And Ally Turns Eight...

She finished opening her presents...


We took treats to her school...


She chose to go to the park and pick up Little Caesar's for dinner...







I can't believe that my little girl has been with me for 8 long years... and yet I can't even imagine a day that she wasn't there filling my days with giggling and nonstop chatter. There are moments that I want to turn back the clock and experience the world through her eyes again, and there are times I want to freeze time so I can keep her with me in that moment forever. And there is also a small part of me that can't wait to see what she will do tomorrow.

There are so many things I love about her. I love how sweet and tenderhearted she is, even so much that she offered to get shots for her brother so he wouldn't hurt. I love that she still thinks that it is cool if we blast Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" and dance around and sing full blast in our pj's together. I love that she is a girly girl that wants her hair curled everyday yet has no qualms about digging wholeheartedly into her chocolate cake and still manages to get it all over her face. I love that she is an excellent reader, but still loves it when we read her a story. I love that she will still snuggle up next to me and cuddle in the same blanket. I love that even though I could be easily laughed at on an American Idol audition, she still wants me to sing her a song at bed time and tells me I have a beautiful voice. I love that she gets frustrated so easily, yet has the patience of a saint when it comes to her little brother. I love that she is big enough to fix her own breakfast, yet tells me I am "the best mommy in the whole world" when I fix her pancakes. I love that she tells her daddy that he makes the best french toast ever, and secretly tells me mine is better but she doesn't want to hurt his feelings. I love that she always thinks to pray when she has a bad dream and has complete, simple faith that it will all be well. I love that she is scared to be baptised but has so much faith and knows what she wants enough to be brave enough to try it. I love that she will still hold my hand when we walk home from school...

I cannot even describe to her how much I love her... she will only understand one day when she has her own little girl one day that brightens the whole world when she runs into her waiting arms after school. How blessed and humbled I feel that my Heavenly Father trusted me with someone so special.