Picture Monday (again!)

When Monday rolls around, I usually have a thought or two I like to share with all of you. Some times I'll have a load of pictures I need to share because I let them get back-logged. That is the case today. If picture posts bore you, I apologize. This is the only way some of our family will get to see the kids and how they're growing. My sister-in-law in TEXAS started a blog and I am so grateful for that. I have a nephew (age 3) and a niece (age *almost* 2) whom I've never seen except in pictures. It makes me very sad that I never got to hold them as babies and that I am a stranger to them. Life happens and it happened with us. Travelling with a family of five has just been too expensive for us in the past few years. The only thing we really do is go visit in South Carolina once in a while because we have a place to stay there and can drive it easily. Same goes for my sister-in-law. She's been busy renovating a home, raising two toddlers (and a high school-er!) Life happens.

Therefore, I share my pictures so they can see what I see here at The Edge. That my babies are growing and thriving. It makes me nervous because I've seen hits on my sidebar from many foreign countries. Why are they looking at The Edge? I have nothing for anyone outside this country that I'm aware of. I pray that my sharing my love for God, my children, and my country will not affect us in a negative way.

We kept Makenna's birthday very low key this year. A huge party wasn't discussed and, frankly, I was afraid to have some big blow out with The Boy still working on control. Too much action and noise tends to over stimulate him to where he appears to lose his mind. Carla offered to have supper at her house with just her family and mine. Considering we weren't going to do much anyway, I accepted. What a nice time was had! It was smooth and easy. The kids played and my son was comfortable and acted amazingly well. It was a familiar environment with people he knew and Makenna was just thrilled to have something done in her honor. Some times last minute parties work out the best.

Now I'll wrap up Miss Thang's "10th Birthday 2009"!

A quick trip to the dollar store gave us some cute decorations! This was adorable and just her style.

Do you know what this is? Come on now....I think you do! When I asked Makenna what kind of cake she wanted, without hesitation, she replied, "I want a Golden Snitch cake from Harry Potter!" I called up Mandi to see if she was up to the challenge. She found a few examples online and we modified it down. (The cakes online were HUGE!) She went so far as to make the wings on the Snitch. Add in the pink and green for some snappy color and we were set. We were not disappointed, either. The cake was delicious and a big hit with my girl!

One thing I've started doing since we moved to Georgia is the balloon bouquet. The party store we have here has the balloons with the age on them and I add in a mylar one to make it good. The kids look forward to this because it's just so festive. This was the gift table and it didn't look bad at all!

I thought this was cute. This stuff is called Pink. Paige got some for Christmas and loves it. Carla gave Makenna her own set and she was thrilled to have something "cool" like her sister. Since Paige was gone to Orlando for the Revolve Tour (Teen Girl Christian thang), she took a picture to send so Paige could see what she got. ~sigh~ This made her age in a blink and head even closer to being a teenager.

At the party store, I found some "gold" candles in a pack of ten! Well, if that wasn't a sign right there. Gold candles. Golden Snitch. Pack of ten. It was perfect, I tell you!

I have another set of pictures concerning one of her birthday gifts that will take up a whole other blog post. I wonder why on earth we get our kids stuff that will make a mess. Sometimes, I think a piece of our brains go missing when we go searching for the perfect gift! Curious yet?

Have a good Monday, Internets. Valentine's Day is rolling up quick! (That's for all the menfolk out there. I heart my menfolk readers and they know I'm looking out for them!)

What's in a Number?

So many things can be in a number. We are celebrating a very important number today.

The number 10.

What is this number 10 all about?

It has two digits. That seems to be a milestone to some. I'm sure many more numbers will hold significance...such as 13, 16, 18, and 21. But, for now, 10 is amazing.

Turning 10 means a military I.D. is mandatory. It feels grown up to go and have your very first picture I.D. made. I got my first one with a learner's driving permit.

Turning 10 obviously means you are no longer a kid. A child. A baby. You are on your way to being that glorious label called "Tween". When I was growing up, we didn't have tweens. We had kids who were major pains in the butt. I'm so glad this age group has their own personal label now.

Turning 10 means you must perfect the eye rolling because 13 isn't that far away and it has to be a skill you do without thinking way before then.

My Baby Girl is now 10.

I am amazed by her on a constant basis. Every week brings a new facet of her personality to light. We are dazzled with her smartness and puzzled over her humor. She has her Mama's expressive face (you might need to pray for her on that one!).

I think it's fitting that the middle kid, the second born, have the first birthday out of the family right at the beginning of the year.

(Some of these facts have been said in previous birthday posts, so forgive me for repeating.)

Makenna shares her birthday with my Grandaddy. I shall never forget joking with him earlier in the day and asking him if he wanted a grandchild for his birthday. Little did I know that I would do just that at 11:03 p.m. with 57 minutes to spare. I don't think I could top that birthday gift if I tried for a million years.

When Makenna was born, I literally thought my heart was going to burst right out of my chest. I loved her sister Paige so much, I just knew I couldn't love another human being that much. Makenna proved me wrong. She made it an easy decision to have that third and final child because she taught me how love could grow bigger than any thought I've ever had.

She is my peacekeeper in the family. To me, she's like a rock in the storm. The whole world can be in chaos around her and she is serene and smooth.

A family is like a puzzle. Everyone is a distinctive and important part of the whole picture. Normally, you do the outer edges first, then the middle. She is the heart of our family puzzle. Without her, our picture is not complete.

We love you, Makenna. Your star is bright and so full of promise in a world filled with shadows.

Shine, Baby, shine.

HAPPY 1OTH BIRTHDAY!

Birthday poses should be done with flair, don't you think?

This is the same shirt from last year. She's gonna wear it until she can't anymore! The Birthday Tiara completes the picture, don't you think? And, yes, she wore it to school! (note how the tiara matches the shirt. This was one of my gifts last year on my birthday from Carla. I am being kind enough to share it with my girl.)


Aunt Lu called before she got out of the door so she could give some Birthday wishes! We were running late this morning and Miss Thang was just sitting and chatting like she had all the Birthday time in the world.

A whole decade. Wow.