Sand throwing, Shell castles and a birthday eve

We have been celebrating Cheyenne's birthday all month really.  There haven't been any bounce houses or present circles or giant princess cakes (yet), but I think that through many events and adventures honored as "for Cheyenne's birthday," she has felt celebrated.  Either way, I can't help but doubt myself (the mom guilt strikes again).  With the ever present crazy extents to which parents these days throw kids' parties, it is not surprising that this doubt has sneaked in. Chris' family always does the classic cake and ice cream, face painting and kid games, type of party.  Always so cute.  Many of Cheyenne's little friends do the rent-out the petting zoo, indoor trampoline, tinker bell show, types.  Also fun.  I just haven't gotten the gusto, the motivation, the need to go all out yet.  So far, birthdays have been only family and close friends, or we are on vacation.  We will have to see what happens for 6.  I hear it is a big one....

All of that being said, with party hats in the desert and presents all week, the actual evening of her real birthday, I wanted her to feel like she called the shots and we did all of the things that she wanted.  As it turned out, she chose on her own, the exact perfect night I would have chosen.  We got take out and walked down the beach during the golden magic hour before sunset.   We have done this exact evening countless times, but she said it was her favorite thing to do, so this was the plan.  There were some hiccups and trials this time around but the pictures tell a beautiful and glorious story.  So I'll leave out the sand-in-the-food, Avalon licking the sand, not-enough-shells woes and just share the beautiful magic hour we spent at the beach for Cheyenne's "for real" birthday.

Last day of Preschool

Cheyenne's last day of preschool coincided with her 5th birthday and so my pride is bursting out my eyeballs.  She is so graceful and stubborn and beautiful and thoughtful.  She is not easily distracted and will hold you to everything you say, including things from years past.  Her memory is impeccable and her will is steady and strong.  She is a rock in our family for sure.

Tick Tock... Five Years on the Clock

We have a five year old... as of today.
Five years ago looked like this:

 

And this morning looked like this:

 

 Time is a weird thing.  It folds on itself and stretches thin and is so much like water - the weight and the ability to change form; the thirst for it and the drowning sensation that it so often gives.  I find myself taking these shallow little breaths and having to remind myself that I need to breathe big gulps of each moment.  I need to remember that time will pass whether I breathe quickly or slowly.  I so often find myself in times of big moments (like this one) trying to hold my breath as if this is somehow going to hold time in place allowing me to keep the moment longer, hold my 4.99999 year old a little longer before the clock strikes F-I-V-E-years.  Not so the case.  Tick tock.  It is here.  Breathe it in (tick).  Breathe it out (tock).

Here is the morning...

Sister climbing into bed to wake her up, wishing on candles in bed,  chocolate muffins for breakfast.