You guys, over the weekend, our Madeley James turned TEN YEARS OLD!!
I simply cannot believe it.
What did we do to celebrate the big 1-0, well…
…we did something Andrew and I SWORE we would never do (just add it to ‘the list’).
This kiddo in particular asks for very, very little. She is always so joyful. She’s so happy go lucky. She’s so easy to entertain. She’s constantly transported from one “big kid” activity to another, dines off of concession stand food and stays up way past her bedtime…ALWAYS with a smile on her face. We have said “never, never, never” to a trampoline in our yard…but this “parenting little kids” time is going by SO fast, and I know one day, I’ll look back and miss all of it, so I might as well embrace the big hole in my yard with a smile 🙂 .
This makes me chuckle, so I’m going to share it…but a few weeks ago, Madeley went to a birthday party where you could earn tickets and “buy” prizes at the end. She came home with only two things that she “bought” with her tickets and they were both specifically for Kensington. Kensington said “Oh my gosh, it’s like I’m Fred Claus living with Santa”. Bahahaha! If you’ve seen that movie, you know why this is funny. Madeley is just super selfless and always so thoughtful…and no one was more excited that we got her a trampoline more than her three siblings.
Well, maybe they were excited for themselves too 😉 .
So, what did we do on her big day? Well, it was extra big…
…it started early that morning with the McKinney Boyd High School Cheer Mini Clinic. She was SUPER pumped to go (she knows all the “big” cheerleaders!), she was excited her big sister IS a MBHS cheerleader, and she was REALLY pumped that said cheerleader sister was able to drive her there. Geez, I love these three! Andrew and I arrived at the end for the parent showoff portion, and it was SO special to see all three of our girls out there!
We came home and quickly regrouped before…
…heading to Buff City Soaps in McKinney for her birthday party 🙂 .
We were pumped to be there!
This is the cutest soap shop where they don’t just sell retail up front…
…you can host parties and make your own! Mades wanted to make bath bombs with her friends…
…the women that work there made this party SO EASY! They set it all up, helped all the girls, and then gave us plenty of space to eat, drink and enjoy. Other than Ashby’s Game Truck Birthday, it was by far the easiest one we’ve done.
Because it’s Mades…a nugget tray. This is her favorite thing to eat!
The girls all got to pick their scents, their colors and then “paint” each bath bomb too.
It’s so fun that they turned this into…
…this!
Busy, busy bath bomb making!
Mades wanted this to be a Taylor Swift Bath Bomb Party (clearly she lives with teenagers), so…
…I ordered these fun things on Etsy to “decorate” the party…
Another Etsy find! The front had a 10 and said Mades below it. So cute!
After this party, we headed to Madeley’s favorite McKinney restaurant…
…The Yard to meet our family for dinner!
Side note: When your birthday falls on a Saturday, you really get to cram more fun in 🙂 .
The gang was all there for a GORGEOUS night in McKinney outside to celebrate Mades! It was one of those nights that I really just didn’t want to end. It was really, really sweet.
Happy birthday to our precious Madeley James! We love you!!
Sl says
How fun!! Tell us about that trampoline. My daughter wants one but the above ground ones look so unsafe. Is this one built into ground. My daughter lived Buff city too!!
Mix and Match Mama says
It is an in-ground trampoline. There are lights underneath it (so you can see) and a pump for drainage (for rain). So far, so good!
Amy Heinl says
What a fun filled birthday..so glad she got her trampoline. So much fun to be had and what great exercise too.
Elspeth says
What a fun birthday!!! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Erika Slaughter says
The bath bombs smelled amazing! Britt used one last night and stepped out of the bathroom smelling divine!
Heather says
So precious! Happy Birthday Madeley! Did she get her birthday sign? Love that you do that for all your kiddos.
Mix and Match Mama says
She did!!
Susan Jeffries says
Happy bday to your baby!
Natalie Alvarado says
She is just the cutest thing! I can’t believe she is 10! I remember when you brought her home. Looks like a memorable day! 🩷🎉
Heather says
Happy Birthday to Madeley! I don’t know how I’d ever tell that precious girl no either….. she’s too adorable!!
My dad dug a hole for our rectangular trampoline and that was 40 years ago. It was the best!
I hope she has a wonderful year! 💗
Kim says
We’ve had our trampoline for 34 yrs and my grandkids have now been using it for years. They all love it!
Melissa Terry says
So fun! We have a Buff City near us in Southlake so I’m definitely adding that to our potential birthday fun list.
SS says
How fun!!! Happy 1st Decade Miss M!!!
