All About Ellen, June & Frances: EVB: 5 Years Old!

Ellen is 5! ... Halfway to 10! ... Starting Kindergarten within the year! ... 5! I can't believe it! This seemed like a big-deal birthday for our big girl (and for Mom & Dad). Ellen had been counting down the days to this milestone and, thankfully, I think it was everything she hoped it would be.

Ellen celebrated with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins during her party, which we had the day before her actual birthday. It was Muppets all around and Ellen was SO excited to wear her favorite Muppets shirt. She had so much fun playing her cousins (it was a warm enough for the kids to run around outside!) and, of course, opening presents. Ellen did a great job opening the card first and thanking her guests. I think her self-consciousness got the best of her because Ellen was very stoic while unwrapping her gifts even though I know she was bursting with excitement inside. (One dead giveaway was when she'd frantically tap her little feet on the ground when she opened gifts that had been on her wish list!) Ellen received so many nice presents and it was a great day to celebrate our little lady with her most important people.

On Ellen's actual birthday, she was excited to wake up to find five streamers hanging from her bedroom door and loved having a special breakfast (cinnamon rolls per her request). Dad took the day off from work, which was extra special since it meant he could come to Ellen's school with Mom & June to help hand out treat bags to her friends. Ellen's teachers made Ellen a nifty crown, she got to be the "Frog of the Day" and her friends serenaded her with "Happy Birthday" and "May the Dear Lord Bless You."

For dinner, Ellen picked macaroni and cheese from Noodles & Company for her special meal. We all enjoyed some birthday cake that was leftover from her party and then finished the day with presents from Dad, Mom & June. SO MUCH FUN!

We can't wait to see what this next year has in store for Miss EVB! (Also, not sure if we'll stick with monthly updates now that Ellen is 5. Her major milestones seem to be spaced much farther apart at this age, so maybe I'll think about doing bigger updates at the half-year and year marks and/or on an as-needed basis. I think I'll continue with the monthly chair pictures, though, because it's fun to see the physical transformations throughout the year!)