My baby girl turned 5 on December 10th. She had a great day, very, very busy! We started out the morning decorating Christmas tree cookies at her school. They were the most decorated trees ever with lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of sprinkles. Rowland came to help, and the kids seemed to have a great time.

Jia at School with Some of Her Classmates

Daddy and Jia Snuggling

I ran home to take a short nap because Carson stayed late to make up a test. As I was walking out the door at 3:35 to pick up KeKe and William from school (so they’d get home in time to celebrate Jia’s birthday), I got a call from the director of Jia’s preschool. “Kitty, this is Susan.” “Hi, Susan!” “Are you going to pick up your baby today?” “Oh, my gosh! I totally forgot about picking her up!!! I’m on my way!” I was supposed to pick her up at 3:15. Total lack of brain cells!!!!! How could I forget my baby on her birthday? I ran to get her about the same time that Carson was calling to say that he was ready to be picked up. Thankfully, he offered to walk home. Amy picked up her kids and came over to my house to set up everything for the party while I went to pick up Keke and William who were now in the office as the last children to be picked up from school! We all rushed home, and Amy had saved the day!

The Smiths and Englishes decorated cookies and opened gifts at our house. None of the kids seemed to notice that their mom had played Dingbat of the Day! There was a lot of laughter, and lots of cookies decorated and eaten!

All of the Kids Around the Table Decorating Cookies

Jia Opening Gifts with a Lot of Help!

The final stage of the birthday party was a trip to Dairy Queen. You know you have good friends when they’ll go to Dairy Queen for dinner! The kids enjoyed it, though, and that’s what it’s all about!

Jia and Her Best Buddy Cayden

Once dinner was over, it was off to the preschool for my last preschool performance! Jia was a beautiful angel, although she didn’t look like a very happy angel. She doesn’t like standing in front of people and performing. I think that she still is afraid that she’s not going to do the “right thing.” In the beginning, she seemed okay.

Jia as an Angel

By the time the performance was over, and she had reached us, she burst into tears. She didn’t want to sing and be up on the stage. Poor girl! She was totally stressed. We quickly took off the angel costume and headed home!

I’d like to say the day was over, but at 8:00, we still had one last project - our Christmas pictures! The boys changed shirts. Carson even wore a collared shirt for the first time in over a year! I fixed my makeup and curled Jia’s hair a little while Rowland, exhausted, set up the camera. About 10 pictures and two locations later, we decided that we had “the” 2007 shot.

This was the Runner-Up Photo

And Here’s the Winner!
William, Rowland, KeKe, Kitty, Carson, and Jia in Her Model Pose

Thankfully, we were finally able to put to bed December 10, 2007, the long-awaited 5th birthday of our youngest princess!! Happy Birthday, our Angel!!!