Bella is 8

Guess what happened today?  Yep, that cute kid in the picture above (without even asking) turned 8 today!

She used to look like this, but some how when I wasn't looking she turned 8!

This is how we started out the day with yummy fruit and yogurt...and

And this is how we ended the day stuffing ourselves with this yummy super rich homemade chocolate peanut butter icecream cake with a peanut butter oreo crust, followed by crushed peanut butter klondite bars and Reese's peanut butter cups, layered with chocolate ice cream, followed by another layer of crushed Reese's peanut butter cups and finally drizzled with chocolate syrup...It was SO good that we shared a slice of cake with each of our fabulous neighbors...And this is what happened in between fruit and yogurt and ice cream cake...

 A Moberly tradition is to open presents after breakfast but when Daddy is not home, we like to open presents before breakfast ...Shhhh...It's our secret!

I love this kid!  I was so busy with planning her birthday party and baptism that I completely forgot about buying a present.  So, yesterday, I stopped by the Dollar Tree and picked up a few knick knacks and art supplies.  She was so excited and grateful that you would have thought we bought her the moon...

 She loved the sunglasses Jackson and John bought her.

 And this sweet cutie LOVED playing with the balloons!

 Originally, we were going to have a "friend" party but last week Jackson had a fever and rash which turned out to be roseola (a highly contagious virus that happens to be only contagious during the fever stage).  By Sunday James and all the kids had a fever.  Each day they would wake up and check to see if they had a rash.  So, we cancelled the birthday party and hung out and played with play dough and modeling clay, and balloons, and watched way too much TV.

 And of course our fabulous neighbor stopped by with a super fun birthday gift...

 We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Miss  Brenda!

 By the afternoon each kid had broken out in a rash...some on their faces, some on their tummies, and some on their feet.  I've NEVER seen kids SO excited to have a rash in their lives!  But of course a rash means they are no longer contagious and that their mom has to release them from house arrest.  So, they decided to throw water balloons in the back yard...

 and to just hang out with each other...

 And of course to pose for the camera...

 And these are 2 of my favorite people...

And so are these!

It turns out that turning 8 was not a bad thing at all, still I wish that sweet kid would not grow up so darn fast!

8 REASONS WHY WE LOVE BELLA:
(1) She has the sweetest spirit.
(2) She has GREAT fashion sense.
(3) She tries very hard to be kind to her brothers and sisters.
(4) She gives the best hugs.
(5) She is super smart.
(6) She's a great writer.
(7) She has a sincere desire to do the right thing.
(8) She has a smile that lights up a room.

WE LOVE YOU, BELLA!!!