Pepper Doodle Turns 5!!!

On Monday, April 14th, our little Pepper girl turned 5 yrs old. This also means that we have lived in Akron now for 5 years! And that this is now the longest we have lived anywhere since we were married. So many mind-blowing thoughts all at once. These pictures are a big out of order but they are all of celebrating a special day for a very special girl!

Pepper said she would like to go to Coldstone after dinner that night just like Morgan. Sometimes she has a hard time coming up with a new idea and not just following Morgan. However, none of us were going to complain and we were happy to meet up with Daddy there to eat and open presents.

Morgan was so excited to get Pepper a special present from him. What did he choose? Pokemon cards, of course! Just what she wanted (he really wanted her to have some so he could trade for cards he wanted, but it was still cute watching their excitement.) He now gets frustrated when she tries to play house with them instead of battling!

We started the day with snuggles in my chair and looking at her baby book and talking about her birth story. One of my favorite parts about their birthdays. I hope I can keep this up as long as possible!

For the afternoon, Hazel and Morgan played with friends and napped, while I took Pepper and Eli Griesmyer to lunch at McDonald's. These two were very cute lunch buddies and Eli was so excited to be out doing something special without his brothers!

After lunch, we went to Chuck-E-Cheese where we met up with Lafe Smith and Pepper's friend, Cadence happened to be there, too.

Pepper's favorite ride was this giant rocking horse. She rode it many, many times!

Pepper and Lafe with a photobomb by Cadence's baby brother, Win.

Chuck-E made an appearance and did a song and dance with the kids. 

The party crew showing off their prizes. Since, Pepper's birthday party was going to be just girls, it was fun to go out with her boy friends on her actual birthday. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many great friends.

Another pic from Coldstone of Pepper with her favorite person and her presents!

Pepper is a ray of sunshine and breath of (crazy) fresh air to all who know her. Pepper's preschool teacher, the beloved Ms. Susan, said that Pepper was the type of person she would love to be friends with and just go to lunch! I completely understand. Pepper can drive me crazy with her non, and I mean NON-stop talking and inability to sit still. But since that pretty much describes me as a child, I can't really blame her! Pepper loves to dance, sing, play house with her doll figurines and constantly "write" letters and lists. Pepper is quite simply a special soul and I am so grateful she is apart of our family!
Happy 5th Birthday, Pepper Doodle!