balloon birthday surprise

For Sarah's birthday, I gathered notes from friends and family and attached them to balloons that were waiting for her in her room when she arrived home from school. I wanted to share with her some fun memories that people who care about her have had with her and some things that people think of when they think of Sarah. We spent a good part of the afternoon reading the messages from her birthday surprise. She loved it. Here are some memories and special things about Sarah. I took a few liberties with some of them to make them addressed to her.

• I like when you come to Utah to visit, and when we play. I liked when we went swimming, and you made me take you down the lazy river. I remember when you were little and you tried to eat a dessert through a glass table. (Uncle Eric)
• You are very resilient. That means when something doesn't go your way or you don't get what you want, you get over it and move on. (Andrea, Kate, & Anna)
• Congratulations on becoming six. My favorite thing about you is how smart you are. I admire the fast way you learn. You are a great reader and are talented at so many things. Best wishes to you, princess, on your birthday. I hope you have a really fun day. (Aunt Colleen)
• I remember one time we came to your house for dinner and you were eating onions dipped in sour cream and ketchup. How silly! Also I like how you are so good at riding the subway. (Jason)
• A few years ago we met you and your mom and Grandma Great at the Fourth of July parade in Riverton. We watched the parade and then came to your house to play. Noah and Kade played in your turtle sandbox, and you played too until you realized how roughly little boys play with each other. Noah dumped sand all over Kade's head, and Kade just sat there playing. I think you were no longer interested in playing with them after that. (Aunt Jenn, Noah, Kade, & Jacob)
• I remember playing in your play kitchen and eating pizza with you. I also like your hair. (Bianca, age 4)
• There are so many memories that I have with you and so many things that I love about you. In February I loved visiting the New York Botanical Gardens and watching you feed the wild birds from the palm of your hand without even flinching when they flew down to you. I loved playing Alouette with you on the piano. I also loved when you painted my fingernails and read to me. Happy birthday, Sarah! Miss you. (Grandma Vawdrey)
• One of my favorite memories with you was when we went ice skating. Going around the rink was fun and it gave me time to hear the hilarious sarah-isms along the way. Your genuine nature and honesty should be envied by most adults--along with your catchy sense of style. (Norm)
• One thing that we love about you is that you are such a good buddy to Jacob. We remember you stealing Rachel's shoes at Grandma & Grandpa Vawdrey's house and running around the house with them. Rachel was always chasing after you but could never catch up. We remember when you were young you wouldn't eat anything that was broken. An we remember that when we came to visit you in New York you trotted all over the city and never got tired. We also love going to Lagoon with you. When you slept over at our house this past summer, you were so funny, and we had a lot of fun. (Mark, Shara, Jared, Ryan, Jacob, & Matthew)
• I remember that Sarah likes to be loud. She and Katie are a lot alike. You are also very confident. I like how you love to pick strawberries Grandma Vawdrey's house and how you used to love to watch "Signing Time." (Uncle Alan)
• I remember holding you on my lap when you were little and sharing my root beer with you. When I visited you last year, I remember we had several races--to the elevator, to sights in the city. I even won once, and you were so surprised. I know that you are a good swimmer. Once when we swam in the pool at Jason & Kristin's, you were like a little fish. (Rick)
• I am still impressed with you, Miss Sarah, and how well you managed as we went all over NYC and Washington DC when we came to visit. You only really got upset when you were hungry. You know the subway system in and out. As always, so smart. You have always been very bright. I think your hair is a lovely color. (Kristin, Lily, & Avery)
• I remember when we whent to the fair. I liked the fairis wheel and winning dolphins together. Happy birthday sarah! You're my firend. (Bryn, age 6)
• Here are 15 great things about you: 1)You are very good at art. 2)You are a very good reader. 3)You love to eat out. 4)You are very observant. 5)You love all of your cousins. 6)You are very, very, very, very smart. 7)You are a little athletic. 8)Everyone says you are fun to be around. 9)You are playful with others. 10)You are nice to Zach. 11) You love tic tacs. 12)You always find ways to amuse yourself. 13)You love all of your family. 14)You love to dress up. 15)You love to play with Brayle. These are 15 of the hundres upon thousands of great things about you. (Brayle)
• When we visited last year you would bring me to your little "bed" (since we were sleeping in yours) at night, and you would show me all of your dolls and their clothes. You had me lie down by you and would ask me to tell you a story. You would then add on to my story which made it better anyhow. You make everything so entertaining. You are smart and say things like an adult but still have the innocence and silliness of a child. You always make me laugh. Even though you live across the country I laugh at all of the stories that I hear about you from the blog or from the grandparents. I always tell my friends at work about the things you do. They know exactly who you are and love you, too, because you can't help but love Sarah! (Aunt Laura)
• This is my favorite memory with you. In preparation for Christmas, I invited you to my house to make gingerbread men. While you were first entertained by the activity, you were quickly distracted by the array of spiced I had lying around the kitchen. If you can imagine, I had all of the spices for gingerbread men and tomato sauce. With these spices in mind, you seized the opportunity to show me your impressive cooking skills. While making your concoction you would tell the kind of ingredients you enjoyed: a dash of cinnamon, a touch of sprinkles, a shot of paprika, a handful of powdered sugar, and a bay leaf for good measure. Though I lacked the imagination to make such a creation, you were quite proud of your final presentation. You mixed, stirred, and cooked, and once you were all finished, you told me that my father would be the lucky recipient of this creation. To his disappointment his plane was delayed, and I was unable to give him his surprise, but he did enjoy the story. Happy birthday Sarah! I hope we have many more cooking memories in our future. (Jane)
• When I think of Sarah, I think spunk, energy, smart, creative, and full of life! (Aunt Heidi)
• I hope you're having a good time in New Jersey. Remember when we had easter egg hunts and Grandma and Grandpa's house? That was fun. (Ethan)
• I remember late one night exactly six years ago sitting on the floor of Alta View Hospital in Sandy waiting for you to begin your life on earth. Your mom and dad, the doctor, many nurses, Grandpa Schmidt, Grandma and Grandpa Vawdrey, and I were all there. We wondered what you would look and be like. How much hair, its color, and what your weight was were some of the things we talked about into the wee hours of the morning. It has been an exciting six years full of happy times, laughter, sleepless nights and interesting experiences. Little did anyone know you would spend half of your life near Manhattan, in an apartment and far away from extended family and loved ones. You have done more in your half dozen years than all of your cousins put together. Most people in the whole United States never get to do all of these fun things in their entire lives that you have done. Thank you for letting us come visit. You are super helpful showing us the ropes and the best way to get around town. We love cuddling up in bed and listening to you read. (Grandma Schmidt)
• Some of the things that I think of when I think of Sarah are her sparkly smile and how fun sacrament is with her there. Without her it is not so fun. Her great big hugs! I love those running jump hugs! How she can read a Greek mythology book and not mess up the way hard words. This reminds me of another time in sacrament when a girl Sarah's age wanted a book read, and Sarah said I can read that to you. And she did. How talented Sarah is with drawing and her imagination. Love those house pictures! How Sarah sits so reverently during sacrament to be a great example for others. The way she can get Zach to giggle during sacrament! When Sarah came to mutual, we made necklaces and bracelets with the young women. That was fun. The pretty dresses she wears that make her look glamorous. When we first met, Sarah gave me directions (and correct ones at that) on how to get to her house. Of course, she also mentioned that I should have someone drive me there since she figured I was too young to drive myself. Happy birthday beautiful girl! (Christina)