Happy Birthday, Dear Ella!

As sure as I asked her not to, Ella turned 4! We have had a reacurring conversation for the past year where I ask her to stay the same size forever. Sometimes she would agree, others she would say that she really wanted to be able to go to school.

I felt badly because I kept joking w/ her and telling her that she was going to be 3 again on her b-day.....it took me about 1/2 the day to convince her that she really was 4!

We had a great time celebrating her birthday at Chuck E Cheese. Ella loves Chuck E ~ she couldn't wait until he came out. She invited Marley and two of her friends, Logan and Teryn to go with us for pizza, cake and games. Grandma & Grandpa also came to join in on the fun! (One adult per child is a good ratio at Chuck E Cheese.)

The pizza was served as soon as the kids arrived and it was hard to keep them still long enough to eat . After a few bites they grabbed their tokens and headed off for fun.


After the last token was spent we gathered around to sing "Happy Birthday!" I love that cake, candles and balloons can make someone feel so special! I also love this picture below, something about how sweetly Chuck is looking at Ella is endearing.

.....and then there were the gifts. Ella really enjoys playing w/ stuffed animals. She finds anything she can to put on them and wrap them in for a good night's sleep. In fact, about a week before her birthday she kept telling people the story about how on Marley's birthday when we went to Build a Bear, Marley got clothes for her bear but all she got was a backpack. So she was very pleased to get 6 or 7 new outfits, shoes, a pillow and blanket set and a carrier and bed for her animals.

Besides stuffed animals, puzzles, stickers, crafts and books are her favorites. She received some of each!! Both Ella and Marley usually fall asleep w/ books. They love to read. Heath and I found a storytime projector that projects pictures onto the wall as it tells the story. It has been a big hit.

The entire day was all about Ella and making her feel special. From the moment I woke her up singing "Happy Birthday" to when I tucked her in w/ a few new animals dressed to the nines, it was all about letting Ella know how glad we are that she was born. She got to choose her breakfast (pancakes), she received several out of town phone calls bright and early and she took cookies and punch to preschool where they celebrated her too!!


Ella, you are amazing and you make me smile!