MIA!!!

My laundry is done, my dishes can wait, all the parties are over, my children are sleeping, my husband is... also sleeping, freezer meals has been post-poned, my journals are up to date, the black footprints have been wiped from the kids' bathroom sink, and I don't have any exciting movies waiting for me, so I'd say "conditions are perfect" for blogging.

Wow, seriously, we have been "Missing In Action!!!" When did my world get so crazy! I even tried weeding out the unsubstantial stuff (hence no blogging) after it took me three days to recover from my birthday Girl's Night Out! Corndogs at 4am? Really? (Sorry no pics, my batteries died... lame!) Anyway, since then I've turned off my ringer on my cell phone for all callers but Danny, and you know it's serious when I'm contemplating cutting Bunco and volleyball out. All I need to worry about right now is being mom. All the rest of my life can wait till I grow up.

Well, here's one thing that's completely worth every invested minute and effort:
................HaPpy BiRThDaY AvERy!!!.................

I can't believe my baby girl, the one who started this whole adventure called motherhood, turned 4 last weekend!


You'd think we'd be birthday'd out here, but not so. This party entailed it's fair share of planning and prepping. But completely worth every late night. It turned out so great!!


The theme? "Avery's Ice Cream Shoppe". After a light lunch we played "Pin the cherry on the Sundae", and musical scoops, then, of course, everyone made their own banana split. Thank goodness for all those extra hands the parents offered!!!


I think these were my favorite part of the menu. I wish I could take credit for these darling creations; they are cupcakes inside mini ice cream cones topped with swirly frosting (thanks Val!) I love how they turned out.


And, don't laugh, this was my attempt at a pinata. It was much more work than I thought it would be, (um, five nights worth) but in the end it turned out pretty cute.


On Avery's actual birthday we did it all over again, family style. The first thing she saw when she woke up were her family presents waiting for her.


Thanks Nana and Papa Ron for the package!!! She loved the game and asked to play it over and over!


After presents we whipped up some good ol' Birthday Sprinkle Waffles with all the ice cream toppings from the party. I wish I'd have gotten a picture of those, they were sooooooo goooooood!!! After church we came home and sounded one more rendition of the birthday song, blew out candles one last time, and finally cut the cake.