Nica's Fifth Birthday!

Nica was awakened this morning by her sisters singing:

Today it is your birthday
and we sing to let you know
that you will be queen for the day
whatever you say goes!

The girls were ALL excited for Nica's birthday! Pancakes for breakfast, as is Dad's Saturday tradition. Then the girls watched music videos until their mean mom made them do Saturday chores. Then it was outside to play with friends!

Lunch was fruit and cake. Long story made short? Nica's cake fell apart, so I cut it in half and the girls at the part I cut away.

Then, the neighbors were out swimming in their pool and invited the girls to join them. Hip Hooray! Nica, Miranda and Megan swam with the neighbor girls until the wind picked up and the sky looked ominous and Nica's lips were blue (even though the water was 80-degrees!).

Then, more playing with friends until Dad brought home the requested birthday dinner: Burger King.

Skype with Grandma and Grandpa while opening presents. Opened all the new toys (with all her sister's help). Then back outside to play with friends while Travis and I set up the hammock Nana got us this summer.

Birthday cake with sparking candles. Nica picked the colors and was happy with all the swirls, but she was most excited to have little bunnies on top of her cake.

 The girls dashed outside to play in the fading light with friends again. Miranda helped Travis pick tomatoes and cucumbers, and swung on the hammock until she heard her sisters and friends were playing in the front. She dashed to meet them, but the all congregated back at the hammock and started playing on it, with squeals of delight.

 The sun is going down earlier and earlier. I love the sound of the kids squealing and laughing, the sounds of feet running, and happy shouts calling out to each other. Summer is awesome.

Another beautiful sunset seen from the backyard.

Nica planted these seeds in the spring when the outside was still covered in a foot of snow. Then we transplanted them to these pots in May, and finally, on her birthday, her first boutonniere button flower bloomed!

Remember this from a year ago?

Yep, I think they have grown!

Little stinkers!

They sure can be cute!