Natalie's 9th Birthday!

Sunday birthdays can be a bit of a bummer.  A Sunday birthday that also happens to be Fast Sunday is perhaps a slightly bigger bummer.  And a Fast Sunday birthday that also falls in the middle of a very busy meet season might be the biggest bummer yet.  She's still hoping for a party.

Natalie's birthday weekend started with her sectionals meet on Saturday.  It is at this meet that she qualifies for State.  She did great, earning her highest all-around ever!  

I get a teensy teary when I watch this and think about all she's overcome to get to this point.  Many may disagree with the amount of time our girls spend doing gymnastics, but her heart wanted to be there and her successful battle and ultimate triumph over fear is a powerful life lesson that I believe will serve her well in many aspects of her life.  I don't know how long her gymnastics career will be, but I'm so proud of her for pushing past this obstacle.

She placed fourth all-around and very easily qualified for the state meet.

Best gym buddy, Morgan, is just another reason to love this sport:

We went out to lunch with gym friends after her meet and then we rushed off to the first ever General Women's Conference.  I loved the meeting and loved being able to go with both of my girls.

Fast Sunday meant no big birthday breakfast, but Natalie anxiously opened a few presents as soon as she woke up.

She'd been begging for combat boots, so she was thrilled to get those from Mom and Dad.  She got money from Grandma and Grandpa Hatch and a new iPod from Grandma and Grandpa Seely.  Her gym sister, Maison, gave her some cute gymnastics pajamas. 

Natalie chose to have a chocolate fountain for her birthday treat.  No birthday would feel right without Emma, so the McInelly family came over to help us drench ice cream balls, berries, cream puffs and krispie treats in the luscious river of milky chocolate.

Mmm, mmm, mmm!!

There are simply no words to properly express how much I adore this baby of mine.  She's growing up so fast and I love her more and more every day.

Happy birthday, Natty!