Seven

I can scarcely comprehend what I'm about to type, but that doesn't make it less true.

My firstborn is now seven years old.

In many ways, life before Natalie -- my pre-Mommy, pre-baby life -- seems as distant and cold as the moon. Yes, I had an exciting job. Yes, we lived in paradise. Yes, we had great friends.

But until Natalie came along, we didn't function as a family. We didn't stop to see beauty in the everyday.

We didn't love well.

Natalie changed everything.

Viewed through that lens, my life didn't really start until Natalie was born. Maybe that's why each birthday she celebrates feels like a huge milestone to me. "Hey, look at us, world! We're seven now!"

Plus, she has a summer birthday, and I can't think of a season that lends itself better to birthday parties. Summer is happy and delightful and sweet and fun. Just like Natalie.

Her party this year was at an indoor water park at a nearby community center. Originally, we thought about hosting a gathering at our favorite lake. Natalie loves to swim, and she would be at the lake every day if given the chance. (Like daughter, like mother.) But we live in the Midwest, and the weather here is fickle. I didn't want to risk a party at the lake only to have it storm at the last minute.

The party's theme was Flip Flop Flun Fun. (You try to say it without saying "flun.")

Of course, a flip flop party needs a flip flop cake. I copied this design, and since I promised via Twitter to post pictures of the results, here you go:

Not perfect, but I don't seek perfection for my kids' birthday cakes. I seek yumminess. Boxed cake mixes are not allowed. Nor is frosting from a can. Cakes at my house are made from scratch and topped with homemade buttercream. As it should be.

This year, we also made homemade ice cream to go with the cake -- chocolate ice cream with leftover cake, sprinkles, marshmallow cream and pieces of Reese's peanut butter cups thrown in. Because a birthday isn't a birthday if you don't have 2,000 calories at dessert.

At the party, we decorated flip flops...

...ate snacks and cake...

...dodged the baby who was swooping around the room, drooling in people's hair, courtesy of Dad.

And the pool. Oh my goodness. The shrieking. The laughing. The shrieking. (Seriously. Seven-year-old girls have some ear-splitting shriek potential.)





I believe Natalie had a memorable time. Something about how she kept saying, "This is the best day ever!" all afternoon.

Of course, for Corey and me, the best part was celebrating the gift of her. Natalie is kind and adventurous and creative and sweet. She's a terrific big sister, always eager to play with Teyla and do something special for Connor. Thanks to her, my walls are decorated with drawings and paintings and projects that are as beautiful as she is.

She's the best reason to love well. Happy seven, sweet-pea.