4/17/16
3/19/16
Ella's March Madness Party!
Ella is such a baller.
We rented out the gym at a YMCA for Ella's March Madness Party and it was so much fun!
We played all kinds of basketball games and had the jock jams playing.
We ate pizza and basketball cake balls. Ella wanted the mascot to be the porcupines like from Liv and Maddie. I made the table covers look like a gym with the logo in the middle.
I made the scoreboard using her birthday as the time. 3-14-08.
Everyone went home a winner with a trophy and their very own basketball.
It was a slam-dunk party for sure!
3/14/16
Happy Birthday Ella!
Today my baby Ella is 8 years old!
I love a birthday morning donut cake!
She got some sweet Jordan hightops that she broke in immediately and we surprised her with a new big girl bike!
She picked Dave and Busters to celebrate her real bday. (March Madness Party coming soon!)
I can't believe Ella is 8 years old. Some days she still seems like my baby Ella. She is such a light and I am so amazed at the beautiful and brave girl she is growing into. She has a quiet spirit and I am starting to see the areas she really embraces and opens up in. She's shy. Not rude, just shy. Just like her mama was/is. I have learned to be patient and let her get comfortable and open up at her own pace. I have recently noticed that Ella is drawn to little kids and it makes my heart swell. She is my mini me. Still, I would pick sitting at the kids table over the adults table. Ella has the kindest heart and puts others before herself. She pours herself into whatever it is she is into. She gives it her all and tries her hardest. She is a fighter. She has had so many struggles in school with dsylexia and she has overcome so many challenges that her teacher is blown away. She has a love to grow closer to God and to serve him in how she treats people. She sees people hurting and wants to find a solution. She always talks about how there should be more free houses so no one would have to live on the streets. She always wants to help the homeless guy on the side of the road. She has a heart to serve and I pray God uses her to do big big things. You are the love of my life Ella Reese and I can't wait to see what this year holds for you!
2/27/16
"The First Day of School at the Red House School for Girls" A Movie by Avery Barstad
For her birthday this year, Avery wrote a script and wanted to direct, film and produce it at our house. She wanted to keep it small and just invited a few friends who she thought would enjoy filming a movie.
It really was amazing to watch. She is very into details and wanted the set to be perfect. We had a lot of the pieces that made up the "school room" but every little extra thing I added, she would get so excited about.
I made pillow cases for everyone to sleep in and sign with the logo for the movie and Jeff got her a directors chair that we put her name on in gold ink to jazz it up a little.
She had a very distinct vision and I think that it went pretty much just like she wanted it to.
The girls were SO SWEET and let Avery tell them what to do and they just wanted her birthday to be special and just what she wanted.
The filming lasted until 10, but everyone was such a good sport.
But they did go to bed right after. Acting, y'all. Not for the faint of heart.
We put the pizza and birthday cake in the wrap room for the "Wrap Party".
And everyone sang to her after it was over.
And Lindsay and Allison made the party and hung out for most of it for Lindsay and Allison spent the night. I couldn't have done it without them!
And there was a huge dance party after it was all over!
She has the full movie so I need to get that out so she can look at it before her first oscar nomination for best director and reminisce on her first movie.
On her actual birthday, it was the Super Bowl and she was so excited to share her birthday with such a huge sporting event. She loves every kind of sport just like my grandmother Momma Jo and its so much fun to watch her enjoy it. (She was rooting for the Broncos but thought that the Panthers were going to pull it out. She was ecstatic when the Broncos actually won.)
Avery you are such an incredible person. I am so very thankful to know you. I am so so thankful to get to be your mom and watch you and your creativity love and encourage everyone around you. You are truly a light. Your smile and your heart are so big and so kind. Thank you for how you live your life and for letting me a part of it. You are the best surprise I could have ever hoped for in that positive pregnancy test just over 10 years ago.
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