I dreamed of painted trees and crepe paper last night. I knew it was in my immediate future. Today was Little Chick's official 8th birthday. We wanted it to blow her socks off, so we've been dreaming of ways to bless her.
Not sure if you do this too, but I get a little nervous about birthdays. I want so much for them to be meaningful. I want my girls to feel special and loved, and for it to make this huge memory deposit in their brains forever! No pressure or anything;)
So we decorated.
Right before the bus came we hung banners, scattered balloons and draped pink, yellow and blue crepe paper all over the house.
We were all waiting for her outside...cameras in hand. She was crowned the "Happy Birthday" girl and had to wear her embarrassing headband!
The sweet little neighbor girls came over for a game of beat the butterfly senseless!!
Then we walked into the house and Little Chick got the biggest surprise...magic all just for her!
But it gets better!!!
Then we made her close her eyes and we took her upstairs into her room...where momma had been very BUSY. She begged for me to paint her room when the painters were here. She wanted my special touches, so I promised her that I would do it up big for her birthday.
I tossed and turned last night not really knowing what I was going to do for her. I knew it involved a tree and some chalkboard paint, but I didn't have a picture or anything to guide me. Despite that it totally came together. Ribbons and banners gave it the added pops of color and whimsy. She LOVED IT!!!
My generous neighbor friend across the street made a beautiful butterfly birthday cake for her, and as we sang Big Chick played happy birthday on her viola. It really couldn't have been any more special. I can't tell you what joy it brought to my heart to see her beaming and saying over and over again what a perfect day it was.
These are the moments that as moms we shine. These are the moments that we can step out of our boxes and go that extra mile. It's love in motion. It's tangible. It's magical. It's vital. It's exhausting...but oh so worth it:)
Have a blessed day.
176. magic wonderland in my house
177. chocolate cake and vanilla bean ice cream
178. lunch in the school courtyard with my family
179. a child's room full of love
180. seeing generosity and unselfish love in my big chick
So awesome your little chick is so blessed to have you as her mama. Birthday parties get me all kinds of nervous I want so badly for it to be a special special memory that lasts a lifetime forever letting them grasp just how much I truly love them. You did a beautiful job on her room I am jealous will you come paint mine?:)
ReplyDeleteI hope I can be a creative, wonderful momma like you are for my Ethan! What a great day :-)
ReplyDeleteOh my! What a wonderful surprise for her. Perfect. Amazing. Congratulations on it all coming together.
ReplyDeleteforgive me, but all i can think of is, "she painted that wall in the mere hours of little chick being at school?!!!"
ReplyDeleteyou are an amazing mama. and artist.
happy birthday little chick!
Love this. You can just feel the happiness. So glad your sweet little chick had a wonderful birthday.
ReplyDeletei LOVE the expressions on her face!!! yay for capturing the creation of the moments & then her experiencing the moments. true raw joy!
ReplyDeleteps-i love your canvas & red clock on the mantal. yay for red. looks so pretty
you're a good mama
Perfect!!! You are a WONDERFUL mama!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Little Chick. Mama did it just right. 8 is great. Love the surprised look pics. wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis was so precious!!!
ReplyDeleteHer smiles and face of surprise were priceless! =D
I love that you made her a bracelet. I so often see women with such talent that is never given lovingly to their children.
ReplyDeleteI want to spend the night in Little Chick's room.
Happy Birthday!
My little girl turns 8 in ten days! (Didn't those 8 years fly by?!) Her approaching birthday has me all kinds of panicky! I, too, want their special day to be perfect and make them feel extra loved. I need to get on the ball and get ready for it! You did an amazing job! Your daughter's pictures showed joy on her face. And the last one was a look of pure contentment. Your extra mile sure paid off!
ReplyDeleteWow!! How sweet is this...
ReplyDeletehappy birthday little chick!!
What a wonderful special memory you've given her. She will pull this day out and cherish it long after she's grown.
ReplyDeleteSO FUN!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your little chickadee.
ReplyDeleteHappy, happy Birthday.
I cry every time I come here.
I am glad your parents could be there on her Birthday!
Oh Becky ~ I have tears in my eyes right now. You are such a wonderful Mama ~ you really are and I love the smile on Little Chicks face ~ it says it all. xo
ReplyDeleteThis made me all teary. I think I love, best, the photo of her slung over her daddy's shoulder. Happy Birthday, Miss Thang! You are blessed!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great surprise..and I love the bracelet u created for her. How very special this little chick must feel. :)
ReplyDeleteA birthday she'll NEVER forget. Love the wall and bracelet. And the photo of her walking in and seeing everything...priceless! :)
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing and fun way to celebrate!! HB, little chick! and way to go, momma!!!!
ReplyDeleteher face is completely priceless!!! that's awesome!!! you're a good mama!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful memory you've all created for her!
ReplyDelete~Chris
You are such a wonderful loving mom:O) The joy shows on her face:O) Thank You for sharing such a special day:O) Happy Bday!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the sheer joy on Little Chick's face - her smile just lights up your blog this morning! All because of your efforts - how blessed those girls are to have you two for parents! What a beautiful mural....love the 3D of the crepe paper!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to little chick!
ReplyDeleteBirthdays make me nervous. too!
I want them to be EVER-IMPRINTED in my kids' hearts/minds...and it is a TON of pressure....but, I wouldn't have it any other way.
You did a WONDERFUL job on her room....love the owl. :)
oh wow!! Little Chick is truly blessed!!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE everything! Wish it was my bday! ;o)
Happy, Happy Birthday Little Chick!!
