Ashlyn's Family Birthday

   I can't believe I am typing that Ashlyn is now 6 years old!!! Where has the time gone?  It seems like just yesterday I was holding her for the first time.  She is truly the sweetest girl in the world.  There aren't enough words to describe how blessed we are to have Ashlyn in our lives. I never in a million years could have asked for a better daughter.  She is one amazing little girl.
      It has been such an amazing and surreal experience to watch her grow over the last 6 years.  She has grown into such a smart and caring little girl.  She is constantly amazing us with her intelligence.  She continues to read like a champ and getting to harder and harder books.  She is doing really well in school.  Last week she brought home three reading tests, all of which she scored 100% on.  She has such a strong desire to learn and explore the world around her.  She loves to learn new math concepts and Chinese at school.  Ashlyn's teacher said she is a bright girl and wants to push her to first grade work by the end of the year.  Ashlyn also excels at school socially.  Her teacher told us she is friends with the entire class.  Ashlyn just loves being around other kids and sees the good in everyone.
        Ashlyn's favorite past time is art and drawing.  Every time we go some where, she has to take paper and crayons with her.  She informed me one day that a good artist never leaves the house without art materials.  She is constantly drawing us pictures and creating projects.  She can entertain herself for hours with just paper and markers.  I love to see what she creates.  She also likes drawing objects.  She will take a stuffed animal and sketch it.  I'm always very impressed by what she draws. She is actually quite good!
     Ashlyn continues to be our very sweet little girl.  She loves to cuddle with us and often showers me with kisses and hugs.   She is always willing to help out whenever we ask her to.  She loves to help with her brother and cousins.  She often gives them something she has without even being asked.  She loves being around kids.  She keeps telling me that when she grows up she wants to be a teacher.  The other day, she added that she wants to be an art teacher. 
    This is just a small fraction of who Ashlyn is.  Again, I could not have asked for a better daughter.  She is truly the light of our lives and every day with her is such a blessing!
     Below are pictures from her actual birthday.  She got the Elf on the Shelf birthday edition.  It came with a little cupcake outfit and the book said her elf, Eddie Buddy would make an appearance on her birthday.  Ashlyn was beside herself with excitement to see Eddie Buddy before Christmas time.  She woke up to find he had decorated a special birthday chair for her.  He also wrote "Happy birthday" in strawberry syrup on the table. She got such a kick out of that one. 

Checking out what the elf did

Eddie up on the cabinet with the crepe paper he used. 

Her special birthday chair

She loved this, but what a mess that one was to clean up!

Every birthday, Ashlyn gets special birthday pancakes and breakfast in bed.  She lives for it. 

Our sweet little 6 year old

Ready for her first day of school as a 6 year old. 

Dawson decided to jump into the picture.  They love each other so much and have the best relationship. 

   Ashlyn went to her 6 year check up at the doctor.  She is a very healthy little girl.  She grew nearly 3 inches in the last year and is in the 70 percentile for height!  Her appointment went well.  I took her to school after her appointment.  For lunch, Ashlyn's dad brought her favorite, Chick Fil A to eat lunch with her at school.  What a special treat that was!  Joey also brought in cupcakes for Ashlyn to share with her class.  Its such a special day when it's your birthday.
   For dinner, we let Ashlyn pick where she wanted to go.  She immediately picked Red Robin her favorite.  My parents and brother went with us.  We had a great birthday dinner there.  After dinner, we headed back home for presents and cake!  She ended the day with cake and play time with her cousins.  She had a great birthday!

Look at all those presents!

Dawson and Daddy

He loves getting his picture taken too!

Ashlyn was dying for a diary.  She told us that she would write in it every day.  She was very happy to open it. 

Ella and Jameson came over to join the fun. 

The Brave bow and arrow set that she loves!

Ella checking out what she got.

Since she loves to draw so much, my mom got her a huge pack of printer paper to draw on.  I seriously doubt that pack of paper will last until January. 

Uncle Steven giving his card.

Time for cake.  Ashlyn wanted to decorate her cake with candy this year. 

Singing to her, she has always loved this part!

Blowing out her candles.