Party Time!!

Tonight we celebrated Alivia's 4th birthday with a family party at the local pizza place. It was fun, it was chaotic, but for the first year it was not at my house! Everything went smoothly. There was no cooking, planning activities, or any other stressful thing you go through when hosting an event at your own house.Everyone ate dinner at the pizza buffet. No wondering if so and so will like this or that. No dishes to do or making sure your silverware doesn't meet the trashcan (maybe I'm a freak about that one). We had cake, did gifts, and then the adults left or sat and chatted while all the kids hit the game room. It lasted 2 hours and was perfect.

I surprised Alivia this year with her cake. I usually let her help me pick it out but not this year. I asked her about 3 weeks ago what kind of birthday cake she wanted this year. She told me a kitty cake while holding up ole' faithful "Ella" the worn out beanie baby kitty. That is what she got. A cake with a brown kitty playing with a ball of yarn. I was hesitant about ordering another cake from Publix again after how Diggy's turned out for his birthday. I decided to try them again anyway but told the manager I was disappointed in our last cake. She gave me a $7.00 discount and I had a coupon for $3.oo off! That made the deal a lot sweeter. The cake turned out good, even though Cam said the cat looked like it had mange haha, and I have faith in the Publix bakery once again :0)

Diggy terrorizing balloons

Livi got lots of cool stuff for her birthday including a pair of roller skates, some new school clothes, a princess coloring book, a sea monkey set (I have no idea what this is but sounds kinda scary), a new hoppity ball (since uncle Jerry made a hole in the old one and got scolded for 3 weeks), a hula hoop, and some other small craft things.

She of course had to come home and try out all of her new stuff. She started out with the roller skates. We made sure to put on the helmet, elbow, and knee pads before the skates. She was a bit wobbly and will need extensive practice... good thing we all know she is not graceful!

She started out slow and steady

The first fall

She has got it now!

The last fall

She will just have to try again in the morning

Once we convinced her it was time to go inside she promptly disappeared to her room and began a model show of all her new "princess clothes".

Tomorrow we will be busy preparing to leave for our vacation. I am excited and hope everyone stays happy and even tempered. Here is to dreaming I suppose. Wait for that update next week!