Cake: Plan C

I didn't have time to order a special cake for Ava's party, but after a special lunch at Grimaldi's with Jack, we went to Sam's Club and picked out a pre-made white cake with buttercream frosting and had them write Happy Birthday Ava in coordinating frosting.

It turned out pretty enough and tasted as great as if I had pre-ordered it myself.

Surprise

Being out of town until two days before Ava's birthday didn't leave a lot of time for planning parties, etc, but when I came up with the idea of a surprise party for our little princess, Kyle was more than on board.

We invited only 5 friends, 3 of which actually came in time for the surprise. It was pretty anticlimactic to have only 3 friends and your mom and little sister running out a bedroom shouting surprise when she opened the door, but you could tell she was pleased.

The pin the tail on the pony game I made and the musical chairs tided the kids over until it was time for birthday cake and things got even better from there.

Disney On Ice

The big gift for Ava from us this year was Disney On Ice. She is totally into anything from the princesses, to Pixar, and although she seemed miffed by what the gift was, was super happy to go and have an afternoon alone with Daddy.

Cake: Plan B

After the cake I made for Ava while she was at preschool failed to come out of the pans in one piece, I opted for a version that didn't require anymore baking. With Kindergarten round-up taking over an hour, I literally didn't have the time to bake another one and ended up driving all over Allen to Baskin Robbins and eventually Kroger where I settled upon the cake that was chocolate cupcakes stuck together in the shape of three flowers with butter cream frosting.

In the end all that mattered was how surprised and happy Ava was knowing she got to have a cake with candles to blow-out, she knew the one I made earlier broke, on her birthday.

Carousel Princesses

After banging her head pretty hard (she has a bruise now), it was hard to detach her from my side, but the carousel did the trick. She saw Ava riding it and had to have a turn. Both girls so sweet-what beautiful princesses we have in our family.

Chuck E Time

After a heart wrenching time at Kindergarten Round-up and then the struggle to find a replacement cake, we found ourselves enjoying an evening of Chuck E Cheese. It's right down the street from our house and with a price tag of $24 for 40 games, enough pizza for everybody and 2 soft drinks-it is always a hit for birthday nights with our kids.

Ava always starts her gaming out with a spin on the bicycle, she is getting way faster at pedaling herself to the ceiling than before.

Next up was a ride on the race horse. I can never tell, but I think she is running a race throughout the whole game, and smiling all the while.

Right before the pizza came out the kids found this gem of a game. It a roller coaster ride that makes you feel like you are on the coaster. The kids haven't loved it in the past, but this time around they couldn't get enough of its free rides after you pay for the first one. We had to drag them away to the already cold pizza.

This was the first time Norah was able to ride any of the rides at Chuck E Cheese, and we started out slow with a car that went up and down. She liked and enjoyed petting the man and the dog in the car with her. When we moved onto a monster truck ride, and she hit her head on the dashboard, she was back to being held the whole time.

Kindergarten Round-Up

Only in Texas would they refer to the giving of your child over the school system-Kindergarten Round-Up. I am picturing a kid being roped up and tied instead of an innocent 5 year old being shipped off to "the real world" for 7 hours a day 5 days a week. The jury is still out on which is worse.

All these thoughts were flying through my head as I stood in line for an hour and a half with a nap deprived Norah along with almost a hundred other moms and dads.

Then to make things worse I kept picturing this sweet little princess sitting behind a desk for way too many needless hours and the tears couldn't be stopped as I handed my packet off to the last person to check it over before being told "she's ready to go!"

I love my kids as much as the next mom, but this whole kindergarten thing has really thrown me for an emotional loop, leaving me heartbroken daily. The only positive I can see is that Jack will have some more one on one time with me.

Underfoot

Norah also received a present from Grammy, but was happy to let Jack open it while she played on the floor with all the wrapping paper!

Gifts Galore

Ava waited patiently for everyone to finish eating, Jack couldn't wait though and scarfed down his donut and began asking for gifts to open. Then she started with Grammy's gifts of course. She was most excited to find out what a view finder was and eagerly showed Daddy what she received.

Ava wasn't sure what a dictionary was, but has since delved in and can be found perusing various words and their definitions throughout the day.

Grandpa gave her a stuffed bunny with an Easter egg dress on. I am supposed to be learning how to sew and everyone seemed to think doll clothes was a good place to start, bunny might be in Easter mode for awhile though.

Lastly Ava opened the gifts from us which included 15 new books. She is always uninterested in opening this type of gift, but she spent more time today reading her new books than with any other gift, except her beautifully green birthday dress obviously.

The Spoil

Here gifts were strategically laid out and her traditional birthday dress, which she reminded us of this year, was there with some new shoes as well.

Preschool Party

Since Ava's birthday would be on a day when preschool was held, we thought it would be great to make some cupcakes for her to take. She chose a rainbow cake with pink frosting. The cake was funfetti, of course, and the frosting was a homemade batch of cream cheese goodness and Ava chose a chocolate candy to top it off with.

The cupcakes were super pretty and even mistaken for something from Sprinkles, but tasted just good as they looked.

It's Finally Here

Ava has known her birthday was forthcoming, but the night before she was even more aware, and when she woke up to see this splendor, you could tell her day was already made!

Ava had talked about what she wanted for gifts and even mentioned streamers from the ceiling, apparently she had it all planned out.

Kyle went to work late and enjoyed a chocolate donut breakfast with everybody before presents were opened and he headed down to the office.