Birthday Recap

This post is mostly for our family flung far and wide, so bear with me through the gazillion pictures I'm about to lay on you.

We celebrated Mary Bullock's birthday early this year with Pretty & Dadu [Lee's parents]. Pretty made a delicious dinner of Spaghetti and Meatballs a la Molly Wizenberg-- SO GOOD. Easily the best I've ever had. [And if you haven't read A Homemade Life yet, and you enjoy cooking or reading about the cooking you will probably never do, you should read it!]

My contribution to the meal was MB's birthday cake a la Betty Crocker. And by that, I mean the box. Not the cookbook. I didn't even decorate it myself-- I had help with that too.

MB sprinkled the top with confetti between shoving handfuls in her mouth. Quality control specialist in the making.

Of course, the Molly Wizenberg meatballs were entirely lost on the birthday girl. She saved herself for dessert, then took a big old fake nap on her new sleeping bag from Uncle Derbs. I think she likes it. :)

On Thursday she celebrated her birthday again with her class at playschool. I sent owl cupcakes [thanks Pinterest!] and was thoroughly amazed when I picked her up and she had not one speck of cupcake on her hands, face, or clothing. Her teachers amaze me daily.

On Saturday she woke up [very, very early] to gifts and a special breakfast from Daddy. 

I thought Bo would be satisfied playing with the balloons, but actually he digs the dollhouse, too. [Which isn't such great news to Mary Bullock.]

After breakfast we loaded up and drove out to Connor's Amaizing Acres. MB and I went last year, but Daddy missed out, so we re-visited.

It was fun, if a little crowded. I asked Mary Bullock on the way out what her favorite part had been, and she said Mommy. But she was also exhausted and probably delirious. Both babies fell asleep in the backseat within 10 minutes of leaving.

After marathon car naps, we came home and put Bo to bed while Lee prepared a tent under the stars, a fire in the fire pit, and a special dinner [burgers on the grill for us, cheetohs and apple slices for her-- this only passes as dinner on special occasions]. Then we all lounged on blankets and watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! 

And there was also an outdoor tea party. 

It was such a great, relaxed birthday. Just what we needed. We're so proud of our big girl, and she continues to amaze us every day. Some days we're just amazed we don't pull our own hair out, but mostly we're amazed at what a sweet, smart, and capable little person she's becoming.

Now we're just going to sit back and see what the year has in store. Dear Lord, let it involve a certain something in the potty. Amen.