McKennas Birthday..

I can NOT believe my baby girl is NINE. It is so crazy how fast time goes by. McKenna is such a delight to our family. She is so SWEET. That is how everyone describes her to me. She is just so sweet and kind. I really do not think her mind knows how to think anything that is not good. She is so easy going and pleasant. I always will remember her giggling out on the tramp in the back yard when she was three. She lived in her butterfly swimsuit and petticoat slip. She has such an infectious laugh. She is best person to cuddle with. She is incredibly lovable. I have so many of her friends parents say that they love her example and want their daughter to take after my sweet McKenna. She is FUNNY. She can get everyone going and laughing. She has such a desire to do good. She is such a great student. Every year her teachers express how she is the model student. I can always count on her to do what I asked and she is so efficient and is on top of knowing what she needs to do next. I love listening to her play in her room, sing, and play the piano. My world would end without my McKenna. She loves helping me with Drew and loves him how I do. I can not even imagine the mother she will make. She comes in my work everyday and sticks a sticky note to my shirt and walks right out. Its always the sweetest love notes. The other day I came home from work and she had a treasure hunt for me. In the end I found a pop up home made card telling me she knows she chose me in Heaven to be her mom. Wow and I so indescribably lucky. She is the meaning of pure joy.

She was so excited for her Birthday this year. She gets to have a party with friends every other year. This year it was a family party, but I let her invite her great friend Kelly. She will be moving soon and McKenna will really miss her. Her mom complements me on McKenna all the time. She expresses how not very many children have manners anymore.

We went to Classic Skating for her party. She was so happy and loves to roller skate. I had so much fun skating with her and her cute self. She bobs her head and swings her arms and has a perfect smile the whole time while her sweetness shines through her whole body. I love my McKenna!


Drew LOVED the lights and music and had so much fun!! He wore himself right out. he was getting really grumpy when I took this picture. I told him to say cheese and he did.

Brooke and Jason came with all of their girls. McKenna was so happy they came. She LOVES her cousins.

Kelley, Aspen, and Mckenna

Raegan, Abbie, Brooke, Eden, Jason, and Haley Maxwell

Once again the crutches have come in handy. I have never known a child to love and keep using their Christmas present like its brand new every day. But McKenna has loved these babies and grabbed them to help keep her steady with her new roller skates on. Our cute mail lady Wendy tells me all the time how much she loves watching my girls play outside. She says it makes her chuckle and brings a smile to her face when she sees McKenna outside happy as can be playing with her crutches. The novelty has not worn off. Wendy tells me my girls act like everyday is the best time of their life. McKenna does have a gift at being able to have fun and really enjoy life.

Look at these beauties. Grandma and Grandpa Anderson always pick out the perfect gift for McKenna.

We had a special dinner at our house and some, sadly not all, of the grandparents came. We had a Roast and Mash potatoes, jello salad, green salad, breadsticks, broccoli, and cake all for the birthday girl. We went in a circle and I asked everyone to share a memory of McKenna. McKenna went from person to person and sat on our laps while we told her our memories. I wanted to cry when it was Sages turn. He wanted McKenna to sit on his lap. He looked her straight in the eyes and went on and on about why he loves and needs her. Wow, is was such a special moment. He told her how she was his very first friend and how he couldn't wait for her to be born. He has always loved her so much. They are truly best friends. I love it! I was so overwhelmed and proud that they are mine.

I was so proud of Aspen today. It is always hard to be little and watch all of the attention on someone else. She handled it great and was genuinely excited for McKenna. She only struggled when Nate told McKenna she was the sweetest person he knows. Then he had to go down the hall and get something. Aspen quickly got up and ran after him and I could hear her saying "Daddy, Daddy, you think McKennas the only sweet one?" It was so cute. he reassured her she was as well. But that is one of Mks special talents.

Me and My girl

McKenna and her grandma Corinne

McKenna and grandma Lorna

McKenna and grandpa Ted

Nate and McKenna. These two are a lot alike.

