Let's Celebrate!

Lia's 4th birthday was celebrated by family and friends all day long on Saturday!  We started the day off at the Thinkery where we had invited all her school friends to join us for a morning party.

Despite the Thinkery mixing our party up with some girl name Jillian (Lillia vs Jillian...  I guess I'll give them a pass...) everything went off without a hitch!  The guests were able to mingle in the party room and play in the museum with Lia for the first part of the party and then we all met up for cupcakes and gifts.

In the room, they had a giant marble/lego run set up.  It was a huge it right off the bat, especially for the boys!  So funny.

The girls were having a great time drawing on the giant dry erase wall

Lia with her buddy, Teagan

Teagan thought Lia was the best thing since sliced bread (being the birthday girl and all) and they were together most of the party.  Always happily playing!

Anson was a close second for the kid Lia was with most of the day.  You could tell how well they play together.  We've gotta get them in the same class next year!!

Blurry, but a sweet face when having "Happy Birthday" sung to her.

The entire Thinkery event was awesome.  I think everyone (adults included!) had a great time.  Would totally do that again.

After a little down time, we had just close friends and family over to the house for a happy hour for those who couldn't (or weren't brave enough...) to come to the Thinkery.

Amy and I had been prepping and baking for a few days to fullfill Lia's one solitary desire for her birthday party.  An Ariel Barbie cake.  I'd say we pulled it off!!

In case you don't really believe that Amy (it was mostly her) is that talented... here's the play by play.

3 layers of cake and some rice krispies later, we were good to go!

Lia'a reaction to the cake turned out this amazingly sweet photo:

We sang Happy Birthday one last time and cut one last mega cake!!  The rest of the afternoon was spent opening a few gifts, playing with new toys and spending great time with family and friends.

licking the icing off Ariel's bum...  

I had a great idea to get used princess dresses and turn them into aprons for the girls to easily change during play.  My mom was a total superhero and actually implemented (read:  sewed 8 costumes) said plan.  The lengths a grandmother/mother will go for their granddaughter and daughter!  Thanks mom!!  Lucky for us, Lia LOVED them.

To top off Lia's fantastic weekend, the class pet "Flicka" from school got to visit.  This was the picture we put in Flicka's book talking all about our weekend.

Love this - princess dress, princess barbies, and a book about animals.  

Erin was very pleased with herself that these barbie boots fit her toes.

Didn't manage to get any pictures of Reid or Jennifer, but this is proof that sweet baby Parker is a standing girl!!!  So stinking cute!

Lia was all smiles all weekend and it seemed that this birthday was more meaningful to her than any birthday yet.  It was like she totally understood that this day(s) was in celebration of her and just lived it up.  We had a little bit of a post party crash the day after, but hey, totally worth it!!  I think this nap of Halle's sums up how we all felt:  happy, content and tired!