Natalie's 5th Birthday

At the end of July, my friend Sarah's daughter turned five.  It seemed like just yesterday she was born.  She was a very pretty baby and I held her in the hospital and left, sad that I'd never have my own.  Ha.

There was a couple of years we didn't speak and for the last couple of years, we've kept in touch.  Though our friendship isn't what it was, we're at a decent place.  Natalie invited Adam and Abbey to come out and celebrate her birthday and we were happy to go for lunch.

Here's Natalie with her Grandpa.  I've always liked Sarah's Dad. He has a very dry sense of humor.  Sarah and the kids live with him and sometimes her Mom, who lives in two places (long story).  They live in the country.  The backyard is great with a gated deck and a huge space the kids can run in and I don't have to worry about their safety.

 Abbey wouldn't eat lunch at all, but Adam polished off a couple of pieces of grilled pizza.  Abbey's problem was that she wanted to go play on the swing set and couldn't relax!

 Sarah's son Jack. who reminds me of his father here.  He HATES his picture taken so I told Sarah I'd try my best to get some as she has very few.  He's 7 and his full name is John Harrison Curtis Braley.  Sounds important!

 Sarah and her kids have been working on a garden.  Adam was fascinated by this pumpkin and followed Jack around looking at the vegetables and trying to help him pull weeds. Yeah, had to be careful on that one.

 Natalie was Mommy-ing Abbey and it was really cute.  Abbey really liked it, too.  Natalie would even help her on and off the swing.

 So Adam convinced Jack to run around and do light sabers a bit.  By this point, I think Jack was done but Adam was having a blast :)

 Birthday girl!

 Do I have to tell you that Abbey went nuts went she saw this and tried to steal the Hello Kitty?  Natalie  gave her the little ring that was in the corner of the cake.

 Jack is an introvert who carries around a book (yeah I can relate a little).

 So Abbey made up for lunch with TWO pieces of cake.  She LOVED it.  Tell me that isn't the most adorable smile?  Adam did, too, eating only the frosting mostly.

 Birthday girl!  We got her a paper doll set that she seemed to really like.  She does look like her Mama!  Something about everyone's kids getting older makes me feel like time is SO FAST.  My Dad used to tell me that you blink and it's gone once you have kids.  He was right.