the final installment

I promise this is the last you'll hear of her birthday! It's been birthday week around here, not just a day. Yesterday was her party--my parents, my husband's parents, and my brother and his family came. There was a change in plans a couple of weeks ago--I mentioned before that I was making a lady bug cake. Well, I realized that she really wasn't that excited about ladybugs anymore, so I was only making it because I wanted to, not because it was something she'd love. What does she love right now? Pooh. So we had a Pooh party instead. She loved it. She had a fabulous time--mostly following her cousins around and running from one grandparent to the next to be held for a minute before wanting down and finding out what the cousins were up to.

Before I forget, we finished our project I mentioned a few days ago. I can't take much credit--I helped paint it, but my husband did almost all of the work. I saw one of these bookshelves in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog when I was pregnant and talked about how cute it was, but of course it was so expensive. He decided to draw the plans himself and build it from scratch. I think it's beautiful. This was her main present from us, though she also got some more beads, play doh (she hasn't ever played with it, so just think of the fun....and mess....that we're in for!), books, a toy lawn mower to push around outside, and an outfit. Now we have to find room for it!

At the party we opened presents--with anxious helpers, cousins Emma and Alex--She got puzzles, books, clothes, and sand toys for the sand box, which is now filled with sand!), cake and ice cream, and then dinner a little later.

She loved having everyone sing happy birthday!

And eating cake was a highlight (this picture was taken right AFTER she tried putting her whole face in the piece of cake--we didn't have the camera ready for that, unfortunately!!!)

After cake and ice cream her cousins wanted to go out and play in the new sandbox. It was sprinkling and freezing, but we decided to let them for a little while. They had a ball.

The rest of the day was playtime. She and Emma had fun together, and Emma taught her how to have a tea party!

She went to sleep a tired but happy girl.