Love your pictures, and love your painting! And I love "love in motion" - what a great description of your post, and the way life should be.
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful. I love your family and your love for each other. Good job mom!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Little Chick! What an amazing way to celebrate her day & how special she is!! That huge smile on her face says it all:)
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet - her smile can't get any bigger than it is!
ReplyDeleteOh how fun. My oldest loves when we do things like that for her.
ReplyDeleteLOVE!
ReplyDeleteI hope that we can make memories like this for our Bitsy as she grows!
You are a wonderful example of a good Mama!
Biz
SO PRECIOUS!!! I LOVE every-little-thoughtful-detail!! What a wonderful celebration!! - and Little Chick's face!- just kinda says it all!!
ReplyDeleteGood job mom!
Blessings!
Jill
Oh Becky! What a wonderful memory you made for her. You and your family are such blessings to each other.
ReplyDeleteI've been following along for just a bit now and I wanted to say AWESOME b-day for your girl! All those special touches- you painted that tree in one school day?! Amazing. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteIt looks little chick had an amazing birthday!!! She is one lucky girl!!!
ReplyDeleteWell that looks like a fabulous birthday celebration!!!! I love her facial expressions...you really captured her joy.
ReplyDeleteBecky, you are the BEST mom! My mom always fussed over us and I tell you...she is a hard act to follow and as an adult I've always thought "Don't you know it is MY BIRTHDAY?" (tomorrow!) ha.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lot of love and happiness.
She will remember. xo, Cheryl
The look of pure joy on her face is just priceless and worth every ounce of effort, I'm sure! Happy birthday to your little sugarlump!
ReplyDeleteHappy 8th birthday to your little chick!! you did a great job making her feel special, but something tells me she already knows she is special, cause you make her feel that way on a daily basis! tangible love baby..amen!! xo
ReplyDeletei wish I would have had a momma like you...your chicks will be telling their chickie's when they are grown.
ReplyDeleteguess this post didn't come to my email? embarressing
you are inspiring me to put some more " love in motion "
happy birthday to you...happy birthday to you..praying God's love be planted firmly in the soil of your heart on this very special 8th birthday little chick...your bracelet is way cool...what a cool momma you have;)
xo
what a special day, we do birthdays big too in our family too, it was our daughters 14th the same day as your daughters!!!! Love the tree on the wall, i am so going to do that when we stop renting! be blessed, love to see a family full of love and having fun!
ReplyDeleteThat got me all choked up... what a special day for a special little girl. She will remember it always.
ReplyDeleteyou have the BEST family. i want in.
ReplyDeleteso do you mean to tell me you did that whole wall in just a few hours??!! holy mother! your sweetness and love spills over into every bit of your life...your friendships, your art, and obviously your mamahood. you are the sweetest ever!
ReplyDeleteps: did you remember we live a state away again?? just in case you forgot... :)
Awwww happy birthday sweet little chick. What a great day you planned for her...love it!
ReplyDeleteYou are THE BEST mom ever, Becky! What a sweet way to celebrate little chick's birthday! You created some wonderful memories today..... :)
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie
I love her expression in the pictures! You did an amazing job making her day extra special. I'm sure she'll treasure the memory always. The mural you did in her room is awesome!
ReplyDeleteWell, you did it again. I'm sitting here at 5 a.m., crying like a big 'ol donkey because I'm so happy for your family. The pictures were more than a thousand words...and those pictures will be in your family's hearts forever...even if you never see the actual pictures again. They are permanently stamped in your heart where you can look at them any time you wish. Thank you for all you do, not just for your family, but for sharing these beautiful moments with us.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me while I go get a kleenex....
ReplyDelete..*dabbing at tears, blowing nose*....there all better.
This was so cute and precious - her face, ahhhh, I love it! Totally an amazing moment captured!
PS> I love the Happy Birthday head band!!!!!!!!!!
awe, what a sweet and special day you orchestrated for her! by the expression on her face it's apparent she was THRILLED with everything. good job, mama! :)
ReplyDeletei love birthdays too~
Oh happy birthday sweet little chick!!! Please give her a little squeeze from me! :) You did it UP RIGHT girl!
ReplyDeleteHer sweet faces throughout this whole post were PRECIOUS!
ReplyDeleteOh, this was just so sweet! Funny how I could be so choked up over photos of a family I don't even know. I guess once you're a parent, you recognize that kind of love when you see it. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you are amazing!!! Did you paint that tree while she was at school? Wow!
I love what you did! The painting and all of the birthday happiness. I'm trying to do it big for no.3 this year and it is definitely an effort. I keep thinking lots of streamers and pennants but I'm still not sure how it's going to all come together.
ReplyDeleteJUST LOVIN THIS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a special birthday. It brought tears to my eyes. You can tell she feels so loved--you can see it in her face. Love it all! What a great mama you are. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh YES, it so worth every minute of it! Please tell Little Chic Happy Birthday for me. You are such wonderful parents Becky. It is wonderful that you put so much into celebrating your children. They are so blessed!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job on Little Chick's mural. She will forever have this vision of love on her wall, in her mind even when she is 100 years old.
You are amazing Becky!
♥Lee Ann
wow... SO beautiful. all of it. what a grand day! and her expression in that one shot! unabashed bliss!! you did it! perfectly special!! {belated} happy birthday to little chick!!
ReplyDeletexo
The look on her face actually choked me up. Pure joy.
ReplyDeleteThe tree looks amazing and I loved the streamers.
And thank you for having me really listen to the video of Ryder's birthday. I really appreciate that.