The doll that grandma made

Wren turned 4-years-old on August 29th.  She was so ready for her "burt-day" and it happened to fall during our marathon interview trip.  Grandma and Grandpa Platt met us in Boise and, per request, we all celebrated the day at Chuck E Cheese.  Grandma Chris made the day special with homemade cupcakes and lots of presents.  Grandma Chris knows Wren (and her mom :)) and got her super fun Melissa and Doug stamp kit, jewelry kit, and hand mirror.   We got to dance with Chuck E himself not just once but twice. The kids played tons to games and we adults ended up with tickets spilling out of our pockets.  Talk about excited to spend those tickets!  Did we earn the X Box?  The stuffed animal?  Better-- The tickets bought 1 spider ring and 1 tootsie roll (or something like that....:)).  It was a fun day.

I, of course, got no pictures.  

We weren't done celebrating our special girl, though.  When we got home, I whipped up some chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and peanut ice milk.  And our best buddies the Knudsons and the Whitsons came over to eat and celebrate.  I can't find all the pictures I took of that little party (I know, don't tell me some organizing needs to happen....don't I already know it. deeply.)     But I did find the two gems above.  Wren's gift from Granny Lori that day, was the handmade doll in the pictures.  My mom thinks the doll was made a long time ago by her grandma, Lenna Hiss.   Grandma Lenna was a big part of my mom's life and  my mom carries her name, Lenna, as her middle name.  Wren's middle name, after her grandma and great-great grandma is also, Lenna.  

This doll, was a labor of love, way back when.  All the details and features of the little blond 1920's style girl are hand stitched into cream fabric.  When my mom found it, it was stained and in bad repair.  But, after a complete washing and restuffing, it is beautiful.  You can see from the pictures how the newest Lenna feels about it.  

But enough about the days and on to our girl.  Our Wren girl is such a joy.  She is a doer, a crafter, a reader, and a caretaker.  She is still a lover of ears, belly buttons, babies, her thumb, bags, and collections she creates.  She has beautiful blond hair.  Loves going to school and always talks back to Dora.  And this girl is a singer!  She loves to sing me songs about the gospel that she makes up herself.  She has got her doctrine spot on, I must say.  

We love her so very much or, as we say at our house, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. 

Happy Birthday to our Wren!