Birthday Weekend Fun

Last Friday I shared some favorites including a birthday!  Carly Jo turned 12 last Friday and since things are kind of whack at our house this week (see Wednesday post) instead of Friday Favorites I’m sharing how much fun we had celebrating this girl!

If you have been around the blog awhile, you will know after Carly’s 10th slumber party we have joined our besties and opted instead for an experience instead of a party.  Now, I’m not actually going to say this is a cheaper option but we definitely have added some fun memories instead of more “stuff”.  Last year we celebrated her birthday at the JW Marriott in San Antonio and this year she initially wanted to go to Galveston but then things kind of changed up a bit after the hurricane.  Here is a look at Carly Jo’s birthday weekend!

I picked up Carly and four of her friends from school and we headed to Bahama Bucks for snow cones and lots and lots of giggling! It was a perfect little after school celebration.

We celebrated with dinner at a restaurant she may have only picked for the dessert, but hey, no judgement here!  Sadly, we always wait to take pictures until after and I failed to bring my good camera so the pictures were not great.  She had a big crowd with her Nana, big sis, mom and dad, Mimi and Aunt Amy, her second mom Holly and her bestie Holden.  Jordan’s roommates, who Carly has affectionately labeled as her “aunties” also joined us.   

We head off for girls weekend on Saturday and these two have just gotten so grown up lately!  It’s fun, challenging, interesting and educational watching them bounce between little girls and pre-teens!

We wandered around Market Street browsing an art show which happened to be going on before our hotel was ready.

Carly really wanted to go to San Antonio to the JW Marriott again this year but it was totally booked.  We opted for The Woodlands Resort and while it is doesn’t have quite as many options for older kids, it wasn’t crowded at all and these two can pretty much have fun anywhere!

Pretty much if there is a lazy river you can make a weekend!

I was able to find lots of time to read and really thought it was funny Friday was the first day of fall and yet we were at the pool!

We returned to our room to find this plate of chocolate chip cookies and an ice bucket full of cold milk.  It was the perfect treat!

We headed to Target later to grab a few snacks and horsed around a little!  Y’all, we were walking by the furniture and this head was just laying on a shelf and it was so creepy!

I ordered room service for breakfast on Sunday and it was amazing!  The kids pancakes were so reasonable and look how much food!!

This was the adult breakfast and OMG….it was so good!   Room service is always a splurge but I felt this was extremely reasonable for the amount of food we received.

The girls were back in the pool by 9:30am and the resort extended checkout until noon so we enjoyed a few more hours of fun!  

I can only imagine how much these two are going to grow and change the next few years and I’m so thankful they let me be a part of their fun!

We finished up with lunch at the Cheesecake Factory (again the location chosen based on dessert!) and a quick drive back home.  I just love this little toot so much!

Top Twelve Qualities I Love about Carly Jo!

one | Joyful –  Carly seriously exudes so much joy and her smile can light up a room.

two | Dedicated  – This year Carly challenged herself by trying out for competition dance and I’m so proud of how hard she has worked.

three | Beautiful – Inside and out this girl is precious.  She loves hard and sees the beauty in the world.

four | Stubborn – So, so stubborn!  I don’t know where she gets it from (insert eye roll) but I know in the coming years this will be our biggest challenge

five | Impatient – I have been asking Carly what’s the “P” word since she was probably 18 months old.  She also comes by this honestly.  Only thing I can say is she gets things done!

six | Passionate – Even about trees y’all!  When she believes in something she voices it and she is very passionate right now about trees and how many are being removed for the sake of building around our little town.

seven | Thoughtful – Carly Jo is so thoughtful when it comes to her friends and family.  I feel like she pays close attention to what others love and is always picking out the perfect gift.

eight | Witty – Somehow I missed the boat on this one but this girl lined right up!  I’m always shocked by her witty one liners.

nine | Organized – Heavens is this one of my favorites!  This girl definitely got this gene and it may be the only reason I’m surviving still living with the other type B members of our household.  She is great about keeping things organized, purging often and keeping me on task when we are working on a project around the house.

ten | Smart – Not just in the book smart kind of way but this girl is smart in the world kind of way.  While she does make great grades in school I’m even more surprised at how wise she is when it comes to viewing the world and all the lessons it brings.

eleven | Adventurous – Carly Jo will go anywhere and try anything!  I am always surprised by how much I can get her to try and how willing she is to explore.  I definitely have to be cautious about mentioning something we could do because she will hound me until we have it planned!

twelve | Competitive – As the baby of 4, this girl is always competing to show she can measure up to her siblings!  She LOVES to be right too!

Happy, happy 12th year Carly Jo!  I hope you continue to have patience with me as you head into this 13th year!  You hold me accountable in so many ways but always in a kind way and I love, love, love that about you.  To the moon and back baby girl….you completed our family and we love you so much.