Lottie's 5th Birthday Party

A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated my big 5 year old!!  We threw her a party at Conkers.  Conkers is a wonderful place to visit with kids.  I can't wait to go back this summer to try out all of their outdoor activities, ropes courses, etc.  It is in the heart of the National Forest. 

Conkers has an indoor soft play / jungle gym area where Lottie's party took place.  She had the entire place to herself to play with all of her mates from school.  You have no idea how wonderful it is to see her making so many new friends and adapting so incredibly well to her surroundings.  She has truly exceeded my expectations in her ability to adapt in school, home life, socially, etc. since moving to England.  I am so PROUD of the little lady she is becoming.  She is such a special little girl! 

Here are a few photos of Lottie and her mates celebrating her 5th birthday!

Lottie & Evie (her BFF)

(Girls are so sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Lottie, Evie & Lily (she is my neighbor's daughter and a trip, so funny)

Matthew and Stella

Stella was under the weather that day (we almost had to leave her with my in laws b/c she was ill, but I felt bad thinking about her missing her sister's party) She basically said that she wanted to go home the entire time we were there.  Poor babe!

 



 

My big girl!!!  She's so beautiful!!

Vickie, Owen, Me, Stella

Please look at Stella "twirling" her hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The kids had a spread of sandwiches, chicken nuggets, sausage rolls, veggies, breadsticks and cake

Here is a little fun fact for you.........................

In the states, the kids are served cake and is eaten right after the birthday girl or boy blows out the candles.  In England, the kids don't eat cake right after the candles are blown.  Each child gets a piece wrapped up in a napkin and put in their party bag to take home.  I suppose the reason for that is because they all get sweets and little cakes served with their sandwiches, etc.



The kids also do not open any presents at the party.  I suppose it would take too much time away from the actual party itself, so it's done when you get home. 

 

Lottie received lots of nice gifts from her friends.  We are very lucky that we are surrounded by so many wonderful friends in England, both old and new.

 

A big thank you to those that came out and celebrated our big girl! 

 

xxxxxx

Lottie Turns 5!!!!!!!!!!

For Lottie's 5th birthday, we took her to Birmingham, England for a day of shopping, food and getting her ears pierced.  :)

Getting her ears pierced is something that she has never shown any interest in doing.  To be fair, I don't think she would have gotten them done anytime soon had it not been for me telling her that I got mine pierced when I turned five. 

That was all it took.  From then on, all she wanted to do was get them pierced.  She was so brave.  She cried for just a couple of minutes, but soon after she was back to her bubbly, lively self.  

Here is a quick video and a few photos of the day she turned 5!

 

Lunch at Handmade Burger Company

 

Wouldn't be complete without a cone (the ice cream in England is probably the best I have ever tasted in my life!)

 

Both kids fell fast asleep as soon as we got in the car to go home.

 

I still can't wrap my head around the fact that my little Lottie is 5.  She is truly a gift from God.  She is smart, funny, kind, sweet and has a heart of gold.  She is such a great kid.  I am so proud to be her "mum". 

 

 

Stella's First Haircut

About a month ago, I took Stella to get her very first haircut.  I really wanted to wait until she was 3 before I cut it, but I just couldn't take it anymore.  Plus, Stella has developed this terrible bad habit that I call "twirling".  She literally sits all day long twirling the hair on the right side of her head.  She twirls it around and around and around to the point it gets knotted and I have to literally pull her finger out of the twirl.  All day long, I scream, "STOP TWIRLING".  It has gotten to the point to where her hair is breaking off on the right side and falling out.  When I pull her hair back into a ponytail, you can definitely tell where her hair has come out on the right side.  It drives me CRAZY!!! 

Moving on.......... Stella's hair was very uneven.  It was really quite long in the back, but short around the front part of her head.  I thought that with a good trim, it would even her hair out all around.  In fact, it really thickened up her baby hair. 

Lottie got hers trimmed first to show Stella just how easy it was.  She did so great.  She giggled the entire time.  She was super cute. 

Here is a look back at Stella's first haircut.