Turtle Power Birthday!

Our baby girl turned 6 almost two weeks ago!  As I mentioned in my last post, she has grown leaps and bounds academically - reading, writing and all.  School also helped her come out of her shell this past year.  Before she was painfully shy, but now she'll talk to most anyone (as long as the mood strikes her).  She loves to keep busy, going from one activity to the next.  She has become quite the artist as well.  Her drawings have really advanced and she loves to make pictures for people.  Keira still loves both her brothers even though she and Ari are having a bit of a rough patch right now.  She and Asher get along well when she's not trying to mother him and I know next year will be hard on him with her at school full time.  Keira is most sweet when we allow her to help with grown up tasks like cooking and prepping the table for meals.  When things don't go her way, it takes a while to get her out of her funk (to put it lightly).  We had a doozy of a time getting her to bed just last night, but after a good night's rest, she was happy and helpful again.  Keira loves the idea of Karate/Taekwando due to her love of all things Teenage Mutant Turtles and Power Rangers.  I'm seriously considering signing her up as an outlet for her.  She was able sample a class earlier this month and loved it!  

(Please excuse the cell phone pics.  My phone is always nearby and I completely forgot our camera on our Kansas trip.  At least the party pics are decent!)

While we were in Kansas for the Fourth of July, Keira received her gifts from Yia Yia and Papa.  Her long awaited TMNT water bottle and some fun new puzzles!

When we got home from our trip and collected our mail from our neighbors, there were two packages waiting for Keira.  The Lego Movie from Auntie Jill and a TMNT backpack and lunch box from Grandpa and Bobo!

Then came the big day!  A celebratory waffle before heading to the movies.

The kids helped make brownies for our after dinner celebration.

Keira chose our favorite local Tex-Mex restaurant for her birthday dinner.  Probably because of the mechanical horses out front.  The kids even brought their own quarters this time!

Birthday brownies and Ari the pyro takes control of the candles!

This year, Keira adopted the practice of pointing to herself when we would sing her name.  Silly girl.

Next up, it was time for her TMNT sprinkler park party!  Making the cakes proved to be more of an adventure for me than I planned on!

 I simplified the decorations to the four colors of the TMNTs plus green.  And, thanks to Pinterest, used personal size watermelons and green paper lanterns with crepe paper "masks" to add the TMNT elements.  We served pizza lunchables since pizza is the turtles favorite food and the party was from 9-11am.  They were a huge hit!  I also lucked out and found a foam turtle craft at Hobby Lobby on clearance.  For the second year in a row the temperatures were way below normal for July in Texas!  Crazy!  The rains had let up by party time and despite the cooler temps, the kids still played in the water and had a great time.  The best part was us adults weren't sweltering out there while they played!

 Happy Birthday, Keira!  We love you so much!