The Fourth Annual Father-Daughter Dance

Victoria and her Grandpa went to their fourth Father-Daughter Dance tonight. I've always known that Victoria really looks forward to their annual date. I don't think I realized how much Grandpa enjoys it, as well. This year's theme was "Hollywood." They looked adorable. My daughter is so "Marilyn."

The Last (and Best) 10 Years

My Baby Girl turned 10 today. Words cannot describe the mix of emotions...pride and joy, nostalgia and sadness. She is such an amazing little person. I miss my baby girl, I miss my four year-old, yet, I so look forward to knowing my grown up daughter, and all the "daughters" in between. She looked beautiful this morning...

On April 14, 1999, at 9:14 am, my 6lb, 5oz baby girl, Victoria Jacqueline Juliann Karr, was born. I was so sick that night, I didn't even get to hold her until she was several hours old. Even then, she was only with me for a few minutes until the next day. But she was here. My beautiful baby daughter had arrived.

That first year was an amazing one. I never knew how blessed one could feel. I truly felt like her first birthday was my party. It was a celebration of this little person and how she had completely changed my life. Her party in the park entertained over 100 guests and was a true representation of all the people whose lives she had touched.

Her second birthday was awesome. She actually understood what all of the fuss was about. Despite being completely disinterested in her gifts, she had a blast, as did I. Her "Adventure City" party was all about her this time, yet, I never stopped asking myself how I had gotten so lucky.

The third birthday celebration was fantastic. We celebrated at home with ponies and a petting zoo. But that was the year my "Little Princess" was truly born. It was all about the Disney royalty...she switched out of her cowgirl garb and into a Snow White gown.

We arrived at our HOME...our real home in Corona, just before Victoria turned 4. Since it was Easter weekend, we had a spring fling. I realized that year that my baby was growing up. She really wasn't a baby anymore. She promised to turn 4 again every year for the rest of her life...she lied!

Victoria's 5th birthday was a dramatic one. I couldn't believe this was the year my daughter would start school. She seemed so grown up. At her circus themed party, my little Ring Master got really hurt and wanted nothing to do with presents or pinatas. She just wanted her mommy. That's when I realized she would ALWAYS be my baby.

For her sixth birthday, I saw the shift between my guests and hers. This little person had her own relationships now...friends from school, dance class, and sports all began to attend. Her princess themed ice skating party at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood was just right for my little lady. She was turning into her own little person. She said it was "the best day of her life."

On her 7th birthday, we moved from princesses to divas. Her Girl Mania party featured make-up, hair-dos, and choreography. I should have known then how much High School Musical, Jonas Brothers, and Hannah Montana lay in my (and her new brother, Justice's) future.

My daughter turning 8 was a big deal to me. I don't know why. Maybe it was because it was that she asked for a limo/ice skating party and that just seemed like such a "big girl" request. Maybe it's because it was the first year she fit into clothing from Limited Too, such a "big girl" store. Maybe it's because I realized that I only had one more year until she was half-way through her childhood. What a day.

With that said, 9 was traumatic for me. For one thing, she got a dog, cute, but ugh!!! Way harder than when she asked for a brother! :-) Her Pole-Position Raceway party was still all girls, thank goodness. But it was a long way off from our princess days of the past. The half-way point had come too fast. Enough said.

DOUBLE DIGITS. 10 years old! I can't believe it is here. It is a hard day for mommy. Too much thinking of how few years are left. We are beyond the half-way point and I've now had more years with her than I have left...gulp. But the pride abounds. I am proud of her. I am proud of me. I am grateful for the gift God gave me in this beautiful little spirit. I am grateful to amazing, supportive, and giving friends and family in my life who have helped me be a mother to this child, this big girl, this gift. You have helped me bring the gifts Victoria has to the world.

Thank you Mom, Julie, Vicky, Amber, Julie W., Patricia, Shelley, Jennifer, and Jackie. You are all so much a part of who Victoria has become. Thank you for sharing her road with me. Please stick around for the next ten years.

The Easter Morning Wake-Up Call (and the longest post EVER!).

My children have always been the last of the EIGHT cousins to wake. Every year at Christmas, Victoria wakes grouchy, and Justice is in a fog, because the cousins woke so very early. This year was no different. My kids were sound asleep, but six year-old cousin Aubrie woke them up bright and early. They were fine with it, but look a bit "out to lunch."

After digging into their baskets, though, and seeing all the other goodies the Easter Bunny brought, they finally woke up. Justice found the CHOCOLATE and was relieved that he didn't even have to steal it from the Easter Bunny this time. Hallelujah!

After the morning fun, we went to church. Great-grandma Nancy and Great-grandpa Clark joined us with all of the kids. It was a nice service. I hadn't ever been to my mom's church, and they held their Easter service in the outdoor amphitheater of the park. It was a gorgeous day and the kids loved being out and about.

Once we got home, each group of cousins got their own egg-hunt. Jacob and Aubrie hid the eggs for three year-old Justice and two year-old Olivia...


Victoria, Avianna, and Jonathon hid the eggs for five year-old Jake and six year-old Aubrie...

For our third and final hunt, the mean old grown-ups REALLY hid the eggs for nine year-olds Victoria and Jonathon and ten year-old Avianna. I could not believe how excited they still were!

So with the hunts all finished, we were off to dinner. Grandma Diane and Grandpa Russ took (about 19 of) us to an Easter buffet (rather than cook for all those people). The food was great...but Justice didn't care. He was downright "pooped." He slept all the way through dinner...

then during pictures, he woke up, got angry, and went right back to sleep.

What a fantastic Easter! We loved having all of the cousins and grandparents together, and really are happy that Auntie Becca, Uncle Jon, Jon-Jon, Jake, and Olivia are back in the state of California.

Happy Easter, everyone!