Rylee turns SIX!

Oh my goodness, how is my baby girl already SIX? Rylee, you have been so excited for your birthday this year and counting down the days until you are officially two hands. I am flooded with all of the typical mom emotions, like where has the time gone and she is growing up so fast. But mostly, I am just so happy and proud of the beautiful little girl you have become!

I love you and your big heart so much. You are my sensitive and emotional girl who has a heart of gold and wears it on your sleeve. I love the inquisitive side of you that is always asking questions and never stops talking. You are a protective big sister always playing the leadership role with Rayna and making her play horses with you as much as you can. I love watching your sweet relationship grow with your sister and hope you always cherish it because you truly are the best of friends. You absolutely love animals but your one true love is still horses. When you grow up you want to be a barrel racer in the rodeo and a veterinarian with a huge farm full of animals. I hope you always dream big!

It is hard to believe you are already headed into first grade! This past year has been such a fun year with so many new experiences and so much growth. You completed kindergarten and did amazing all year learning lots of things, reading on level, making new friends, going on your first field trip (to the farm), and loving every second of school. You also mastered swimming on your own and love pretending to be a dolphin in the water chasing your mermaid sister. You enjoy helping Mommy and Daddy at home with cooking, cleaning, watering the plants, washing the cars, etc. No loose teeth yet but your morning ritual is always checking and wiggling them just to make sure since you are now six. Watching you experience these ‘big kid’ milestones has definitely been bittersweet for me. I love watching you grow up into such a beautiful little girl but at the same time I wish I could bottle you up at this age forever.

I have already watched so much of the baby side of you fade away, except every now and then when I catch a glimpse of you asleep that reminds me of your sweet newborn self. You will always be my baby, my Smiley Rylee, the girl who made me a mommy, and my six-year-old best friend. I love you more than words could ever express. Happy birthday Rylee Lynn, may all your wishes come true!

Part of her birthday present was this horse painting we had done in her bedroom by a friend of ours. She LOVES it! The girl even made the big horse to look just like her favorite horse, Sunny, and had Rylee pick out both colors of the horses.

 Her birthday started bright and early when she was anxiously awaiting us to come get her out of bed for her big day. The birthday elf on the shelf made an appearance and decorated her special chair (forgot to get a picture - oops!). Then she opened all her presents (poloraoid camera, My Little Pony scooter, new horse toys/stuffed animals, and a trip to Seaworld later this week!), we sang happy birthday to her with SIX candles in her chocolate donut, and then headed to the swimming pool to play with her cousins.

 My beautiful SIX year old <3

 Excited to ride the horsey! I hope she always finds this much joy in the simple things in life.

 Family dinner at 'Animal Cafe' aka Rainforest Cafe - her request! She ordered a grilled cheese with mac and cheese lol. Whatever the birthday girl wants! Took some pictures of the animals with her new camera, made a wish in the fountain, and got sung to again with a big birthday cupcake.

Once we got home we played a game of Guess Who then all piled into her bed to read her new Barbie pet animal book. After saying our prayers she said,  "I had the BEST day today! Cannot believe I am finally SIX years old!" then checked all her teeth since to see if they were loose yet :)

Birthday trip to Seaworld

It was a good day... <3

Birthday Party - Rylee and Kate shared a swimming party together and had a blast! Rylee begged to have a horse themed party so I made it happen (the best I could). Horse cupcakes, horse party favors, and Rylee on a horse for her birthday picture. We kept it simple with just snacks, fruit, drinks, and cupcakes. The kids had so much fun swimming and after the party was over we went back home to open presents. They finally got to open their BIG present from Mera and Debbie...tickets to go see Taylor Swift in concert next month! Cannot wait to take Rylee to her very first concert and sing my heart out too ;)