Smile Lines: Princess, Parfaits & Pedicures~ Sweet Seven for Audrey~ July 13

I did not think it would take me three months (plus) time to post about such a sweet celebration but here we are.

This was my beautiful birthday girl.

She woke this birthday as she does each day~ with a smile.

Seeing her each morning still makes my heart sing as it did the moment I first held her. Audrey remains a constant joy.

She is smart as a whip~ oh, the math problems she solves!, the words she spells!, the books she can read!--she loves to learn and is a pleasure to teach.

She has a tender soul (sobs at movies, feels deeply when someone is in trouble, and can read your heart or feel your need sometimes before you are even aware).

She has a confidence that many only dream about (bullies beware--she is the girl that will stop you in your tracks and regale you with the right and wrong approach to treating others).

She is driven, competitive, madly in love with her mama, always wanting her papa home or nearby, Olivia's biggest fan, and the greatest addition our family of three could have imagined some seven years ago.

So, back to her birthday morning~ oh, I forgot to mention ~ she is all things girly, frilly, pretty, and sweet. Here's proof.

Big sister, Liv, left her a couple of stuffed animals that she had wanted for her birthday at the foot of her bed so as to surprise her when she awoke. It worked. Instant love.

Her proud papa gave her an ice cream sundae for breakfast (as he does each birthday morning for us girls).

She had loads of wishes in her heart.

She savored every cool, creamy bite of her sundae.

Little Alice dressed for the occasion in a #7 cheerleader dress.

Then we were off to the salon to have the birthday girl's hair professionally done.

After admiring her lovely locks, she was whisked off to tea with Meme and Papa.

After seven years of waiting and wanting, she received a special gift ~ an American Girl doll from her grandparents (they present each grandaughter with one on their seventh birthday).