Lily's 6th Birthday

Lily's birthday fell the day after we arrived home from NY. 

With all of our guests and travels and the end of school, I hadn't really planned anything.

Instead, we just had a low key day together, starting with the pool.

A slow Monday morning at the pool is always good! 

She and Peter swam together in the big pool and had a grand ole time in the baby pool "making potions".  It reminded me of years past.

 (can you tell who is in charge?!)  :(

She would want you to know that Benjamin was there and he slept for TWO HOURS!  

It was quite lovely to get the extra time with them!

Sissy is crazy for this baby brother of hers!

I mean, his toes are delicious!!

 Then she did the slide, over and over and over and over. 

 We went to ChickFilA for lunch.

I love seeing the moments when they can forget about themselves and be in their imagination (blessed self forgetfulness!).  It is always, always a needed reminder and prayer for me.  I am much better when I can forget about myself.

Then HomeGoods shopping, cake and balloon selecting, swim meet, and home for pizza and cake with Goo and Pop.

I learned more about Lily on her birthday this year.  I am not a big gift person and have learned I am not a big party person.  So we clearly went super simple.  She said to me during the day, "It [my birthday] doesn't feel any different."  And maybe part of that is growing up and maturing and realizing that a birthday IS another day, there isn't real magic to it.  BUT I also realized that I think it WAS disappointing to her that there wasn't more hoopla surrounding her day.  She is ALL ABOUT cards and gifts for others (its not totally my thing- sounds awful, I know), she is ALL ABOUT decorations for others' birthdays.  And we just flew by the seat of our pants, me trying to make it the best I could that day.  So I realized that I wasn't loving her in the way she'd like to be loved.  Mike and I frantically drew her magic marker cards, etc, etc.  

She has had a girls day since then (another post) but it was a good realization on how to better love her while she is under my roof.  :)