The Big Eight

What? Is it true that my little girl is now EIGHT years old? Yes, yes it's true! This birthday celebration lasted a whole WEEK. It started with a slumber party.

Playing in baby brother's crib!? Yup. Until I
told them there was probably pee in there... ;)

Oh the pillows and blankets were everywhere... 

Dinner at Blue Moon Cafe where they destroyed
a plate of Blue Moon fries in less than 3 minutes. 

The girls had a blast tearing up the house and wearing high heels that were 5 sizes too big! Birthday breakfast was quite fancy with pancakes shaped in their initials, and good ole fashioned scrambled eggs and bacon.

Blowing out her birthday breakfast candle! She felt so special!

The birthday party was a huge hit, too! Ali wanted her theme to be "American Girl" and was "girls only." Invitations were made, the cake was ordered, and little paper sunglasses and lips were made for both girls and dolls. They ate pizza and drank too much soda, played arcade games, and ended the party with a game of lazer tag. What fun!

Not even a third of the gifts she ended up getting! With a "Happy Birthday" Banner strung above.
Yeah, handmade banner. Birthday parties are a LOT of work!

The Cake (Not homemade. I'm not that talented.)

Fun glasses and lips for the girls and their dolls! (Handmade! I may
have had help from my student assistants at work. They had fun
helping me craft instead of working!)

The party favors: candy, bracelets, hair ties, doll wands, doll hair clips...

The Crew. 

BIRTHDAY GIRL! That smile just melts me!

Mommy Destiny reading her letter we wrote her saying we were
going to see the musical "Wicked" next weekend. She wasn't so
thrilled about getting a couple of tickets from us, but man did she
have a BLAST at the musical!

American Girl clothes!

We're all "oooh" and "ahhh" over this cute little outfit. 

Friends, family, parents

A bit blurry... The American Girls all posing. 

Girls and their dolls... 

Our gift to Ali was the best if I do say so myself: tickets to go see the musical, "Wicked," in Oklahoma City the following weekend! The first thing she said to me when I saw her the day before the musical was, "Guess what! It's WICKED WEEKEND!" I just LOVE my little lady! I was so afraid she wouldn't enjoy it as much as I hoped she would. What if she got bored halfway through and wanted to leave? What if she fell asleep!?

We left Jordan with Gmo (since most 2 year olds really aren't big on musicals, anyway) and spent the afternoon doing whatever Ali wanted. Shopping: check. We spent TWO hours following that girl around the mall. After about an hour I looked at my husband and said, "Is this what it's like when I make you go shopping with me!?" He just laughed. OH MY WORD, I will never ever make him go again. I mean, it was fun because she's 8 and cute. But me? I might be cute, but not as cute as an 8 year old, and certainly not as fun!

Little Lady all dressed up for our big date night!
She picked out her own outfit and wore some of my pearls. 

Trying on clothes... tough life for an 8 year old. 

More shopping... 

After shopping was complete (*whew*) we told Ali we would go eat dinner anywhere she wanted. We expected it to be something fancy since, afterall, it was supposed to be a fancy date. She chose the food court at the mall.

How fancy! 

Then we went to see the show. I can not put into words how much I enjoyed it. AND... Ali loved it too!!! She was on the edge of her seat the entire time. During intermission she looked at me and said, "That was awesome! I'm so glad there's still another act to go!" How cool is that!?

Before the show!

Daddy and Ali anxiously waiting for it to start.

Checking out the brochures.

I wasn't able to get many pictures... I got in trouble for taking the few that I did get and an usher made me put my phone away! That gave me a good opportunity to explain to Ali the meaning of "copyright laws." HA!

Afterwards we spent way too much money on t-shirts and a CD, which she has been listening to non-stop since we got home. I'm not quite sure we will ever be able to top her 8th birthday!!!