Elayne is 5!! | Mixed by Mark

I can't believe my first baby is already 5 years old!!!

For years, I've heard the phrase "The days are long, but the years are short." And I never fully understood what it meant until I became a parent. Sometimes, each day can feel like an eternity. There have been so many days where I was counting down the minutes until Tommy got home from work. Or days where there is so much going on, and I think it must be getting close to the end of the day. But when I look at the clock, it's not even noon. Being a mom is hard, and it can seem endless at times. Like you'll never get through the difficult parts.

But when I look back at the months and the years, I see just how far we’ve come, how much Elayne has grown up. And it seems like it has gone by in a blur. As much as I love how mature and independent Elayne has become, I still miss the tiny baby who used to snuggle in my arms.

We had a really good time for Elayne's birthday. We had her party at a gym. It was our first time having a birthday party out somewhere, because we usually host at home. And, as much as I love hosting at home, this party was just so much easier! We picked up Chick-fil-A nuggets, had a few snacks and drinks. No major cooking (except the cake, of course). The staff helped set up everything, and they provided all the entertainment. It was great. And Elayne had a blast!

Nicole had lots of fun too! Anytime she gets to run around and play with Elayne and her friends, she’s happy.

And, as I typically do, I made and decorated the cake. It still was not as neat as I wanted (I feel like I say that every year), but it was delicious just the same. And I’m still proud of the way it turned out. Even though the icing did melt and slide just a little bit…