Jami Romano says
So super special and fun 🙂
Debbie says
How fun! That trampoline looks like hours and hours of fun!
KACEY says
Happy happy birthday Mades!!
Dana P says
So fun! Our baby is 10 too and it’s brought a lot more sobriety to me and how I parent them. I can’t believe we’re already to this point. But I love that many of our kids are the same ages and I get to sort of go through it with you. 🙂
Kesha says
Awe! What a fun filled birthday! I know she loves the trampoline! Happy 10’th Birthday Mades!!!
Lindsey W says
Happy Birthday, Madeley! We share the same birthday! A bath bomb making party looks like too much fun! Hope it was the best day! 💗
sandi says
I only know your family through the blog, but man this kid oozes personality. She just shines! Such a fun birthday treat with the trampoline. It is funny what you say yes to with the baby of the family. Our youngest will send pictures to her siblings in college and the responses are so funny. “Wait she is out after the curfew that was set for me at that age” “Who said she could go to a Lynyrd Skynyrd/ZZ Top concert?” Mom dad… are you parenting this kid or is she running the house these days?” The joys of being the last kid at home and the baby of the family make up for years of being the tag along kid. Happy Ten Years Old, Mades!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh Sandi, I love this SO MUCH!!
Michelle Etheridge says
Happy birthday to Madeley!!
Carol says
Happy Birthday, Madeley! Will Madeley get a 10-year-old trip with the grandparents? That’s an idea I LOVE and one I hope to use with my own grands as they get older!
Mix and Match Mama says
She will!! They’re still figuring out exactly where/when.
Kate says
Happy birthday Madeley!! Looks like the best day. And while I know her name everything I see it in full I just love it!
Jk says
We need an updated birthday sign tour !
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m on it!!
Debbie says
She is soooo dang cute!
D Jackson says
What a fun birthday weekend for your sweet special Madeley!! Love the in ground trampoline…smart way to enjoy the jumping fun!! Happy 10th birthday to little Miss M!!
Kerry says
Can you show us a picture of her birthday sign that you have made for each of the kids each year? I love these!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! I’m sure I need to share an updated pic since the last one. Our wall has significantly grown!
Tara says
Happy birthday to your littlest love!
We keep a mini tramp around but yours looks way more fun!!
Anneka says
Aw, Happy Birthday Madeley! It looks like such a fun day. My oldest is turning 10 next year and this definitely looks like a line up she’d endorse! She and all her little friends love crafts in all forms.
Marian Cadenasso says
How fun! Happy Birthday to Madely! Will she be taking a trip with Lovie & Papa Jay?
Mix and Match Mama says
She will! Sometime this summer. We haven’t nailed down the specifics yet.
Marisa Patel says
Happy Birthday to Madeley!!!! It looks like everyone had so much fun. I live close to Buff City Soap and have been in several times but did not realize that they do parties. I have to say that if my yard had enough room we would have ended up with a trampoline too! Good for y’all for getting one, kids of all ages love them and now that they are easily put in the ground they are so much safer.
Marian Cadenasso says
Love hearing about all the adventures!
Debbra Weber says
What a fun idea for a birthday party!! It looks like she had the best day celebrating. Happy Birthday to her!!
Melissa says
Nothing better than a Saturday birthday. Looks like she had the best day!
Amy D. says
Happy Birthday, sweet Mades! What a fun time celebrating the birthday girl.
kristen says
omg I can’t believe she’s 10!!! How??? She is just adorable and I’m so glad she had such a lovely day!
Jess says
Happy Birthday to Mades!!! It’s so sweet to see her surrounded by and giving so much love! 💛
Sarah says
That trampoline is such goals! My twin daughters have been asking for one for years, but my husband is resisting. What were your earlier reservations, and how did you and Andrew overcome/ justify them now? I’d love to convince my husband to go for one!
Mix and Match Mama says
We had so many reservations. One, we didn’t want a big gigantic hole in our yard/to dig up our grass/to dig up our existing sprinkler system. We had heard a lot of negative things about above ground ones (safety concerns). Things like that. One day Andrew suggested taking the playground down because it was getting old and we either needed to spend money to fix it up and keep it safe or remove it. Our kids all voted that we could remove it. Later that night, we went for a walk and I showed him our neighbor’s in-ground trampoline and suggested putting it where the playground was because it already didn’t have sod or a sprinkler system (because the playground was on top of the area), so it would be a perfect swap out. Timing just really really worked. We held on to the playground until closer to Madeley’s birthday to make it happen seamlessly on her actual birthday.
