Carmen turns SIX!

It's finally Carmen's Birthday! She's been asking all week if she could open her presents, because the anticipation was just killing her! Through a lot of tears she waited out the LONG week and finally the day arrived. Birthdays are so exciting when you are little.

 Several weeks ago we got a Target catalog in the mail. The girls quickly snatched it up and grabbed their markers and started circling everything in the book they wanted. And they went over it multiple times a day with me to make sure I knew who wanted what toys. I only was able to find two of the things Carmen had circled - a hula hoop (which was actually purchased at the Dollar Store)

 And the movie Tangled, which I actually couldn't wait until her birthday to open. We had already watched it twice the day before.

 She also got some new chapter books for us to read together.

 And she's been asking for a Ken to go with Barbie for a long time now, so finally Ken has arrived on the scene!

This was the present Carmen was the most excited about... she named her Ellie. 

I know she is still so young, but at the same time, I can't believe I have a six year old! I've been a mother for six years!! We love Carmen so much and are so proud of how much she has grown and learned in the last year. Kindergarten has been a wonderful experience for her and has taught her so many lessons.  She continues to surprise me each day with all that she knows. I've been especially impressed with how brave she is. She does things that I would have never done at her age or any other age. I was terrified of riding the school and also having to stand in line to buy school lunch was a bit overwhelming for me. But she does it all so maturely. Carmen still has a great love for animals; especially horses, dogs and cats. And she has finally approved the purchase of bricks to put on her head so she will stop growing.