Letter to my Birthday Boy: 8 Years Old

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Reid Jackson,

You are growing up too fast! Becoming "too cool" for mommy's kiss on the cheek or a hug in the hall at school. You're starting to want to spend the night with friends and you pick out all of your clothes on your own. You rarely wear anything but athletic gear, and your favorite thing in the world is a new pair of sneakers. You are still super strong-willed and very spirited, and although these present a few challenges when you're eight, I know that these personality traits can be used to your advantage in  your later years. 

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You are so smart and do so well in school. You are a natural born leader, and you do great in school! Your favorite subjects are math and science. I love that you are a helper to your teacher, and that substitutes always list you by name as being the one who assisted them on days your teacher was absent. You are well-behaved in school, except sometimes at recess when the football or basketball games on the playground get too intense! You are super competitive, and though I love your fiery spirit, there are times when I wish you could take it down a notch. When you play sports, you give it your all and play with your heart. I love that you live so passionately and purposefully. 

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Reid loves:

-sneakers

-anything Nike, Air Jordan, or Under Armour

-flat bill ball caps

-sharks

-fishing

-nature/all things outdoors

-exploring

-wakeboarding

-snowcones and popsicles

-swimming

-chicken & dumplings

-spinach artichoke dip from Paul's

-steak

-math

-Legos

-XBOX ONE

-basketball and baseball

-OKC Thunder

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Life verse for your 8th year:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

-Galatians 5:22-23

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I pray that you grow in the fruit of the Spirit this year. I pray that you honor Christ with your life and that you shine His light wherever you go. You are strong. You are brave. And you are kind. 

I love you always, Reid Jackson,

-Mom

Lil's 6th Birthday. {unicorn skate party}

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LilliAnn was so excited to have a roller skating party for her birthday this year! She's really into unicorns, rainbows, and all things sparkly, so it was a no-brainer what the theme of the party would be! We invited lots of friends and family, and had the best time celebrating our girl at Star Skate here in Shawnee.

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our cousin Emma

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sweet Maggie

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precious Presleigh

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our cousin Grayson

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Lil was a little shaky at first, but after a few laps, she was skating like a pro!

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Lil and Joss

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She picked out her birthday outfit! 

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LilliAnn with her new friend Audrey

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cutie Cooper

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LilliAnn's Pre-K teacher, Mrs. Whitefield, even came!

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And her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Lyle, was there too! The teachers at Grove are the absolute best!!

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Silly brother!

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Sweet Presleigh

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The Birthday Girl!

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LilliAnn and Lyla are such good friends! Their birthdays are just a few days apart!

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Party games!

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The birthday crew! 

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Cake Diva did such a good job on Lil's unicorn cake! She absolutely LOVED it!!

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Make a wish, sweet girl!

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Nana and Papa

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This was her favorite part of the entire party! Getting to take a turn in the money machine!!

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Unicorn cupcakes!

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Cooper 

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Parker

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Cousin Emma

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Maggie

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Paisley

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Lyla

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Cousin Josslynn

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She loved the photo props!

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Present time!

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This was such a fun birthday, and captured everything Lil loves at 6 years old...unicorns, sparkles, rainbow, and all things girly! I wish I could keep her this age forever!