Happy 9th Birthday Elsa!!

It is true what they say.."the days are long, but the years are short."
In a blink of an eye, she went from this....

to this!

This past year has been full of lots of changes with our move to MN, starting a new school, announcement of new baby...but I am in awe of her resilience and how she has handled all of the stress of change.   I am so excited to see what this next year will bring!  She has such a compassionate heart that shows in her infectious smile.

I had an EPIC parent fail and didn't take a single picture of her birthday party at the waterpark.  Opps!

We celebrated her birthday with 12 of her friends at the Paul Bunyan Waterpark a week prior to her birthday (due to Memorial Day).  She had a blast.  It was fun to meet a lot of her friends from school and dance.

Then, I had to work at a satellite office on her actual birthday, so we celebrated with breakfast in bed on Memorial Day.

She had been asking nonstop for a phone (she even wrote a persuasive essay in school on why we should allow her to have one).  Aaron and I were not quite ready to move into that next step, so we discovered the Gizmo from Verizon.  It allows us to establish 10 contacts/caretakers who can send her text messages and send/receive phone calls from.    She has demonstrated a lot of responsibility with it and as our life gets more hectic with the new addition, it has proven to be very beneficial in communicating with her!  Here she is showing off her new watch!

Favorite Color:  Purple

Favorite toy:  American Girl Dolls and Calico critters

Favorite TV show:  American Ninja Warrior, Wheel of Fortune

Favorite Movie:  Indiana Jones and The Greatest Showman

Favorite food:  Sushi, St. Norbert College Food

Favorite Game:  Candyland

Favorite Animal: Dogs, Owls

Favorite book: Any kind of book

Favorite activity: dance, golf, boating, kayaking

What do you like to do in your free time: spend time with my family, play Minecraft

What is your least favorite thing to do: Clearing the shoreline at our house on the lake

What to you want to be when you grow up:  religious teacher