Langley is FIVE---mermaid style!

We hit the beach for Langley's 5th birthday party with mermaids!  We celebrated a little early before we left, so that we could celebrate with our friends, have a little farewell, and soak up our favorite beach.

It was a windy one!   But so thankful it was sunny and so pretty outside that day!  

I just love this---mac daddy mason with his two favorite gals! :)

We had a treasure hunt.  It didn't last long...

A little hula hoop fun...

But most of all they just loved playing in the waves!

 Missing my girlfriends now!!

I caught Grandma and Grandpa relaxing?!  :)  So glad they could join us!

And thank you, thank you to our neighbor Chris who broke out his big raft...it was a hit!

One happy clan!

 this is the life...

 we had to improvise a little at cake time.  i forgot the matches!!  so we pretended to blow out the candles and she had to keep trying because they just wouldn't blow out.  ;)  what a trooper she is.

A quick family pic before we headed back....to rest!!  It was so nice out there though, I really didn't want it to be over.

Happy Happy Birthday Langley!!!  We loved celebrating with our little mermaid!!

Five Year Old Langley

There is something about the age FIVE that really gets to every momma--I think.  It must be the sending our babies off to real school--denial!  I love my Langley Lu and everything about her right now.  She has a smile that brightens my day.  She loves to get the giggles-the kind where you can't stop.  She is my little crafter---will color for an hour, manage to use a whole roll of tape in a day, and glue and cut anything and everything--i love her creativity and her sweet heart that is always making something special to give to someone.  She loves-loves-loves her friends.  She misses them dearly since we left Jacksonville.  I hear their names on a daily basis, and have comforted her through a handful of broken hearts since we have left.  :(  We will be sending lots of mail the next couple months!  She sincerely misses them!  She continues to embrace miss independent and being a big girl.  She recently learned how to do her own pony tail, so we are into doing our own hair.  And my bow girl has a new favorite of wearing her hair down.  She loves venturing her own path, whether the freedom of going to the neighborhood playground by herself, or taking the alternate path to meet me around the corner wherever it may be.  I am so proud of her bravery as we embrace our new city.  She has gotten so bold about introducing herself to new little girls at the pool, which didn't come super easy for her at first.  And she loves when they are "five like me"!  Kindergarten here we come!  She has lots of compassion for kitties, doggies, or any little creature.  In a toy store--if she had her pick, 9 times out of 10 she would go for the stuffed animal.  Which I have unpacked way too many stuffed animals!  Some must go!  And we have entered the doll phase.  She has taken special care of her Abby doll this past year and has wished and wished, saved pennies and pennies for a real American girl since before Christmas, so that was the big surprise for her birthday this year.  Caroline and Abby are now sisters.  There is something about little girls playing with dolls.  Makes my heart melt.  Langley loves to sing(in her own tune!) and has told us that she wants to be a 'rock star' when she grows up, although at her school graduation she said she wanted to be an 'artist'.   She seems to be a peace maker with her friends--wants everyone to have a turn and to be happy--although we aren't quite there yet with her brother.  That seems to be a bit harder for her.  ;) They love to play hide and seek, build forts, climb furniture(a no-no!), jump from whatever...be rowdy and make messes!  :)  She is my adventurous eater, or should I say, she will eat anything to get dessert ;)....while mac and cheese still remains top on her list.   Miss Langley, I love your sweet, gracious spirit that is soaking up every little bit of being five right now!!  We love you!!