My Girl is 7!

I don't know who gets more excited about my children's birthdays, them or me? Birthdays are the most SPECIAL days when you're a kid (and a Mommy). More than anything, I want my children to know how special they are and how happy we are celebrating their life. I asked Karson what she'd like to do for her birthday this year. I'd suggested taking her to OpryMills and going to the Rainforest Cafe. She told me, "Nah, I want to go to Imagination Station." When I mentioned to her that we could do GloGolf, see an IMAX movie, venture into the Aquarium and or go to Build-A-Bear, she immediately squealed with joy and chanted, "Build-A-Bear!"

I was all over town today--teaching at EEP this morning, picking up donuts at Great American afterwards, grabbing a few gallons of milk at Kroger, picking up the boys at Meme's, filling up my gas tank, dropping the boys off at Emmie Lou's to play, racing home to get a shower, speeding over to the school, balancing all my birthday goodies in my arms and walking into an anxious 1st grade classroom at 2:40. Let me just offer this advice up (from a teacher's perspective), if you're going to bring in birthday goodies--especially if those goodies have to be store bought--don't waste your money on those bright, neon cupcakes. The kids WILL NOT, I repeat, WILL NOT eat them. Sure, they may lick some of the icing off; but, rarely, do I have a kid at EEP that will actually eat the entire cupcake. Bring in something like cookies, a cookie cake, snack cakes, brownies, donuts or something of that nature. You can guarantee all the kids will eat them.

All the kids sang to Karson and many of them made her the cutest pictures and wrote Happy Birthday on cards. It's sweet how much kids enjoy celebrating with their friends on special occasions.

Since it was a school night, we had to leave immediately after school. Shannon and Elizabeth joined in our fun tonight (I bought the girls matching BFF shirts in Destin so they could wear them). My mom also came for some girly-time fun!

Karson, being the planner and all, had already got online and chose her animal. I was happy that she chose the Autumn Bear. It's the cutest and will look superb with our fall decor (especially when she gets older and doesn't like it anymore).

Stuffing and fluffing the bear, kissing the heart and making a wish. I would've LOVED this place at her age and secretly love it now. Anyone want to go there with me on my bday?

Elizabeth chose the Spooky Kitty which was purple and super cute for the fall too.

The girls bathing their freshly stuffed animals. They were serious about getting them clean =)!
Selecting the perfect outfit is tough at BAB. There are many to choose from. Karson chose pink flip flops, a Hello Kitty tank, and corduroy skirt for her bear. Elizabeth chose a princess outfit complete with sparkly gold headband for her kitty. Meme purchased costumes for the girls' animals. AND, the animals, of course, needed matching cell phones to call each other on.

We finished out the evening at Rainforest Cafe. I love this place (minus the food). I have actually been to a real rain forest in Costa Rica but don't remember it being quite as cool as the one at Opry Mills. And, no trip to the mall would be complete without a visit to Claire's Boutique. Meme bought Karson a bag full of Claire's goodies for her birthday. Karson's room is like a mini-Claire's. According to Karson, it was the best day ever. Those words sure do make me happy when the birthday is over. Life sure is grand and so is BAB!!!