1. pick out the perfect cake combination (in our house its yummy moist chocolate cake and cream cheese frosting with sprinkles of the birthday persons choice) make the cake the day of the birthday so the birthday person comes home from school smelling their chocolate cake goodness in the house. if said birthday person (from here on out “BP”) is not in school that day, bake the cake while they nap, so they wake up to the smell of chocolate cake goodness wafting under their bedroom door. (i so felt like pioneer woman setting up this shot)
2. decorate the house while “BP” is asleep so they can come downstairs the morning of to an exciting little surprise.
3. take advantage of your re-writable kitchen cabinets and cover them with birthday salutations. (yes, what you see is a chia pet. the turtle.)
4. take BP wherever they wish for dinner. this BP chose chuck e cheese. (we chose not to have photographical evidence of this tradition – we took the flip instead.) be all squishy inside when the other kids decide all of the tickets they win will be given at the end of the night to the BP. and get more squishy inside when the BP finds out and lights up like a chandelier.
5. OPEN PRESENTS! and EAT CAKE!
6. oh and one more thing, slightly out of order: be perfectly freaking adorable in every single way.
we are so happy, that you were given to us, so that we are the lucky humans who get to party with you every year on january 24th. forever. dont you dare even TRY to get out of it.
Adorable….in every way…
mmmmm….. such a YUMMY post! I love in the first one that “ole mammy” is in the picture too. LOL She is so stinkin’ adorable and I LOVE that her siblings gave her their tickets. So cute. You are such an awesome momma! The Chia pet is kinda cool too! LOL
awwww, so gorgeous and precious tara! :)
This is all just so eatable CUTE !!!!!
oops, sorry…..hubby’s name came up as the sender :)
Happy Birthday Anna!!! your Mommy is right…freakin adorable!!! love the uggs with the stripe tights. Awesome fashion sense!!!
Love love love the chalkboard cabinets.
unreal! 5 years, tara?!? that maternity shoot seems like just a few years ago!
happy birthday to your sweet girl!
Can NOT believe she is 5. I remember the time I babysat her (she was probably 18 months) and she loved taking things out of my cupboards. She is precious!
you’re right.
: )
it quite possibly is….
she is too adorable…and i need that t-shirt…wanna share where you got it?
xoxo,
laura t. in nj
Happy Birthday from my Anna to yours!!! Love all the photos!
Malinda and family
Happy Birthday, Anna!
You look so pretty!
Perfect…perfect…perfect! My ‘baby’ turned 4 on the 23rd. Oh my gosh…I cried.
Our tradition is similiar..but..I LOVE the decorating and baking cake while they are asleep or away. I love the idea of them ‘walking into’….that!!!! So perfect Tara.
And boy is Anna a beauty!
Oh, to be five again :)
I love the way you write – obviously, I love your photos, but what you write, the way you “feel” out loud on your blog just really gets me. My son turns 6 in two months so I just loved this post – it really resonated with me. They are getting old TOO fast! Your kids are really lucky to have such a great mom.
She is just the cutest thing ever! Happy Birthday dear Anna!
You don’t know me, Tara, but I check your blog daily for updates. Love it! Thanks for sharing part of yourself and your family with all of us.
Your kids are all beautiful. Looks like Anna had a delightful 5th birthday. My oldest just turned 7 on the 7th of Jan. Our B-day celebrations are pretty similar around here. We decorate the BP’s door while they’re asleep as well as the kitchen table. So much fun! Peace and love to you from me.
Ah… Happy 5th Anna!
What a lovely way to spend a birthday… ;)
~S
Precious memories! adorably documented!
She’s grown so fast and gets more adorable with each photo you post. My big girl turns four on Monday. Sniffle.
mmmmmmm she is such a love! i just love that second picture. sooooooo excited that it’s her day. i can’t believe she’s 5! i remember SB weeekend and you scrappin with her in your belly. she’s gotten so big and so beautiful! happy birthday little friend!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet sweet girl *sends HUMUNGOUS hugs* Can´t believe it´s 5 already…STOP growing little missy *sigh*
Sounds like you guys perfectly celebrated her day to bits…the way it should be :)))
We’re getting ready for the big #5 here, yours and mine – 1 week apart :) These photos are just awesome Tara – thanks for sharing!
