Happy Birthday, Amy!!

Ever since Amy started school, she has disliked having her birthday in the summer.  Not only was she one of the youngest in the class, she hated the fact that she never got to celebrate her birthday during the school year when most of the kids did.  I kept trying to tell her how great it was to have a birthday when it was nice weather outside (we lived in Utah then) in order to have outside parties, but it never seemed to hold a candle to having everyone know it was your birthday at school.  Well, this year, Jeff, Alison, and I tried to make it one of the most memorable birthdays ever--and I think we just may have pulled it off!

For starters, Jeff came home from work very early so he could tend the kids and Amy could have the day doing what she liked to do--going shopping with her sister.  How fun it was to have Alison here on her birthday!

 
That night, Jeff helped me grill teriyaki chicken, and with the addition of other tasty accessories, we had a wonderful meal.

 Then the best part--the cake.  Alison didn't spare the creativity in getting the best for her sister--the most darling "Hello, Kitty" cake, flowers, balloons, and everything that she could find in China with "Hello, Kitty" on it.  Both girls loved "Hello, Kitty" when they were young--now they have revived the passion for it and love to kid the other one about it.

Amy teaching Lola about "Hello, Kitty" rings.

Here is the progression of Lola's enjoyment of her mommy's party:

Tray a little messy, but daughter fairly clean.

Grandma gives Lola an olive to try on her finger--isn't that what an olive is for?

Amy shares some birthday cake with Lola.  As is expected, much of the icing is on the face.

This is so delicious!

Lola is so excited about the cake, she tries to clap her hands in her hair!

Too late for trying to save the hair or the outfit!

But did she ever enjoy the party!

Poor George had a very long and strenuous board meeting and missed most of the fun.  But when he did get there, he made Amy feel very special, too. 

In addition, Amy was constantly getting telephone calls from brothers, sisters-in-law, and friends who wished her birthday greetings which were so fun for her.  Yes, I think we all just might have pulled off a very special day for a very special daughter!