Alaina's Celebration!

Our family tradition is that we begin everyone's birthday with breakfast in bed. It is one of the sweetest traditions we have created and one our kids treasure. Long before the actual day, the birthday child and their siblings plan and dream about the breakfast. It is something everyone pitches in for and even the usual sleepy heads crawl out of bed to be part of the celebration.

While pancakes is the traditional food of choice, Alaina opted for eggs and bacon. It took some creativity to secure the candle! We had to sing at a quick pace to keep the candle secure in her toast.

It was a special blessing for Alaina's birthday to fall on a Saturday. After breakfast we revealed Alaina's gift from us. After much though and consideration, we decided she was indeed ready for a pet. Alaina is an animal lover at heart and doesn't have many opportunities to interact with animals. He is one of the sweetest bunnies I ever ever seen.

After lunch we headed to the mall to shop for a new bathing suit. Alaina spent sometime in her favorite store, Justice. We found a really cute one piece bathing suit- not an easy feat! We sprung for cookies at the food court and spent sometime with my mom at the mall.

After our shopping trip, Alaina got her hair done.....notice the difference between the breakfast pictures and the rest. She desperately wanted to grow out her hair but it is just not an option yet. I always want to let my kids be who they are--- but seriously the hair had to go. She has the thickest hair I have ever seen and it is the texture of curly hair. Except it doesn't curl- it rats and tangles. The longer hair made for many teary mornings and threats form Daddy to shave it all off. It was time for me to override her wishes and bestow some motherly wisdom upon her hair. She likes it now that it is over and enjoys the ease in which she can now brush it.

Right before dinner two of her girlfriends came over. After she showed off her bunny, we headed to Granna and Pappy's for pizza and swimming. After they swam to their hearts content, we made a giant pa let on the floor and they watched movies. By midnight everyone was asleep. It was our quietest sleeepover yet!

It was a sweet birthday for our girl. As they get older, their parties seem to be less about what beautiful, extravagant thing mama can pull off and more about letting them lead. I am already coaching myself for their weddings!