Rylee Lynn is TEN!!

Rylee Lynn you are TEN! Officially in the double digits and I am completely in disbelief! Since the day you were born you have always brought so much happiness into our family. You came into this world smiling and you are still our sweet Smiley Rylee. Nothing compares to being a mom and I will forever be grateful for that special title you gave me. You are everything and more I could ask for in a daughter. I am so proud to be your mom but mostly proud of your kind, tender, compassionate heart. I love you and am so lucky to get a front row seat watching you grow up into a beautiful little girl, inside and out.

 

Rylee, you are such an incredible person, one with so many amazing talents, traits, and strengths. You have a heart of gold. So sweet, loving, sensitive, honest, smart, funny, creative, innocent, and full of happiness. You have always had a huge love for horses and I am in awe watching you achieve your goals, conquer your fears, and find your true passion with horse riding. I love watching you do what you love. Your other loves include Jesus, dogs (you really want a puppy), vegetables, mint chocolate chip, swimming, organizing everything, graphic novels, low pony tails, sleepovers with your little sister, and spending time with family & friends.

You are an awesome friend and take friendship very seriously. I am so proud of the type of friends you gravitate towards. You are so happy to have just a couple really close friends rather than lots of surface-level friends. You care for them very deeply and they mean the world to you. However, your number one best friend is definitely your little sister. Rayna is so lucky to have you as her big sister. You set a wonderful example, guide her, protect her, and encourage her the way a great big sister should. It is such a blessing to see the relationship you two share. Sisters are the best and I am so thankful you have each other.

During this past year you have really matured becoming more and more independent. At times, I will catch a glimpse of you and it just takes me by surprise at how grown up you are these days. It might be what you wear, a joke you tell, your sarcasm, wanting to read alone instead of with me, getting braver at trying new things, sleeping in like a teenager, etc. No matter how old you get I will always remember you as my chubby, curly haired, giggly little girl. My tiny best friend who was my shadow and mispronounced words, collected my little ponies, danced like no one was watching, snuck into my room in the middle of the night because of a bad dream, watched Mickey Mouse on repeat, and loved cuddles. You still do some of these things but I can see it slowly fading. I love this age you are at but I do wish time would slow down. I cherish every single day with you and even though you are growing up faster than I would like you will always be mommy’s little girl.

Happy double digits my sweet girl! One whole decade of loving you and what an amazing + fast ten years it has been. Cannot wait to see what this upcoming year has in store for you. I am the luckiest mom in the world to get to experience all of your special milestones alongside of you. I am so incredibly proud to be your mom and know God has BIG plans for you. I will always be your biggest cheerleader and number one fan. You are so special and so loved. Never forget that! I love you and cannot wait to celebrate you ALL day!                                                                                                    

Love, Mommy

Instead of a party this year Rylee decided on a trip and a sleepover with her cousins and a separate sleepover with her two best friends (two weeks apart). We went on a family trip to Galveston to enjoy the beach, pool, and the rainforest + aquarium at Moody Gardens. Once we arrived at the hotel the staff was so nice to make Rylee feel so special. They surprised her by decorating our room with birthday banners and balloons. They even left her a gift and a plate full of assorted treats. It was a perfect little trip just the four of us and Rylee had a great time :)

Watching the sunset with my girl <3

Rainforest at Moody Gardens - we saw monkeys, sloths, otters, birds, fish, turtles, and reptiles

Aquarium at Moody Gardens - we saw penguins, sea lions, sting rays, sharks, starfish, sea horses, and lots of fish. They even got to touch the sting rays and starfish.

Happy 10th Birthday to my Rylee Lynn!!! The morning of her birthday she woke up to presents and the kitchen decorated from the birthday elf on the shelf (still a tradition she believes in and I am happy she does). She requested donuts and a banana for breakfast then quickly opened gifts. She LOVED everything but was most excited to get a watch and Breyer horses. Had lots of special phone calls and Facetimes from family then we went out to lunch to Freebirds (again her request) and got a free birthday dessert. After lunch we headed to the Waterpark pool to meet her cousins and opened their gift (crocs and croc charms)! We ended the day with her dinner request (all the veggies and rice - my little vegetable lover) and chocolate cake. It was a great day celebrating our sweet girl who made us parents TEN years ago. I hope she felt super special and loved because she most certainly is! <3

Cousin sleepover :)

Best friend sleepover - Rylee had so much fun with her besties from school! They are such a sweet group of girls! They played, listened to music, made friendship bracelets, ate Taco Bell, decorated cakes, opened gifts, and watched a movie. So proud of the friends Rylee has chosen in school. They all are so well mannered, kind, and inclusive. Hope they stay friends forever :)