{Janey's Un-Sleepover Sleepover Birthday Party}

so, after last years party this one was a breeze.

and super fun to plan and get ready for.

janey is all about snuggling and being cozy.

one day we were brainstorming ideas for her party and decided that an "un-sleepover sleepover" would be just perfect! 

all the coziness and chit-chat of a sleepover but without all that sleeping over part. :)

in her invitation she asked the girls to come dressed in jammies, bathrobes and fuzzy slippers. they also brought along a favorite stuffed animal (or three) to cozy up with.

we set up the basement with comfy places to sit and chat and had all the games and snacks ready. 

when the girls arrived they filled out a little survey. silly questions about dream jobs and things that "give you the willies". we sorted those questions into groups and had fun talking about everyones answers. they also wrote down the name of their stuffed animals they brought and they had fun matching the name to the animal and hearing each others stories about where they got them.  it was also good to hear we weren't' the only ones that had to travel all over town looking for left behind lovies!:)

then it was blanket time!

janey loved passing each blanket out to her friends. she was so proud of them and took so much time picking out just the right print for each girl that day at the store. sweet! everyone was super surprised and happy. it made alllllll those cuts worth it.:)

when we cut them out we tied just the bows for each of the corners and one per side to hold them together. the girls tied the rest and chatted and laughed the whole time. i really loved that part!

a few games and more chatting before presents and cake.

is that a happy smile or what?

she kept coming up to me all through the party thanking me and telling me she had so much fun!

i love that little girl!

happy party day janey!

glad you had so much fun...you deserve it!

i love you,

mommy

{Happy Birthday Janey}

happy birthday to our sweet baby jane!

it was the weekend of celebrating that's for sure!

i love this little girl.

the one who seems to be not so little these days...even though she longs to be. 

first, an evening in our pj's  with friends.

and someone stole the camera for this one...i think it was riley...but how sweet.

*****

now for the family party a night before the real day, because this year her birthday fell on a monday and monday is a 3 hour dance night for her. and really...that's gift enough in janey's book!:)

 i love this pic so very much!!

a new scarf and a snuggly robe. her "big" gift hadn't arrived yet...even though i ordered it well before Christmas!!:( but it's handmade and it's coming from spain! that's reason to wait though right...?:)

yep.

i love these two pics as well...

boy am i blessed.

now if only i had brushed my hair and put some lipstick on!!:0 haha

*****

on her real day...a small dish of mint chocolate chip ice cream and a candle. and lots of silly faces and smiles!

i love you so much janey.

your heart and your laugh.

the way you always want to snuggle.

and sit with me.

and talk to me.

and be with me.

i hope with all my heart that will always be so.

 happy birthday my sweet baby jane!

{Janey and Her New Flute}

janey has wanted to play flute since forever!
we have such an amazing music program in our schools.
the band teacher starts with them in 5th grade and then follows them all the way through high school! i love that. they build such a rapport and he's awesome too.

janey and i went on saturday to choose her instrument (the students were suppossed to come with two choices in mind in case one didn't work well for them)...but of course she only had one choice in mind. he let her play a note...which sounded beautiful on the first try...he looked at her long graceful fingers and those perfect lips and said..."you'll be a perfect flute player!" to say she was beaming was a HUGE understatement! i think she might have jumped up and down just a bit in the high school music room!:)

it took a few days for her flute to arrive.
getting her up for school that day was a piece of cake i might add.

anna can you see your skirt?...she wanted to channel your musical energy today!:)

that first note rang through the house.
we can't wait to hear more beautiful music janey!

we love you janey brooke

{A Picnic, and Jane}

today was so beautiful!
like i "almost want to light a pumpkin spice candle" kind of beautiful! we woke up to 52 degrees and zero humidity.
windows were open.
sky was blue and cloudless.
picnic basket was packed.
we were park bound and we couldn't wait.
(although we did have to wait for our late sleeper...riley didn't come down till 10:45...that's 12+ hours of sleep...kind of newborn-ish if you ask me!!:))

after three back-to-school haircuts we were off to check out the 5th grade class lists! janey was so excited and nervous. me too! as usual.

riley already spotted jane's name on the list we were hoping for! at first jane was all smiles and giggles....

then after looking at the list more closely and realizing that her bff was no longer in her class...and she didn't see any real girls she knew or had connected with before...her face turned to this.

and that just breaks a mama's heart!
searching for the right words and just giving her hugs, kisses and some space. praying for a smile tomorrow. and having a feeling it will come.

hope your day was happy, 

and filled with little things to love,

cindy