McKenna turned 7!

My big girl turned 7 years old on Thanksgiving day! In some ways it seems like she should be older than 7 because she seems so "grown up" now that she is the 'big, big, big sister". But, on the other hand, it seems like she should still be my little girl with the cute chubby cheeks who makes up words like "sprankaree", and "spurple" to describe her surroundings.

When you have 4 children so close together you can't help but feel like you are somehow missing out on watching the oldest one grow up. I'll be the first to admit that I have more than just a little guilt over that! It seems like every time I look up McKenna has grown up a little more. A few months go by & I say to myself "when did my little girl quit being so 'little' ". It's bittersweet watching McKenna get older.

She has such a mature countenance for someone so young. She is always thoughtful and kind, and so tenderhearted. I love that about her! She is always thinking of others & yet she has managed to find her own voice amid the flurry of growth in our home. She is also one of the most creative children I've ever met. She doesn't need much to get her creative juices flowing. This girl can make an "art project" out of plain white paper and paper clips...I kid you not! Wherever she goes she has a bag of some sort filled with books to read, journals, sketch books, pencils, and paper. This is the one aspect of her that confounds me the most. I am about the most "un-creative" person I know, so this need for her to have learning materials by her side 24/7 is very foreign to me! When I see my little artistic savant marching around with her art satchel and reading materials, I say to myself "Is that really my child?". She must take after her Daddy in that department, because God knows he's got talent!

So, here are a few pictures of my big girl on her birthday weekend.
Opening presents on her birthday.













Waiting for Daddy to find some matches.


















"Happy Birthday to You"


















At the theater waiting for the movie "Bolt" to start.


















It was only 6:30 pm, but they were completely worn out!