turning seven

I can't believe my baby girl turned seven.  It seems like just yesterday we were checking in the hospital to have her...now she is a independent first grade with her own fashion sense who has grown 3 inches since turning 6...



Her birthday celebration spanded several days. She started Thursday (11/10) taking cupcakes to share with her class...



She picked Princess themed liners for the girls and sports liners for the boys. 

Mrs. Propst and several girlfriends were in the room when we arrived...



[Anna, Bella, Mrs. Propst, Mary Reese and Ella]  Mrs. Propst said they had been counting down the days until her birthday for weeks.



She had her birthday crown ready.  Birthdays apparently are a big deal in 1st Grade.

Earlier in that week, Mrs. Propst asked me if Mary Reese could do a book report on Thursday.  She wanted some of the children whose older siblings had Mrs. Propst to start the class off.  We thought If You Give a Cat a Cupcake would fit in perfectly with her cupcakes.

Mary Reese read the book, gathered up all her props...



...and practiced on her family.

She was over the moon when she read her report...



She is already planning her next big review!

Thursday night, we ate at Nanny Nan and John B's house to celebrate Mary Reese turning 7 and her great grandmother [LuLu] turning 90!
 

 
It is not a birthday without a Judi Moore cake!
 
They gave Mary Reese her first American Girl doll who looks just like her...
 

 
Meet Kate...who has become my fourth child.  Mary Reese and Kate got several matching outfits for her birthday.
 
Kate has a friend Molly who has also come to live with us from Debbie's attic...
 

 
Molly is Aunt Stacey's American Girl doll.  She is on loan.
 
Finally it was Saturday [11.12.11].  Her real birthdate.  For breakfast she chose K May Doughnut shop...
 

 
We got a mixed dozen for the family.  Mary Reese got her ry own bag of holes...
 

 
...that she didn't have to share with anyone!
 
Popsy and Gigi came by and surprised her with a gift certificate to the American Girl Store.  It is already burning a hole in her pocket.  Plans are in the works for a winter trip to the one in Atlanta.
 
Debbie treated her to lunch at the new hot dog restaurant near our house.  She also outfitted her for the winter...
 

 
Tons of new leggings and long sleeve shirts to go with all her skirts.  Debbie even made her a new skirt!  She has been loving coming up with new combinations everyday!