Ella is 5!

Happy Birthday to our sweet little Ella! We can't believe she is a whole hand now! :) 5 just sounds so old. In just a few months she'll be starting Kindergarten. Its so hard to believe! It really does seem like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. Here is a trip down memory lane.....our family the week of December 22, 2003.....

Just a day or two before delivery, Aubrey thought of this all on her own. A bouncy ball under her shirt=I have a baby too Mommy! We were so excited to meet her little sister.

Ella arrived! December 22, 2003. 12:54pm. 7 lbs. 15 oz. 20 1/2 inches long. She was beautiful and still is. Just ignore the picture of her mother...

Big sister giving a kiss. They had a really special bond from day 1.

Family photo right before Christmas

This one just makes me laugh.

Here are pictures from this week....crazy how much 5 years changes things!

Ella was so excited to take cupcakes to school a few days ago. Her request, "White icing with rainbow sprinkles!" Mission accomplished.

She came home from school beaming. Her teacher had given her an "Its my birthday!" sticker, a book and a pencil. Ella said she had a great day at school!

Since we are celebrating Christmas at home early this year(we are traveling Christmas Eve), we bumped up Ella's birthday celebration to this past Saturday(which she didn't mind at all, the sooner the better in her little eyes:) We had a little family party at home with a Tinkerbell theme. I was still not feeling well, so Joey baked and decorated the cake(and we had to postpone iceskating, the activity she chose, until today. Darn this sickness!). It turned out awesome Joey. Thanks for helping me so much!

The beautiful birthday girl with her beautiful fairy cake

Yummy!

Cali hamming it up for the camera. I was taking pictures of Ella and then Cali started smiling with her nose scrunched up trying to get me to take her picture too:)

Lined up for presents. I had put the presents against the wall and the kids just walked over and sat in the empty spaces. It was cute.

The first present Ella wanted to open was the present from her big sister, Aubrey. Aubrey used her own money to buy little Polly Pocket pets for Ella. Aubrey was so funny shopping at the store. I heard her say things like, "5 dollars for that?! What are people thinking?" It was an eye opener for her as to how much things cost:) Ella loved her gift and immediately gave her a big hug. It was the sweetest.

Ella's grandparents from both sides sent her awesome gifts. She loved them all! Thanks everyone!

She opened our gifts last. Here she is with one of her most favorite things: tattoos. Start 'em young. Thats what we say:)

And she got what she wanted from Mommy & Daddy: a real computer! Its one of those V-Tech learning laptops. She is having lots of fun with it.And here is a picture of Cali, just being Cali:)

Happy Birthday Ella! We love you so so much! Our family wouldn't be the same without your cute little personality in it. We hope you enjoy ice skating today!