Kennedy's 9th Birthday!

My children’s birthdays are one of the big highlights of our year. I look forward to them almost as much as they do.

For Kennedy’s 9th birthday, which was yesterday, we decided to go to a new restaurant in town called Ninja. It’s currently my family’s favorite place to eat. There is a Hibachi table where they cook the Japanese food in front of us. Many of my daughter’s friends had never been there so that was the pick. Afterwards we walked over to Grandee’s old fashion Ice cream parlor in order to attempt to conquer the Zion, which is the largest sundae in Utah. There are 24 scoops of ice cream, 15 toppings, 5 different sprinkles and whip cream. I’m happy to say, the kids did an awesome job and the Zion was no match for them. We had to scale down on the number of kids this year for cost effective purposes. The count for the past 5 years has been between 20 – 24 kids. We limited ourselves to 15 this year including my own 3. After we were stuffed beyond compare we played some games and Kennedy's Aunt Nancy even taught the girls a couple of line dances. It was a hit. I'm pretty sure they all enjoyed themselves. I know Kennedy was happy and that was most important.


Kennedy with her sister Rylee at Ninja on her birthday!

To my beautiful 9 year old daughter Kennedy,

It’s hard to believe that I have been blessed with 9 wonderful years with you. It really doesn’t seem like I should be so lucky. You are truly an angel sent to me. You were a beautiful baby. I remember everyone telling me how gorgeous you were. And I also remember our neighbor at the time and also my doctor Laurie Hansen Hunter, telling me that I should not always talk to you about your appearance that instead I should constantly tell you how smart you were. Luckily neither has been a problem. You have been told your entire life how pretty and how intelligent you are by everyone who has met you. Both of which are very true.

I do have to admit that there was a time in the very beginning that I wasn’t sure I would make it as your mom. You cried constantly as a newborn. Your father and I would take turns throughout the night sitting on the edge of the bathtub holding you draped over our lap or arm with the water running. It was just about the only thing that would soothe you. And even that didn’t last very long. After about 3 months you did outgrow the colic and from then on have been pretty easy.

You have a tender heart that is easily broken. Luckily I do not have to get mad at you very often. I know how hurt you are when I do. You try to please everyone and are very conscious about making sure things are fair for all involved. I know how tough it has been with the different personalities that have come into our home. Your sister Rylee and brother Jackson have been a challenge. I am so grateful for your help with both of them. Some days I’m not sure I would be able to make it without your help. This past summer was quite a growing experience for you. I trusted you enough for you to tend your sister and brother every morning for an hour while I went to the gym to workout. A normal 8 year old probably would not have been able to do that. That is how helpful and responsible you are. It was a piece of cake for you. I always gave you a list to complete before I returned home. It went something like this; 1. eat breakfast 2. get dressed 3. make beds 4. do homework. There was one day that I had not left yet however you thought I had. I was so impressed to hear the way you handled following the list with the younger children. You got right on top of it and began getting them all breakfast. I was so proud. Everyday when I would return, sure enough the entire list was always complete. I am so grateful for your help during that time.

From the beginning of your school years, beginning at preschool you have been loved by every teacher. Bonnie Bishop was your preschool teacher at the SUU preschool. She adored you and still asks about you when I run into her. Bobette Clark was your kindergarten teacher and instantly fell in love with you as well. She would even let you attend the morning class occasionally and spend her lunch hour eating lunch with you before the afternoon session would begin. She loved to have you read to the rest of the class and was just as proud as I was at the time for your eagerness of learning. Kathy Riddle was your 1st grade teacher. In a parent/teacher conference she had so many wonderful things to say about you but by far the best compliment was that if she had had a daughter she would have wanted her to be just like Kennedy. Cheryl Apgar was your 2nd grade teacher. Again an instant connection was made. She even attended your baptism even though we had only just met her. She said that Kennedy was one of a kind. Even though Kennedy was much farther advanced than the rest of the class she said that she never rubbed it in. She would only help the other kids if they needed and wanted help in a very loving way. Martha Bayer is Kennedy’s 3rd grade teacher. Last week we had our first parent/teacher conference she, as well, went on and on at how smart and friendly Kennedy is.

I hope you know how much I love you. I could not imagine my life without you in it. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for trusting me enough to be your mom. I know how special you are to me and therefore your worth to our Father in Heaven is probably inconceivable. You are my daughter but before that you are a daughter of God. I pray that you will never forget that.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

I have to appologize for the beginning of these pictures. It was obviously before we had a digital camera and my scanner did not do a good job at scanning this morning. You can still get a good idea of how cute Kennedy was and still is.

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AGE 9

WOW! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GIRL, INSIDE AND OUT!
PLEASE STAY 9 FOR A LONG TIME!