Maree @ 4 - The Party

Every year so far for the girls birthdays I decorate outside and make some cookies or cupcakes.  It's always just family mainly because I'm not sure I'm ready for a house full of screaming girls! While Maree has been to some pretty elaborate birthday parties, I still chose to wait another year or two before doing an actual party with friends.  But, even though I kept it family… I did want her to feel special because she is remembering SO much more and so I took on a few things that seemed like a good idea at the time… and they WERE fun… but they were a decent amount of work on my part!!

*************Pre-Birthday week**************

The day before her birthday we made sugar cookies to take to school-- not sure why I thought this was a great idea.. it took us/me 3 hours by the time they were done and frosted!!

Thought I'd start a chalkboard birthday snapshot at each age.  Again, in theory this was great… took me longer than I wanted it to!

I almost wanted to cry after I opened this thing up and realized how much I had to put together!! Luckily about half way through Devon showed up to help :)

Finished after about 2.5 hours

On Pinterest I'd seen a punch box game and thought I could use the barbie house box we got for it!  SO. We wrapped it in purple of course… and I did the easy part of tracing circles and filling bags while Devon cut them out!

Next covering the holes with tissue paper

And taping on the goody bags.

***************Birthday Morning**************

I let her open 1 present before school and it was a new Descendants lunch box!  She wore this whole outfit to school and walked in the doors…threw open her arms and announced IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!

Ellie had to sneak in there for a picture too!

While at school I made purple cupcakes

And tried to hide/wrap the giant doll house.  Somehow this wasn't obvious to them.

And during nap time Maree miraculously watched a movie so we could set up!

Matt and Casey with the girls

Devon with the girls too

Now for the game.  They had to toss a ball into buckets bozo the clown show style… and if they made it...

They got to push out a circle!

Loved opening gifts and was so patient with each one because I was trying to video tape the opening of each one for family who doesn't live here to see.

I'd say she's a lucky girl!

Ellie got a suitcase from Nana to help occupy her.  Oddly she wasn't even remotely jealous of Maree and then took off with her suitcase

It even looks huge next to grown men lol

And it's final home.  Now if only the doll house furniture pieces actually stayed put!