They don't teach this stuff in college

My girlie-girl.

Pink, purple and glitter.

So unlike me with all the glam and fluff.

But so much like me with her determination and independence.

She, who up until a few days ago said “firty” and “I’m finking”, now clearly speaks “thirty” and “I’m thinking”.

She wants to play ball…as long as she can do it in a dress.

Click picture to see pictures from our “birthday extravaganza”.

Today you are five.

Five years old.

I’m not sure I can bear it.

I really want to freeze time.

You are happy and carefree.

You are kind and loving, often ready to help others, perceptive beyond your years when you see someone in need.

I can’t keep up with your imagination.

Or your energy level.

But it’s contagious.

You ask for me to tell you stories, and together we create long, winding tales that make sense to no one besides ourselves.

You make up “languages” and teach them to your sister, and the two of you can communicate for hours using “whale speak” or “spanish”(which is not Spanish at all, but that’s what you call it).

You still love Lightning McQueen and Buzz and Woody, but you are anxiously awaiting the premiere of Chuggington. (I hope it’s better than Thomas.)

You ask questions.  Oh, with the questions…

You make me smile when you use big words, and I’m often amazed with the details you remember.

You love school.

You love getting your haircut, but I think it’s because you have a crush on “Miss” Leslie.

Your prayers are sweet.

Your hugs and kisses are big and sincere.

You are five.

You are a big boy.

You are still my baby.

Happy birthday, Carter!

*Thank you, A.A. Milne.

Ok, so in the last few days I’ve seen list after list after list.  I promised a few weeks ago that I’d do a summary of 2009, which is really more for me than for you anyway.  Because I tend to forget what happened if I don’t go back and review it.

By now most people have sent out their annual “what we did this year” Christmas card or posted a review of 2009 on their blog and have now moved on to “let’s forget 2009; it’s 2010 now”.  But in true Bridget fashion, I’m running just a little bit behind so I’m going to take the cheater’s route.

OUR YEAR IN PICTURES

January 2009:
We adjusted to being a family of 5.

Carter turned 4 years old.

February 2009:
Asa smiled for the very first time.

Lydia asked to do a photo shoot and I got the best pictures evah.

We went to the absolutely most amazing wedding ever
(and they let me take pictures)!

March 2009:
It snowed in Georgia!
(That’s a big deal for us rednecks!)
(And I got to wear my 2002 official USA Olympic beret,
which was ironically made in Canada.)
(Shuddup…you know you’re jealous!)

April 2009:
We all matched for Easter.
I know, I know.
The only excuse I have is that we’re from the South.
And that’s how we roll…

May 2009:
I photographed a beautiful wedding for friends.
(Hi, James & Alaina!  We miss you!)

We went to the beach with Marshall’s family and saw a rehabilitated turtle re-introduced into the sea(and I got lots of pictures of Carter with “lost boy hair“, which I simultaneously love and hate).

And I took my favorite picture ever of Asa.

June 2009:
We bought a new car for Marshall, and Marsh and my mom had a surprise birthday party for me & I got to wear a crown!

July 2009:
I went to BlogHer and fell in love with Chicago.

But I missed my silly peeps at home.

August 2009:
Lydia turned 3.

September 2009:
Carter started all day school and Lydia started 3 day a week preschool.

We went back to the beach with my family.

And I *thought* Asa was going to get some teeth.
(I was wrong.)

October 2009:
I started Project 365.

I went to see some of my besties from growing up.

November 2009:
We went to Disney World!!!

December 2009:
Santa, Caroling, Birthday, Christmas.

For the past 8 years I’ve sent out Christmas cards.  Usually homemade and usually with a letter.  And I try to add a personalized note to each one, too.  Because I’m an over-achiever like that.  Well, I was.  I’ve slacked off on a lot of stuff this past year.  Something about having a third kid and a job that just sucks the time into a vacuum, never to be found again.

So this year I don’t have time to make them.
And I haven’t yet written a “summary of 2009″ letter.
And I still haven’t decided if I’m actually going to even send out cards.

I do love Christmas cards.

I don’t, however, love the post office.

I do love licking envelopes.

I don’t love addressing them.

I do love writing little personalized notes to each person.

I don’t love feeling rushed.

Just about the time my desire to avoid the post office at all costs had almost outweighed my desire to show off my cute kids, I saw that Megan over at AMomTwoBoys was hosting a bloggy holiday card exchange.  I can now solve my problem by posting a holiday card here!

If you’re lucky, you’ll probably get a 2009 wrap-up at the end of the year.
Because really?  I don’t write that thing for y’all, I write it for me.  It’s fun to look back over the year and see how things have changed.