Party, Party, Party

Hallie is FIVE!  And she partied all weekend long.  She started her birthday off with a few presents and then moved onto a school-day celebration.

Thanks to my principal and wonderful first grade team, I was able to take cupcakes to Hallie's school for a little while and celebrate with her.  Honestly, it was the longest hour and a half of my life and I couldn't wait to get back to my first graders.  I loved having lunch with Hallie...and I loved sharing that time with her.  But bless her sweet teacher's heart.  It takes a VERY special person to be a Pre-K teacher...and I'm just not that special. :o)

Friday afternoon, Hallie came home to a HUGE surprise from gramps!

On Friday evening, she chose her birthday supper location--Olive Garden.  She ate her weight in salad and ate a little bit of her spaghetti.  When we got home, she had no problem blowing out her candles and chowing down on *another* chocolate cupcake (her third of the day).  After coming down from her sugar high, she crashed...eventually.

Saturday was spent with RahRah and Gramps (Hallie continued to celebrate and Mommy & Daddy needed to clean house in prep for Nonna and Pop's arrival).  She started her day off with pancakes and bacon.  Then she spent her day going to the post office, making a rain maker, snacking, watching a movie, "helping RahRah make Olivia cookies", and spending time with her new (almost 8 months old) cousin, Esther Margaret.  Sadly, I have no pictures to document this day of her weekend celebration.

Sunday morning we slept in, exhausted from a day of cleaning, and welcomed Nonna and Pop around 9:30 am.  We hit the ground running with last minute preparations for Hallie's biggest big day party!

We arrived to Texas Cheer and Dynasty a little early--but not early enough.  They had just finished setting up for the party, but we had even more to set up...the snack table and the sweets buffet (which I didn't even get a picture of--SIGH!).  Kids started pouring in and they instantly started having a blast.  Honestly, the party was a little rushed...it was only an hour and a half long which just isn't long enough for the kids to play, eat, and then open presents.  I was feeling a little frazzled toward the end of the party, but that didn't stop everyone from having a good time (at least I think they were having a good time!).

I didn't get that many pictures, but I did get a few.  Hopefully I can hold onto the memories sweet smiles in my ever-forgetful brain (here's hoping!).  So...our big girl is now the big five.  Here's to partying...until next year!

Flashback

2008--Hallie is ONE

2009--Hallie is TWO

2010--Hallie is THREE

2011--Hallie is FOUR

I Love Ya, Tomorrow!

Sweet Hallie Shea--

Today you are still four.  You are my big four year old.  Tomorrow you'll be FIVE!  It'll be "your biggest big day"!  We are so proud of the little girl you have become.  You are tender-hearted, sweet, compassionate, and can memorize anything in a split second.  You amaze us.  You are also such a creative little thing!  You love to "write and illustrate" stories...and frankly, I think you do a really good job.  You are very detailed...you don't miss a thing!  You are our sweet, sweet girl and we love you tremendously!  Now, you also have a fiesty side...a "I want it right now" side...and a a scream-out-low-throw-a-fit side.  But that's what makes you our Hallie-girl.  We wouldn't trade your personality for anything!

We pray that you continue to grow in your love for God and see early on that He sent Jesus for YOU! We love you so much!

Tomorrow is your BIG day...you will be FIVE YEARS OLD!  You are beside yourself with excitement.  It's really fun to watch you because you really "get it" that it's your birthday and that it means something special.  And boy does it.  Your birthday is so incredibly special to us!  We are thankful for you...you are a blessing to Daddy and me!

I will love you forever!

Mommy

Last day to be FOUR!

Hallie's usual, silly side :o)

Picking flowers...

"These are for you, Mommy!"

Where, where, where does the time go?

Bop it! Twist it! Pin it!