I read your blog and went.. oh I wonder which one of the boys is 5…hey that doesn’t sound right… they are soooo not 5.. 5? who is 5??? Then I realised.. OMGoodness she is 5!!! Really… 5.. wait.. if she is 5.. then..hey yeah.. my son turns 5 this year too… how on earth did they become 5. Five is big… Now that I have discovered and recovered from having an almost 5 year old (who was 3 only a few months ago.. and I am really only adjusting to saying 4)… I have to wish Little Miss A a great big Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!! Hope you had as much fun as Mummy’s pictures indicate.
No no no Anna is not five. How can that be?????
Happy Birthday Anna:)
I cannot believe Anna is 5!!!!! where did that time go?!? I so remember when you were pregnant with her! Kindergarten next year seems IMPOSSIBLE!! WOW! but one thing for sure, she is soooo ADORABLE and adds so much personality to your familY! happy birthday sweet Anna!
tara
oh and LOVE the photos! esp. the last 2 WOWZERS! she’s amazing!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA! best wishes for a fun year filled with love, fun and bright colors – hee, hee! your mommy rocks in bday parties too. i love bdays t so this was a fun post that you shared with us. think it will work for a boy that is turning 39 next month? hugs and happy weekend, rach
Perfect indeed. I just love every inch of her all the time 24/7. Great post Tara!
CONGRATS!!!! xoxo
Birthdays come and go so fast….YOU were just 5. I remember your picture sitting on the dining table,Hair all curled. A milestone.I get to relive you at 5 all over again through miss Brown Eyes. Anna you are adored. I love you so…….much
Mimi
she is SO stinkin’ adorable. great photos.
She’s completely adorable – it would be very difficult to not smother her with way too much baby love every day. :) You never fail to inspire.
On a purely physical level she is absolutely perfect. A complete dream. I can’t imagine how wonderful her personality is in person.
From one Tara to another:
Hello! LOved your pics and blog…I am new to blogging and hope you can hop over for a visit!
:0)
http://daysmissedonahammock.blogspot.com/
What a precious girl! Those last two photos in the pink are beautiful! And, I think it’s great that your other kiddos decided to give their tickets to the birthday girl…now that is special! Happy birthday.
What a fun b-day!
Soooooo cute!!! Happy day little gal!! ( we were blessed with a little person to love and adore on jan. 24th aswell- he turned 7 this year )
I love ree’s blog as well- so cool that you did a ‘cast of characters’ set up- I must remember to do that one day.
I’m loving your blog! You have a such a fun way of viewing life and families. And what a great idea for a kitchen. Love the chalkboards.
I love mommyhood but still so sad when the wee ones get so big. Congrats on your baby turning into a big girl! Thanks for sharing your happy times.
Huge happy birthday to Anna!
Happy Birthday dear Anna..
Loved the pics as always! Didn’t even notice the chia pet till you said so…LOVE her expressions, and awwwwww on the rest of the clan deciding to give her the tickets at the end, how absolutely sweet, no wonder you got all squishy inside! Thanks for sharing these, and happy birthday to Anna!
from here on in you will be called “T Dub”. :)
Loving the birthday recap. The photos are gorgeous, as is Miss Anna.
And I seriously need a writeable cupboard. Genius.
WAHHHOOO! FIVE!
What wonderful family bday traditions. realy wonderful in everyway.
and oh yes! she IS so adorable!!!
what a cutiepatootie
xo
i remember when she was born.
happy birthday , anna!!!
-amy
that gap in her teeth is just the best coupled with lush lashes and chocky brown eyes.
Such a lil cutie you are raising there xx
HB Anna xx
Happy Belated Birthay to your Anna. My Anna was born 5 years ago on January 26th! :)
Tara, I LOVE that picture of Anna’s outfit and boots! Too darn cute!!