Jill says
Happy Birthday 🎂10🎂 The trampoline is awesome! She will make the best memories! Laying on the trampoline late at night under the stars is so fun too. Way to go Shay & Andrew!
Laci says
Happy Birthday to Mades!!
Faith Kapp says
What a fun day! I wish we had thought about the in ground trampoline. That wasn’t a thing when we had one. We want to see you out there! 😃
Susan McKain says
Happy, happy birthday, sweet Mades.
What a fun-filled birthday weekend you gave her.
MK says
Happy bday to Madeley! Will she get to go on a birthday trip like Kensington did and Smith did for their 10th? Since she is such a Taylor Swift fan as well as her oldest sis, maybe a trip to see her perform?!
Mix and Match Mama says
No, she went on a trip for her 7th birthday (and they didn’t). We don’t always do the exact same thing for all of the kids. We do what seems to be the best fit for them at that time and for her, she desperately wanted a trampoline, so that’s what we decided to do.
Robyn Beers says
Happy Birthday!
Hope says
Did you all consider taking Madeley to one of the last Taylor Swift concerts since she’s a fan? Not sure if 10 is too young for the show but I feel like I’ve seen kids around that age attend.
Mix and Match Mama says
We would have totally considered it if she had been talking about it…but that didn’t seem to be on her radar.
Deb says
Happy birthday to Madely! What a great birthday – she has the greatest smile annd is so full of joy – you can tell she is enjoying every part of her birthday! I didn’t even know about trampolines that are ground level – very cool!
Stacey says
Can you even imagine that 11 years ago in your world this was just another Saturday?? Now it’s your favorite Saturday of the month! Happy Birthday Madeley!
Mix and Match Mama says
Well that makes me want to CRY! That is a very sweet and sobering thought at the same time.
Holly C. says
Cute party idea, looks so fun!
Cara says
Being the Swifite she is and all the traveling your family does, I’m surprised y’all didn’t take her to see the Eras tour this weekend! I know she didn’t go this summer with big sister and Dad but now that Taylor is back in the US/ North America, what an amazing experience that would be!!
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m sure she would love to go see the Eras tour, but it’s not something she talks about/wants as much as the trampoline per se. We would have considered it if we thought it was *the* gift for her, but it doesn’t appear to be. That being said, if Taylor ever comes back to Dallas, that would be easier and more affordable to do as a family, so I think we would if the girls wanted to go.
Sarah Shaneyfelt says
Looks like she just had the best birthday!!! I love the bath bomb birthday party idea!!
Paula says
Awww…sweet, Mades! I think I love her leg pop every single time the best! Precious!
Heather says
Happy happy Birthday to Sweet Mades!
Stacey says
Yay you and a trampoline for Madeley! We had a trampoline for my kiddos, now grown-such happy memories and a fun thing for them to do together as they grow up!! It’s so cute that your big kids are loving It for (and with) her! Enjoy!
Lois A. Hilty says
Who is the gentleman with his cane at the table’s end seated across from your father? Might he be your mother’s brother? Also, who is the young man seated between your mother & your brother? Maybe that uncle’s son? Since I’ve followed you daily since Kensington & Smith were tiny, I feel as if I “know” some of the family. haha Thanks, Shay.
Mix and Match Mama says
The gentleman on the end is Catherine’s dad and the gentlemen between Sean and my mom is our dear family friend. He’s so dear to us that our kids call him “Uncle”. He’s like a second sibling to Sean and me.
Katie Compton says
Happy birthday, to a girl who radiates pure joy in every picture! I can only imagine it’s 10x as much joy in person. And my birthday was on a Saturday this year (October 12th) and I agree… you can cram in lots of fun!! Yay!
Nancy says
Happy birthday sweet Madeley James! I’m so happy that you got a trampoline!
Ave Perry says
What an amazing birthday! Everyone will remember the yr y’all got a trampoline.
Rhoda W says
Happy 10th Birthday Mades!!! I’ve followed this little shining star courtesy of your blog since she was a baby. Her joy and OTT personality just leaps from your pages and cracks me up, Looks like it was the most perfect day!
Hope says
Happy Birthday Mades! What a fun party and birthday dinner!
Deena says
What a special 10th birthday for Madelely! I’m sure she’ll love the trampoline!
Lisa says
Looks like she had a wonderful birthday
Liz Thorson says
Just read this post on Saturday! What a fabulous day of celebration for darling, sweet, happy Madeley! I’m certain she loved and appreciated every minute of her day!❤️🎂❤️