L's birthday party

Since L's birthday is tomorrow (Monday), we had her birthday party today.  Since we did a big party last year, I just wanted a small one to deal with this year.  Besides, she'll get to see all her preschool friends on Tuesday and cupcake-party with them, so there's no need to go overboard on that end!

The menu for her birthday party was requested specifically by her.  It included:
* corndogs
* french fries
* applesauce
* cereal
* fruit, especially strawberries [do you know how insanely EXPENSIVE strawberries are in January?!??]
* blue chocolate cake
* blueberries on the cake
* strawberry ice cream

I am proud to say that I was able to meet her request.  The husband says I have spoiled her too much by meeting her demands, but you know what?  It's her birthday.  It's the one day of the year that is just for her and she should be happy, dammit!  If I can give it to her within reason, that's exactly what I'm going to do.   The grandparents also brought johnny cakes in the shape of dinosaurs over, which the girls loved!

The only guests outside of the four of us were her grandparents.  Six people are much more manageable than the 20 that came last year!  The girls played while the husband and I got lunch ready, and then we had the wonderful menu L designed.  After that, L opened her gifts from her Aunt K and Uncle C, as well as her grandparents, and was elated to finally have the Sleeping Beauty set she's been asking for since October. 

Princess Memory from Aunt K and Uncle C!

L enraptured by her Sleeping Beauty set from Grandpa and Ng-Ng

After that, it was --> piñata time!  L and E whacked at it with both a broom handle and a plastic bat (plastic bat was better), and after all the adults joined in, L was able to finally whack it open (with Daddy's help).  It was so much fun to watch - we'll have to do that again sometime when there are more kids!

Cupcake pinata!  Ignore our dirty backyard and the weird donkey (left from the previous owner).  Yes, it IS tied up on the porch roof with a jump rope.  We are just THAT classy.

Smack that pinata, L!  Grandpa helps (ahahaha, the Virgin Mary statue is watching)

E would smack it, turn around to us, smile really big, and then smack it again.  Hilarious!

Dusting off my old softball skills to hit the pinata.

The husband looks like he's a real baseball player here!

PINATA LOOT!  Notice L going for everything while E has one item in her hand she's attempting to unwrap.

Then, cake and ice cream.  L was so happy with her blue cake (I just frosted the chocolate cake with whipped cream and then used blue food spray on it.  The hardest part was putting the blueberry borders on it!), and we all sang Happy Birthday to her, she blew out the candle, and we dove in to cake with strawberry ice cream.   Excellent!

Saying cheese for a picture

Getting ready to blow out the candle.

Blowing.  It took two blows, but she did it!  YEAH!

A quick two-hour birthday party for the almost-four-year-old girl.  It was wonderful, even if L didn't want to eat her lunch or cake much, E fought with L over L's new gifts, and we were all still a bit sad from the funeral yesterday.   I can't wait to see how L reacts tomorrow when she gets her gifts from the husband and I, and then we go to the pizza place for lunch!