Olive Turns 8!!

Baby number 3 is already 8?!  So crazy!  Stop growing Olive - it's all happening too fast!   But not for Olive - she has been anxiously awaiting becoming a teenager and it's taking too long as far as she is concerned. ha ha

For breakfast she requested her favorite of all things right now - sausage biscuits. 

Olive was really excited that her birthday was on a school day becuase she loves school so much.  It really was the perfect day because it was only a half day so she went to school until 12:30 and spent time were her friends there, and then right after school we met up with tons of friends for lunch and more celebrating.

For her birthday, she wanted to surprise everyone in her class with necklaces (thank you mardi gras!)  She thought it was really fun to go into school with all those beads around her neck.

For lunch she requested her favorite nuggets from Chick-fil-A so we gathered lots of friends to come enjoy a park picnic with us.  Olive is such a social butterfly - she was so happy having everyone there to celebrate with her.

Nuggets, Mac n' Cheese, oranges, yogurt and juice - it was quite the feast!

Then we had a yummy chocolate cake!  The wind made it quite tricky to get those candles to stay lit, but we made it work so she could make her birthday wish!

We are so grateful for all these friends who have been like family to us over the years.  I have loved watching all these cute kids grow up together.  Picketts, Haslams, Bogopanes, Divetts, Bodreros - we love you guys!

Olive wore a huge smile all day long. She loved all the love and attention she was getting from everyone.  She is adored by her friends, she is so much fun to be around, and a natural leader with her gang. She is a social butterfly, and such a good friend.  People are drawn to her, and it's so fun to observe.

Then she got to open a few presents and she was loving the crowd - the closer the better as far as she is concerned! 

After our fun party at the park, we came home to a little family party with the Murdochs and grandma and grandpa.  With a girl like Olive - the party never stops.  Socializing gives this girl energy!

She requested stir fry for dinner, which is her current favorite.  

And then the much anticipated present time!  She was giddy with excitement!

We always get a kick out of grandma's cards, with her random stickers and captions.

This year Olive had two new helpers with opening her presents - how fun!

Olive is my favorite to watch open presents - so much expression and emotion.  I love how excited she gets - it really makes me feel like I chose something good. ha ha

Her highlights this year - Harry Potter invisibility cloak, backpack, books and some new Playmobil sets.

After presents we had yummy donuts!

And no birthday is complete without getting measured on the stick!  She continues to be our tallest at each age.

And we finalized all the birthday celebrations with a fun birthday date, with just Olive and the parents.

Happy 8th birthday Olive - I hope this day was magical for you.  Thank you for all the joy, emotion, creativity, imagination, and friendship you bring to our family.  You are one of a kind, and I'm so grateful to be your mom.