{and then she was five.. }

my little rowan is five! how can this be? i'm in total denial. last year around her birthday, we had just found out i was pregnant (surprise to us!), and we were two weeks away from moving into our new house, so i took it easy and said we were going to have an "off" year with the birthday's. (and much to my surprise, i stuck with it!) so we went to chuck-e-cheese and called it good. well, i don't know, this year i wasn't really feeling it either. life is just crazy right now. but truly, rowan begged me to have an ariel birthday with a piñata this year, and at the last minute, i couldn't refuse anymore. so a few days before, we sent out invites. and then i made the mistake of getting on pinterest. oops.

me, go overboard on my kids birthday? no way. but rowan went out to lunch with her daddy for her birthday and as soon as she walked in and saw all of it she said "MOM! i LOVE all my decorations!!" and then asked if i could leave them up until she turned six. so, that made it all worth it. i love her so much.

i got her cute invite from this darling shop on etsy.

i bought lots of paper streamers and twisted them up the wall to make them look like seaweed, and then cut out a ton of sea creatures and taped them throughout. i also blew up a bunch of clear balloons that were different sizes and hung them up on fishing wire so that they looked like they were bubbles. they were my favorite! i hung an octopus from the ceiling, and a couple jellyfish as well. it really felt like we were UNDER THE SEA! (wink).

it really was such a fun little party for all of rowan's little friends. and then the party continued all weekend celebrating with our families!

happy birthday rowan paige. you are the light of our lives!

{ pre-school round two... }

rowan went to her first day of pre-school (second time around) this morning! although we will miss kids village, we are super excited about this new one. \\ and momma is excited to drive 4 minutes to school instead of 34 minutes ;) // rowan was nervous last night about going to a new school, a new teacher, and new friends... but daddy gave her the sweetest blessing about being brave and all the new friends she would make because of what a special girl she was! we went and met mrs. monson before school started this morning and we feel pretty darn good about this school year. when i was saying goodbye to rowan, her eyes slowly filled up with tears and i instantly started welling up myself (i'm extra hormonal these days). in that moment, i saw so much of myself in her- we are so similar, rowan and me. the anxiety, the fears, the emotions..... i know it all too well. i gave her the biggest hug and told her that i prayed to Heavenly Father and asked him to help her be so brave at school. and she wiped up those few tears and said "k mom, i love you." i mean, that girl..... she knows how to get me. i totally felt myself hesitating to leave the building. there is just something (and i remember feeling the exact same last year) about turning your child over and just praying they'll be okay. that they'll be treated nice, that they will treat other kids nicely. just ALL OF IT! ahhhh! i'm turning crazy. anyways... she was smiling from ear to ear when i picked her up and i know she'll do great this year!

 you're gonna kill it, girlfriend!

{ farm country ... }

last year we got a pass to the aquarium, and we loved it! our pass just expired, so we decided to get a pass to thanksgiving point this year- and it's perfect for us. jord has been traveling a lot since we moved into our house, so it will be a fun activity for the girls and i. while daddy is away, we needed something to do this morning, so i decided to take them to farm country. usually i would have called up a friend to go with us, but it was last minute, so we didn't. and i enjoyed it sooooooo much! maybe i'm hormonal and emotional, (which is a huge possibility), but i needed today. i was able to enjoy and soak up every minute with my girls without being distracted by a conversation with someone else. just the three of us girls. i love them so much, and i'm so lucky they're mine.

riding the ponies was our main goal.. and it was a hit! i was actually surprised how well they both did. greer was giddy and just kept saying "woooooow!" the whole time. and rowan was brave and rode all by herself while i helped our little sister-sue.

the lady gave us a stamp on the way in, and greer was sooo happy and excited. she kept showing it to me the entire time we were there. (and wouldn't let me wash that hand when we came home ;)  oh the simplicity of life when you're little! 

"mom, these horses are fabulous!" - rowan

{ congraduation }

my little rowan girl graduated from pre-school yesterday! well... sorta. she still has one year. which i'm pretty grateful for, cause this year went by way too fast. i have been unbelievably impressed with kids village. they were rated top private pre-school for utah this year! and for good reason. rowan loved every minute she was there! they had a darling little program, where my once-shy little girl sang her heart out on every song and knew every word and action. her daddy and i were so impressed! we also got a folder of all the things rowan has been working on this year. i wish we lived closer so she could go to kids village next year too.  but anyways, congraduation my little graduate! we're so proud (and sad) of how much you've grown this year. 

love you littlest bug!

{ she's four..... }

my sweetest little rowan-bug,

today is your fourth birthday. and surprise, surprise... i'm really emotional about it. i think you might just have to get used to that happening on your birthday's, from now until forever. i've realized it's because birthday's have a way of making your reflect. reflect on the person you're celebrating. and you, my sweet girl, are so so special to me.
as i reflect on your young little life today, i just think that you are such an amazing little girl! your daddy and i were out to dinner the other day, and of course, talking about each of our girlies. and when i started talking to your dad about you, i started crying. you have such a special spirit about you, rowan. everyone around you can feel it, but since i am your mom & have interactions with you all day, i feel it times 100! you tell me at least ten times a day how much you love me, you forgive me for all my imperfections as a mom, you are the best big sister to greer, for a four-year-old you are extremely obedient, you are so polite, you say things to me during the day like "mom, i love your shirt", "mom, you look so pretty", "mom, you clean so good"... truly, you compliment me all day and it makes me feel so good! i really could write a million things about you that i love. your heart is made of gold, rowan. you're so innocent, and so pure. i hope you always keep that special spirit about you.
you made me a mom for the first time, four years ago. you were especially sent by Heavenly Father to be the oldest sibling in our family, and i believe it's because you will set such a good example for the rest of your siblings. thank you for being the precious girl that you are! truly, i thank Heavenly Father every night for you, because i learn so much from you. i couldn't love being your mom any more. and i know daddy feels the same. and greer too :) you are such a special part of our family. we love you forever and ever and ever!

happy birthday little lovie,
love mom & dad