*Please note that while the date of this post is June 17, 2014, I began the post last year in 2013...shortly after her birthday. But, I am just now getting around to finishing it. I had basically given up the thought that I'd ever get around to finishing it as time went on and on and we got further and further from her birthday. But, I'm really glad I finished this (well, did most of this) today. It was great to reflect on my sweet girl...who will actually be 10 in less than 2 months. :o) Thank goodness I take lots of pictures -- they really capture the memories for me!
On Saturday, August 3, 2013, our only girl, Kimmy, turned 9 years old. (My favorite number is 9!) She had been planning for months to have her very first slumber party to celebrate the occasion. And, since the precedent had been set long ago (my own doing), my kids always have to have a theme for their birthdays -- and "slumber party" wasn't enough for Kimmy. No, she wanted a Sound of Music slumber party. But, I was on-board with that -- since it just tickles me pink that she has been so captivated by that movie ever since I told her the tale and showed her the movie over a year ago. She has plans to have seven children -- 2 boys and 5 girls...whose names will be Liesl, Fredrik, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, and Gretl. (She's also pushing for us to have two more kids so we can have that magic number 7 also. Ha!)
The whole Sound of Music craze began in the spring of 2012 when Kimmy found a book of easy sheet music for songs from various TV shows and movies. (We bought our piano used and the sellers included whatever books were in the bench.) There were some songs from The Sound of Music. She then wanted to know about the movie. So, one night I when tucking her in I told her the story -- and couldn't help but sing a few lines from the various songs at the appropriate places. The first American Girl books we ever read together were about Molly McIntire, whose story is set in 1944 -- during World War II. So, she was already familiar with WWII a bit, so this was just one more thing to add to her understanding of that part of history. Anyway, I knew I owned the DVD but could NOT find it anywhere -- so I went on Amazon Prime and it was here two days later...as was the soundtrack on CD. I showed her the movie and she was really fascinated. The boys liked it too -- though they couldn't sit as long to watch it. But, we started listening to the soundtrack in the car all the time and became big fans (even the boys liked it -- though not nearly as much, of course!).
Anyway, I was excited for Kimmy to have her first slumber party -- and to have the Sound of Music theme. I created an "evite" that had the famous photo of Maria on the mountain with the title. And, here was the rest of it:
Kimmy's "Sound of Music" Slumber Party
Host:
Natalie (Kimmy's Mom...
who will be playing the part of "Maria")
who will be playing the part of "Maria")
When:
Friday, August 2 at 6:30 PM
to Saturday, August 3 at 11:00 AM
Where:
The Von Edwards Family Home
1205 Sherwood Ct
Salzburg, Austria (a.k.a. Bellefonte), PA
Salzburg, Austria (a.k.a. Bellefonte), PA
Kimmy is turning 9 and is so excited to have her first slumber party -- and wants to do it in the style of her favorite movie: The Sound of Music. So, we'll be watching the movie for sure! We'll also have lots of snacks (perhaps crisp apple streudels or schnitzel with noodles) and play games and sing songs (of course!) -- all of which are some of Kimmy's "favorite things"! If your daughter isn't yet ready for a sleepover, she is welcome to come for a "late-over" and stay to watch the movie and such -- and you can pick her up late that night (10-11?) and can even bring her back in the morning so she can enjoy the big birthday breakfast. We surely hope your daughter can come!
Please RSVP by July 29th.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu!
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu!
Yours truly,
The Governess of the Von Edwards family
So, the party was a big success. The girls watched the movie -- and some paid more attention than others. It IS a rather lengthy movie.... After Maria made the kids' play clothes out of her old green and white drapes I gave the girls the kerchiefs I made from them out of [new] green and white drape fabric. They looked pretty cute!...and silly...since it was 11:00 by the time the movie ended.
The girls all slept on the living room floor, and they settled down without TOO much giggling. The next morning it was breakfast, presents, playing, and ice cream sundaes!
Later that day we celebrated as a family, and we were glad that Grandma Schmitt, Colette, and Phoebe were with us (they'd come the previous day for the slumber party). I was especially glad to have my mom here to help -- I ended up in bed with a 102 fever for most of the day! (Turns out I had Strep.) My mom made Kimmy's chocolate mint cake (with pink icing!), and it was delicious. Kimmy got some great presents (like fun new outfits for her American Girl doll, the new movie about Saige 9the 2013 American Girl of the Year), a book about the real Von Trapp family), and another great birthday was celebrated by our sweet girl.
Oh, yes -- I can't forget that Grandma Edwards came the previous day to spend some special time with the birthday girl. She gave Kimmy a dollhouse that she could color/decorate (like the one she gave her a couple years ago...but it got destroyed by little brothers and cousin). Grandma (and Grandpa) also gave her two horseback riding lessons! Kimmy was very excited about that! She had her first lesson the following week (with our friend from church, Shawn Markel).
Let me tell you a few more things about this 9-year old girl of mine. First off all, she's tough -- and she likes to be outside. Sometimes she really gets in the mood to be out there and will help Mark in the garden like a champ. (She says her current aspirations are to become a conservationist or forester.)
When it comes to Ryan (whom she & Ben have nicknamed "Test"...short for "Testamorderie"...I have no idea where that came from!), she adores him...and occasionally has some fun pretending he's the little sister she doesn't have.
Perhaps it's because she has no brothers, or maybe it's just because there's such a natural bond between cousins. But for whatever the reasons, Kimmy just adores her cousins Colette & Phoebe. They always have so much fun together! They usually spend a good bit of their time together planning and practicing some type of performance they'll later put on for the family. I sure am glad she has these special girls in her life!
