Chip and Joanna Gaines share five children: sons Drake, Duke, and Crew, and daughters Ella and Emmie Kay.
Earlier this year, Joanna shared the emotions she felt as her and Chip’s eldest child, Drake, prepared for his first year of college:
“Soon, our oldest son, Drake, will be leaving home for college. In the grand scheme of heartbreaking things, this one comes with a lot of gratitude and excitement. But still, my first child is moving away, and our family dynamic will change because of it, and that can feel like a loss of its own.”
Now, Joanna is feeling a new wave of emotions as she and Chip celebrate their daughter Ella’s 16th birthday.
Joanna posted a video on Instagram showcasing the beautiful decorations she set up for Ella’s birthday. Large, colorful balloons covered the ceiling, while a glittery banner that read “sweet sixteen” hung above the dining room table.
“My sweet girl turns 16,” Joanna said in the video’s caption. “I’m trying my darnedest not to cry like a big fat mama baby when she drives off by herself tomorrow.”
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Chip and Joanna don’t often post photos of their kids, but they love to talk about them. When Ella was only 11 years old, Joanna said she thought she’d be a great businesswoman one day.
At that time, Ella was making baked goods to sell at Joanna’s office during the summer break. She made delicious treats like banana pudding and Joanna’s famous chocolate chip cookies. Learn more about Ella’s past business venture in the clip below.
We hope Ella had the sweetest 16th birthday!