I have *finally* DONE something that I pinned to Pinterest.  Don't get me wrong.  I think Pinterest is pretty neat.  I really like the idea of being able to keep up with things all in one place by using the pictures.  But there are all kinds of things wrong with the presentation of Pinterest.  That's not what this post is really about, though. :o)  It's about actually DOING something.  And this morning I did.  I made these lovely little mini cinnamon rolls.  They were delightfully yummy.  I'll let you guess which pictures is of the ones I made.  I'm sure you think it's the first one.  Hahaha.  I kid, I kid.  The one thing I dislike about online recipes is that mine *never* look like the original picture. Who can make something so neatly in a mini muffin pan?!  I obviously didn't worry about where the icing went.  I wanted to make sure it was SLATHERED onto the lovely little buns.  The pan will wash.  My first attempt was a little overcooked, so I'll know to lessen the time next time.  And I'll also use mini muffin cups because even though my pan is a non-stick pan and I greased it, too, they did not come out easily.

Now that I've made the first attempt, maybe I'll try some more recipes that I have pinned to my pinterest page. :o)  Eh...maybe.  Who am I kidding, I definitely won't.  And if I do, it'll be a surprise (for both of us!). 

Give me a J!

On Thursday night, Hallie got to perform a little cheer with her Pre-K class at her school's fundraiser banquet.  It was the cutest thing!  My favorite, though, is Hallie practicing her cheer for her daddy and me the night before. :o)  She was serious about her cheering!

Rule #8

Rule #8 Never miss a very important party.

This is Olivia.  Olivia the Pig.  And she is a witty, smart, funny, creative, and spunky 6 year old pig on Nick Jr.  She's also the focus for Hallie's 5th birthday party.  After searching high and low for the perfect Olivia, my super sweet and extremely talented husband drew her out (er, created her on a computer) for me. :o)  Didn't he do a super job?!  I probably could have bought the image on etsy.com or found it somewhere...but he saved me.  And now I (and by "I", I mean he) can create all the Olivia paper goodness I want!

This is a first for us.  We are actually having a "character" birthday party.  However, I'll do my best to take as much of the character theme out of it as possible.  I'm not a huge fan of character parties.  But Hallie loves Olivia the Pig.  And we do, too.  So Hallie will be having her Biggest Big Day with Olivia. :o)  I have found tons of cute ideas online...but since we're having her party somewhere other than at home, we have to abbreviate some of the decor.

Here are our inspiration plates that we'll have at the party along with solid aqua and red:

I really love traditional party hats.  But I'm having a hard time finding the colors I want.  I did find this, though, and I love it.  I'm hoping my mom and I can whip these up!

Drinks...I'll take off the wrappers and put ribbon with an Olivia tag on them:

Kids will be given these fun straws for their drinks:

We'll have a candy buffet and the treats will be put in here:

And I (and Hallie, too, I'm sure) want lots of polka dot balloons like these:

The "Sweet Shop" buffet will include:

*Giant Pixie Sticks

*Strawberry Sour Punch Straws

*Pink/Red/White M&Ms (thank you Valentine's Day)

*Swedish Fish

*Strawberry Frooties (like Tootsie Rolls but so delicious)

*Peppermint balls (the ones that melt in your mouth)

The only problem I'm having is coming up with an actual food menu.  Sure we'll have a sugary sweet treat table.  We'll have yummy cupcakes and possibly cakes and cookies.  But nothing to actually keep the kids from throwing up all over place from jumping around and partaking in more sugar than I'm sure they're used to.  If you have ideas about what sweet kiddies could eat at the party, let me know.  Otherwise I'll just stick to my chicken fingers and chips. :o)

Here are links to Hallie's past birthdays!  I still cannot believe she is ALMOST FIVE!

Hallie turns ONE:  Cupcakes

  

Hallie is ONE: Alabama Party--Cupcakes again!

Hallie is TWO:  Monkeys

  

Hallie is THREE: Princess Party

  

Hallie is FOUR: Ladybugs

 

Hallie is FOUR:  Alabama Party--Monkeys