McKenna's Birthday

It's no secret McKenna lives for Birthdays. Hardly a day passes without a shout of Happy Birthday to either Tyler or herself. Her birthday has pretty much lasted all week. The gifts started the Saturday before when McKenna and Tyler received a lil princess vanity to furnish their playhouse. They were thrilled and started doing one another's hairs immediately.

McKenna's been using old sheets from our college days and a quilt John's ex-girlfriend made for him and although she doesn't know the history she has been asking for a "big bed". The night before McKenna's birthday we gave the girls polka dot sheets for their beds. When I asked her if she wanted pancakes for breakfast, she shook her head no and responded, "cake." :) That night John and I put up the birthday decorations declaring the official beginning of the birthday celebrations.

The next 2 days was one celebration after another. When McKenna woke up and rounded the corner the next morning she didn't disappoint with her reaction-a big inhale and smile asking, "Is it my birthday?" We celebrated with a new Barbie Movie-Mermaidia and new underwears. The UPS man stopped by with a big package from Grandma & Grandpa Payne, to which we opened at the office with Dad for lunch. It had all of her favorite things in it: Clothes, a Barbie art pad, and her 1st BARBIE!!! That evening we made cupcakes and had her first little party on the deck (YEAH!). We had called to Thank Grandma for the package and was thrilled to have her present at the party-She got a Barbie camera from Tyler, another Barbie from Grandma & Papa Harris and a new Bedspread from Mom and Dad.

The next morning was a little hectec as I tried to finish the cake and getting things together for the Diamond Castle Barbie Party. Pry the most notable is that it would've been an easy cake to make had I followed the plan. Chocolate mousse does complicate the process and the integrity of a cake wall that should be holding up the Barbie up. :) In a moment of frustration and desire to quit I did start a 2nd cake and put it in the oven to bake. This was 3 hrs before the party-unfortunately that cake didn't make it. While it was cooling I attempted to move the jar/cake with my bare hands dropping and breaking the jar on the floor. I think things hit rock bottom at that point and everything slowly started to come together after that.

It was a very fun Mommy and Me party-Little Miss C & Leslie, Marella & Noelle, Lilly & Jamie and her sisters were all in attendance for pedicures and manicures (thanks Leslie) while we watched Diamond Castle. Then we made friendship necklaces out of clay, We sang Happy Birthday and ate the Nie Nie Mud Cake (with chocolate mousse) Barbie style and ice cream and then opened gifts. It really was a perfect Barbie Party.

That night as McKenna got ready for bed she sadly asked if her birthday was over. She'd asked the same question the night before-and had been given the answer that there was to be a party the next day. This time the answer had to be yes-but alas Daddy's birthday is in a month so no need to fret. There is always a birthday going on or coming soon.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this birthday so beloved to this little girl!

(PS-started taking down the decorations today-McKenna about started to cry, ahh the harsh reality)