Magical...

On Ella's actual birthday we couldn't let the day go by without acknowledging

it as hers, even though we'd already had a party.

She is really into the Disney princesses just like Kate was at her age, so Ariel's Grotto

seemed a fitting place to go. Judging from her reactions and facial expressions,

she was was a happy little girl.

"Sisters!"

From anywhere in my house, if I say this in a sing-song voice

you can just wait to hear the giggles and the pitter patter of little

feet as they run from where they are to find each other and

crash into a sister hug.

Really it's just... magical.

For all the moments they don't get along (and trust me, there are a lot)

these moments make it all worthwhile.

An intimate family dinner at the end of the pier followed

a relaxing day at Disneyland and then

the release of the lanterns when the sun finally set was

one of the coolest and most special ways to end our day.

The little guy trying to wink at me...

Keeping with the Tangled theme, I found the lanterns that they release

every year on Rapunzel's birthday online and bought some.

I thought it would be fun for the kids to see it in real life.

I attached a little note to each lantern that said:

These things were HUGE! We were expecting tiny little lanterns, but these were bigger than we were!

It took us a few tries to get it right, a few of them ended up in the ocean but when they

took off.... it was beautiful. I got chills just like I do whenever I see that part in the Tangled movie.

We attracted a little crowd of onlookers who were fascinated by our little show.

A late night dip in the ocean made the night for the kids. They had a blast!

I get a lot of flack for how much birthdays are celebrated in my home.

They tend to last a week, mine has been known to be celebrated for an entire month...

But it's just such a wonderful thing, to have survived another year.

To be another year wiser, another year of growing.

If anything should be celebrated excessively in life, it's that.

And celebrate, we did.

Down to the last drop...

My wish for Ella as the lanterns rose to the heavens was this:

I wish you happiness, my sweet girl, in whatever form it finds you.

I wish that you always feel loved and cherished and that you love in return.

I wish you everything good in this world.

That's my wish for you.