Happy Birthday Ramsey!

Our baby girl, Ramsey, turned 7 years old today! Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Ramsey was born at 1 second after midnight, and this year she was able to stay up late enough to celebrate her birthday at the exact time that she was born. She and I got on the computer as the clock ticked 12:00:01 and looked at the pictures from the day she was born. It was a fun walking down memory lane and I wanted to share a few photos with you.

Ramsey's very first picture, March 9, 2001

6 month old Ramsey with Daddy (Michael)

Ramsey with new baby sister Bradey (January 2003)

Every year, the girls get to choose what kind of birthday cake that they want Nana, my Mom, to make. Here is what Ramsey has chosen throughout the years.

1st Birthday: Ramsey's official cake was a teddy bear cake but this was the cake that she fed herself.

2nd Birthday: Ramsey loved Elmo

3rd Birthday: gotta love Nemo!

4th Birthday: a Cinderella cake for our princess

5th Birthday: Barbie is the best friend for the 5 year old!

6th Birthday: our little cowgirl!

7th Birthday: This year, Ramsey wanted a Tim McGraw cake. That was a stretch for Mom but we ended up deciding on an acoustic guitar and Mom incorporated a picture of Tim McGraw into it. It turned out great! Thanks Nana! Things were a little tougher for my Mother-in-law, Ann, who likes to take the theme and get all of the girls (my 2 and my 2 nieces, her other granddaughters CJ and Madilyn) party favors. She didn't have many Tim McGraw options but she found some other great items that they'll all enjoy. Thanks Ann!

Ramsey with Nana (my Mom)

Bradey's Birthday

I'm playing catch-up. Bradey's birthday was January 9th, she turned 5 years old. My mom always makes the girls' birthday cakes and they get to choose what they want. Bradey has had a Teddy Bear, Scooby Doo, Herbie (the car) and this was the 2nd year that she asked for an Ariel cake. She is Ariel's biggest fan!

My mom, Edna, and Bradey with her Ariel cake

Ramsey has requested a Tim McGraw cake this year :) It is actually going to be a guitar cake with his name written on it. I'll post pictures of her annual family birthday party at CiCis on Sunday. Shhhh, don't tell her, but we got her Tim McGraw concert tickets for her birthday!

Ramsey's turn onstage

Michael and I both serve on the Arts Team at our church. Michael plays bass in the band and I am one of the vocalists. Our girls have grown up running around the auditorium, pretending that they are running things in the tech booth, fighting for the microphone so that they can sing during rehearsal, etc. All 4 of us were on together for the first time this past Christmas Eve (I need to dig up some pictures from that). We had 6 kids sing along on some of the Christmas carols and Ramsey and Bradey were a part of that group. It was the first time that I have had the opportunity to sing with my girls and Michael was able to join us in the band. It was very special to say the least.

Anyhow, Ramsey got her turn to be a part of worship on her own at our January "Family Night" service. She was so excited to have the opportunity to be a leader of worship with the bigger kids and she really did a great job.

Ramsey singing at Family Night

Okay, where did that little baby girl go? The one that I brought home that day almost 7 years ago and didn't know what to do with? I was so afraid that I was going to break her. She turns 7 this Sunday and she just seems to be getting so old! She is tall for her age and her glasses make her look older and I am just not ready for that! You are just going to have to bear with me for a while as I adjust to my baby girl growing up :(

Tiny Dancer

Our youngest daughter Bradey, who is 5, loves to dance. We recently attended one of her classes and I was able to take a few pictures.

~Dawn

Welcome/Trip to Washington DC

Bradey (l) and Ramsey (r) at Washington Monument

Welcome!

Well, I have finally jumped on the blog bandwagon. Welcome to the Shirley Family Chronicles, a look into the lives of Michael, Dawn, Ramsey (age 6) and Bradey (age 5) Shirley from the viewpoint of Dawn Shirley. With the scattered nature of friends and family nowadays, I hope to provide an opportunity for those that might care (only a few may :) about what's happening in our little corner of the world. Again, welcome!

Trip to Washington DC:

I plan to post some recent pics of the girls soon, but for now I wanted to share some photos from our recent trip to Washington DC. My mom (Edna), the girls and I went to DC for a few days. It was Bradey's graduation present from my mom for graduating from her little Mother's Morning Out program. They have the cutest little graduation ceremony with cap and gown and all the trimmings (I'll post pics of the ceremony in May). Anyhow, Mom took Ramsey when she graduated and Bradey has been impatiently waiting for her turn to go. This was also Bradey's first trip on an airplane and she loved it.

Bradey's first plane ride

Bradey (l) and Ramsey (r) in cockpit.
The pilot was very sweet and invited the girls up there!

We visited many places in DC including The Capitol Building, The Washington Monument, Air and Space Museum, Museum of Natural History, Library of Congress, National Archives, Smithsonian Castle, Postal Museum, etc.

Thanks Nana for the wonderful trip!