four years

Lydia is four.  Four years old!  Oh my.  So very fast, it all went so very fast. 

Lydia is captivating.  She captivates me.  She captivates people on the street.  If our family meets someone briefly, the child they are most likely to remember is Lydia.  She's just.... well, captivating.  LOVE this precious child of mine.  

A few photo highlights from her fourth birthday .....

Lyds and her big sis, still in their pjs.  Julianna presented her gift (bought with her own cash) moments after the girls woke.....

..... a pink plastic headband.  When you are turning four, your 5 year old sister is one of the best "present pick-er out-ers" around and Julianna's gift was no disappointment :)

Morning Bible time with Daddy before he left for work.  Matt always does something special on birthdays and it's a sweet time for the whole family.

We like to watch a slide show (set to music) of pics of the birthday person each year - (so simple, I have a folder for each child and add in fun shots from throughout their life, just updating each year)  .... the kids call this "a birthday movie" and they can watch it over and over and over.  This year I picked a few favorite pictures from each year of Lydia's life, printed them and strung them with yarn across our bookshelf.  Very simple, very fun. 

The cake was a stretch for me this year, but I got it done.  Complete with mailed-from-America pink (strawberry) cake mix and pink decorator icing. 

And this is probably one of the best blowing-out-candles action shots I've gotten of any kid so far.  Love her cheeks.

Sweet sweet Lydia.  Oh how we love you!