McKenna and grandpa Ed

15 March..

Eating at Outback with my guy...Its was SO yummy..

Nate, you are the best and always make my Birthday so special...Thanks!!

My cute friend Holly

Can you believe those flowers...Seriously??

Aspen, Sage, Katie, Drew, Mckenna

Well its that time of year again...My birthday. My family has always called it 15 March. That is what I called it when I was little and it stuck. It was one of the best Birthdays I have ever had. It started out being quite the day at one in the morning. Nate, my friend Holly, and I stayed up late watching the bachelor. I went to bed around midnight. As I was laying in bed, I started to think about my Birthday and I got really excited. I have always loved birthdays! I started to think about being alive and all of the people that I love. I really miss my friends from my old neighborhood and planned my own party for Wednesday. Pretty funny of me, I know. But sometimes you have to make things happen. So as I laid there, I started to get REALLY excited about everyone that I was going to see. Well then I started crying a little bit. I started to see each face in my mind and a rush of emotion went through my body. By now I am really crying. As I saw each persons face, my mind was in overdrive thinking of all of the reasons why that person was so special to me and why I loved them so much. I could see myself sitting with them and telling them all that I was feeling. I really felt like God was letting me feel how he loves each of them. Not one person can be replaced in my heart by someone else. Everyone is so unique and so special in such a different way that anyone else. I realized that's how God feels about us. It was quite the experience. I cried for two hours straight and never went to bed. All I could think about was what amazing people I have in my life and I would not trade anything for that experience. I am so blessed.
By seven am I had received SO many text messages. My friend Kandice called around eight. As soon as I heard her voice, I started bawling. I told her about my night and told her why I loved her so much. Talk about a great friend. I have known this girl for sixteen years. She has been so unbelievably loyal and by my side day by day. I could NOT be where I am as a person without her. She is such a great example to me. The endless hours of her listening to me and giving advice, laughing, crying together, and just loving each other are priceless. I love you Kandice, and you have no idea how much.
So by the time I get to work, I have had hours of crying. Well then my darling Friend Holly comes in with balloons and a diet dew (which was so needed because I had not slept all night) and it just made me so happy!! We were visiting when in walks a guy with the most BEAUTIFUL flowers I have ever seen. Holly and I started screaming with delight! It was so fun!!! She has been such a blessing to me. It is always hard to move but when God gives you a new friend like Holly, life seems so easy!! She has been a shining light in my life. She is always helping me with everything. She is one of those people that you know you can count on.
Then I got to go to lunch with my Zildy...talk about an amazing person. She is perfect. She is so amazing I can't even express why. It would take me a year to list why I love this girl. We of course cried at lunch. Wow I'm getting emotionally exhausted by this point with all my overflowing emotions for these girls.
Well you think it can't get better right?? Oh but it does. I get of work and go get Drew and go home. When I walk in my house I have a million kids (probably at least twenty) screaming Happy Birthday. My house is decorated with balloons and crate paper. There is a cake on the table and tons of cards. My darling kids planned a surprise party for me and cleaned the whole house and invited all of the cute kids that live here over. I was dying. Holly was there snapping pictures. Absolute cutest thing they could have done. I am so blessed to have such darling kids.
The night ended just perfectly. Nate took me to dinner and gave me the cutest card. My family all knows hes the cutest card writer. He is so good at expressing his feelings in such a romantic way. He gave me Les Miserables ticket!!! Whoot whoot. I was basically dying with excitement.
It was such an amazing day.
Wednesday I had lunch with all my friends. And yep, you guessed it...I cried. I went in a circle and told each of them, one by one, why I loved them all so much. I knew it was something I was inspired to do. Pretty incredible feelings rushed though out my whole body. We all cried. What a birthday. One like I have never had before. I am truly blessed and grateful for all I have. I am so grateful for my family and friends. I will never forget the amount of love I felt for all of the people that are so special to me. Love you all.