Seven Years Old!

Our youngest snickerdoodle has turned seven, folks, and she is no longer a little dumpling of a thing but has grown into a lovely young lady! Bitter-sweet... heavy on the sweet. :) 

On Friday, two days before her birthday, we let her open her gifts because the biggest gift was a girls' day/night/next day out dining, shopping and hoteling!

Dad and Mom took her out to lunch and a surprise...

...Go-kart racing!

We definitely have another crazy-competitive driver in the house!

Windblown and ready to go again!

Dad and Mom were so kind to pay for our hotel stay and give us girls a mini vacation...

All dressed up for dinner

Twirling in her beautiful new gown from Mom and Dad

Saturday we headed out for a day of shopping

Sister selfies are the best :)

Panera filled our tummies and lightened my our sore feet ;)

That evening we set about preparing Johanna's requested breakfast...cinnamon rolls!

"Woops...spilled some flour...oh, dumped some dough out too."

Mom prepared the birthday girl's requested lunch... egg salad

It always tastes better when you've made it yourself

Dad is our expert cinnamon-roll-man (dare I call him our pillsbury doughboy? :D)

Something's funny... Vanessa can laugh, I tell you!

Close up and delectible

Can this face be considered a tradition now?

Rolling it up

Yum

The slicing crew

Memory game is rather hilarious around here... "Um, have I seen that one before?" "This is only the seventh time!" Ha!

Fire and fun

Johanna must not be doing too well... I probably wasn't either but I'm not going to say ;)

Good-morning!! Happy 7th Birthday!

Yeah, she has a nice smile even when we wake her up

Mr. and Mrs. T. and Mr. and Mrs. M. blessed Johanna with lovely journals/books!

Dinner time!

Mom and I

Candlelight and sparkling grape juice makes everything just right

Happy gal!

Sisters

Grandma Lorry is ready to dig into the birthday pie!

As is Junebug...

...and Margarete!

Blueberry pie for a seven year old princess

The house is filled with party blowers!

Our sweet pie slicer

The next day, our lovely beautician, Mrs. Lisa, came by with a delicious cake and wonderful gifts!

Partying even while cutting hair

The traditional cake-monster face!

Thank you so much, Mrs. Lisa, for thinking of Johanna and making her birthday so special!

About fifteen minutes after she left, two lovely ladies who come to see the Grandmas, Ms. Nikki and Ms. Susie, surprised Johanna with cupcakes, ballons and more gifts!

Thank you, thank you! Johanna loves you all!

The critical moment - vanilla or chocolate?

Two happy seven year olds at a tea party for Johanna!

Mrs. P. set the table so tastefully (pun intended ;)

Sweet gifts!

And I'll leave you all with this last photo, laugh or cry over it, I've done both. :) 

New aprons for our grown up gal (and her assistant chef ;)!

Love you, Johanna Joy, our gracious gift of joy from the Lord!