A Perfect Day

Laura had quite the special day on her birthday. She got to do lots of fun things and was spoiled like crazy. Laura woke up to a curtain of streamers hanging from her bedroom door. She thought it was the neatest thing to walk through over and over. For breakfast she had pancakes and strawberries - some of her favorite foods!

 

 Birthday babe in front of her streamers. I had to get a picture of her looking so cute because I knew the hair and clean clothes wouldn't last long.

After getting ready for the day the kids went with Chad and Grandpa Higgins to build birdhouses. When we asked Laura what she wanted to do for her birthday she responded with "play" which meant eating lunch and playing at a play place. Not bowling. Not going to a movie. Lunch and a play place. Oh joy. So, after building birdhouses we took the kids to lunch and let them run around for about an hour.

Later in the afternoon we took the kids to the park because it has been ridiculously nice lately! The kids got lots of energy out and loved being outside after being cooped up inside a lot this winter. While at the park, we had a huge breakthrough with Laura! In the past, each time we go to the park Laura refuses to get on the swings. We have often tried having her sit on either my lap or Chad's and swing with us, but this ends up in crying and screaming. I have no idea where her fear of swinging came from and we had pretty much given up trying to get her to swing. However, on this day Laura apparently felt fearless. Chad said she hopped right up on the swing and loved it! It didn't scare her at all and Chad even said that Laura didn't want to get off and let other kids have a turn. 

Big grins on the swing!

Cute kiddos.

For dinner that night we had pizza and bread sticks (another favorite of Laura's) and then we celebrated by opening presents and eating cake and ice cream. Here it comes, the overload of pictures. Sorry! But not really. :)

Birthday girl with her loot! This girl is spoiled!

Trying and almost getting two fingers up.

There was a lot of present unwrapping. Laura was a pro and knew exactly what to do. I don't really think she paid much attention to what was inside each gift until after everything had been opened.

Checking out the present tower.

Using her strong muscles to lift the tower.

Cake time! I was pretty proud of myself with how the cake turned out. I made a polka dot cake and covered it with sixlets (one of Laura's favorite candies). There were only a few things that ended up not being exactly how I wanted it. The polka dot colors didn't turn out quite like I wanted. I wanted the colors to match the sixlets and they didn't. The cake wasn't quite done and so the center was a little gooey. Also, the next time I make it, I'll be sure to add white food coloring to both the cake mix and the frosting to make the contrast between the polka dots and the cake/frosting even more distinct. Overall, the cake was adorable and tasted really good.

So excited that everyone is singing to her! I love that she clapped at the end of the song.

Getting ready to blow the candles out...

And their out! Laura had to have some help with the candles because she kept leaning in way too close. She actually singed her eyebrow a little bit because she got too close to the flame.

Digging in. Told you she loves sixlets!

This is why we keep Brian around. He's on the entertainment committee for all family gatherings. :)