyes.  The adventure with her and her sister is ever so much fun, and we are looking forward to what the next 5 years will bring…if only we could slow it down just a little.

My sister and I (me in the back), with our little ones still cooking.  This was the month before Xi was born.
Two months shy of her First birthday.  
 Birthday number 2.
 So proud of her new skateboarding gear on her Third birthday.  She loves riding the ramp with Daddy.
 Her love of horses was fully ingrained by the time she reached her Fourth birthday.  
This morning…my big girl.  
Happy Birthday Xiola!!  You bring joy to everyone you meet.  We love you beyond words.  Thank you for choosing us….xoxox.
Peace!  

Birthday Weekend

Published on: by catballou24 14 Comments

Just a quick photo round-up of our weekend and Xi’s Birthday Party! She had a blast. It was a horse themed gift extravaganza and she was so excited. She is in-love with all things princess and ponies, so that’s what she got! After everyone left Saturday night she kept telling me thank you for her party. She fell asleep with a smile on her face and in her heart. Thank you everyone for making it such a wonderful time!

The day this little girl was born was one of the happiest of my life. I felt that way at the birth of all my kids and my grandson. Xi’s birth was a bit rougher than her siblings as she was posterior and a pound bigger. She was born at home on the farm we lived on at the time, in a nice warm tub of water. That day was so exciting for all of us. Lola was with us and boy was she excited! She’s an amazing little soul and we are so fortunate to have her in our world.

Happy Birthday my darling daughter. I cannot believe you are 4 now! We all love you more than words will ever express and are so proud to be a part of your world. Thank you for choosing us…

“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children

.” Gandhi

“Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.” Kahlil Gibran

Enjoy the photos.

William and me…I’m in-love with my gorgeous granson!

Xi is pretty crazy about him too!

Xi and her birthday crown I made. This will grow with her through the years, and every year I plan on adding something else to the embellishments.

Playing with a couple of her gifts.
Pinata treats!

We didn’t use a stick to get the treats out of the pinata as Xi didn’t want it “hurt”, so we attached ribbons and the kids all pulled them at once.

Hanging with Grandpa.

I can’t help it, he’s just too darn cute!

Xi’s new dress from Auntie Grace, and cowgirl hat from Grandma Martse and Papa Dennis. This was on Sunday, her actual birthday and we were leaving to go to brunch.

The actual Birthday day ensemble, dress and boots via Auntie Grace. Hat from Grandma and Papa.

Cousins!

Lola helping Xi with her cake.

Part of the party crowd!
Doing her “scary cowgirl” impression.

Listening closely to something daddy is telling her.

Peace!

Birthday Present Finished

Published on: by catballou24 4 Comments


Well, part of it anyway. I still have the crown to make tonight but I can use the machine for most of that. This was the heirloom piece I wanted to finish for Xi’s 4th birthday this weekend. All hand-sewn by your’s truly. It is made out of 100% wool felt and batting with cotton embroidery thread. Legs are button jointed so she can sit up by herself. What a truly fun craft this was to make. I poured alot of love into this. Our baby is entering a whole new era of her life and I felt it was truly important to honor this transition with a piece made from mama’s hands and love. The pattern is Mimi’s Hand Sewn Felt Doll and I found it at The Purl Bee. So many wonderful ideas over there, check them out!

Sunday is the actual birthday, but her party is tomorrow. I still have a ton of stuff to do to get ready, but I really think she’ll have a blast. When did my little one grow so much? How quickly the time passes, I try to enjoy each and every moment of our time together. Even the frustrating moments can be secret lessons for both of us and sometimes some of the strongest memories.

I’ll have a post dedicated to her on the actual day of her birth…but for now I wanted to share with you all – before she even sees it – the birthday present finished.

Peace!