Kimmy was excited when a package arrived (from Grandma Schmitt) containing a new outfit for her to wear on the first day of school (3rd grade!!!). And, she actually wanted me to take her pictures for her 9-year portraits. We had a photo shoot in the back yard. My little girl sure is growing up!
Walking Grandma Edwards' dog, Reggie, outside during a visit in March.
Planting the garden with Daddy - April
Exploring Devil's Den in Gettysburg - May
Wading in the pond with the boys at Grandparents Camp in July.
She and her friend Lauren trekked through the woods behind our house and picked all these blackberries in August.
She joined the boys in their 4-wheeling in Lake Ariel in August.
One of her favorite places to be outdoors is at the beach! She got pretty brave with the boogie boarding on our trip to Ocean City in July.
She was thrilled when we let her get a hermit crab while visiting the boardwalk. She named her Hermione.
Kimmy had lots of fun this past school year as a Brownie Girl Scout. She and her small troop had lots of fun together. And, she was especially excited about (and not afraid at all) the 2-night trip to camp in May. She had so much fun!
I sure was glad to pick my girl up from camp on Mother's Day!
Kimmy has a tough situation being the only girl with four brothers. Sometimes it's a problem, for sure (and sometimes it's not her fault and sometimes it is). But, she does have lots of fun with her brothers sometimes, especially her younger brothers. She has a classroom set up in her bedroom and she often plays school with Benny & Evan -- she is their teacher (of course) and has things very organized for them, with take-home folders, etc. She was rather excited when the Easter Bunny filled her basket with supplies for her "classroom".
This poor little boy...who actually looks rather content - March
Dressing Ryan up in HER old bikini from when she was his age! - April
She also loves to take pictures of Ryan and make collages in Picasa.
Ready to take her little brothers for a walk outside (this arrangement didn't last too long though -- Ryan got too heavy, of course...but she had been so determined to carry him like that.) - March
One day in April she got Ryan all packed up in his diaper-box-of-a-car and took him for a ride.
Pushing Ryan in his buggy car - May
Ryan's 1st birthday was the week after her birthday. She made him these shorts (with the help of Grandma Edwards) and made the shirt all by herself! (She ended up putting it on a teddy, though, since it was a bit too small. She just free-handed the whole thing -- no pattern, and all hand-stitching!)
They all look so cute when they're getting along!
Kimmy and her brothers definitely have one thing in common: a love for popsicles and ice cream!
Their production on New's Year's Eve - December 31, 2012
Looking cute in their matching stripes in April.
Colette & Kimmy at the Mother's Day picnic in Berwick.
"Glowing" at the Memorial Day weekend camp-out in Gettysburg.
Looking adorable in their matching red, white, & blue dresses at the cemetery in Gettysburg (they're dolls have matching dresses too!)
Kimmy also has really nice friends at school. This past year in second grade she was especially close with Haley, Rainah, and Megan. They were in the same class together and Mrs. Watson was their teacher. Kimmy just loved Mrs. Watson.
They had lots of fun together on Field Day in May!
Speaking of school, Kimmy is so smart!!! She gets straight A's in school, and we couldn't be prouder of her. In second grade she really got into reading and taking Reading Counts quizzes at school. She earned her brown 100 points ribbon at the end of the year!
As mentioned above, one of Kimmy's closest friends this year was Haley. They had their first sleepover together in February.
Kimmy and her friends always have lots of fun together. When Haley & her younger sister Isobel come over it almost always involves dressing up in Kimmy's dresses.
This time (in July) it also involved a parade around the neighborhood! They've always got fun things planned!
Kimmy was especially excited this summer when her BEST FRIEND FOREVER, Sammie, came to visit. She got to introduce Sammie to her special friends here, which was really neat. I'm so glad Kimmy and Sammie are still such special friends after all these years. Sammie's visit in August was probably the highlight of Kimmy's summer.
Kimmy has an interesting relationship with the piano. She is so much like me! She does NOT like having to practice, but deep-down she really does like being able to play. She did great at her recital in June, playing "Canon" and "My Favorite Things".
Kimmy and her piano teacher, Miss Sherry.
Teaching Ryan how to play the piano - June
Kimmy and our Fresh Air kid this year got along really well. She and Jessica really enjoyed playing American Girl dolls and games together. I'm so glad they "clicked".
Playing at the "airport park"
Exploring Lincoln Caverns
Playing the American Girl game (they also loved playing UNO together!)
Face paint, fireworks, friends, and fun at the Fourth Fest!
I am so glad I have a daughter!! And, I'm really glad that Kimmy is my daughter. I love how we share similar interests and that we're able to bond over girly things.
We ordered matching maxi skirts from Zulily. One of her brothers took the pictures...but she wasn't thrilled to have to pose for more than one (since he cut off my head in the first one!).
Prepping for her 9-year portraits photo shoot in August -- I put rollers in my hair too so she didn't feel weird.
Kimmy, you are such a special girl! I'm so proud of you! You do so well in school, you're so thoughtful and creative, and you have so many talents! I love how sweet you are to Ryan -- you are a wonderful big sister to him! I love that you wanted to have a "Sound of Music" slumber party. I have such great memories of my slumber parties, and I hope you'll always remember your first one as something special...just like you. Happy 9th Birthday, Kimmy Sue!!! I love you! xoxoxoxo
