Celebrating Ivy

My apologies for the delay in posting about the big birthday party weekend. We had a total service outage in our area on Monday and most of Tuesday. NO cell service or internet. It was the dark ages!!!!!!!

By now you all know how we do our birthday traditions. Mandy and I always decorate the dining room the night before and set out all the presents. The birthday kid gets to open gifts immediately after waking up in the morning. It feels a bit like Christmas and both Kip and Ivy love it. It's a surprise to see the decorations and they don't have to wait all day for gifts!

Fortunately this year Ivy's birthday fell on a Saturday so we all got spend the day together as a family. 

But on Friday, the day before her birthday, she got to celebrate with her class. She got a crown, her name announced on the morning announcements, Kip got to come to her classroom to read a book, and she brought her favorite cotton candy popsicle to share as a treat.  

After school we did a Facetime call with Auntie Jagee so Ivy could open her gift and the kids played with all the amazing crystal, stone, and gold treasures she got!

Once the kids were in bed, Mandy and I got to decorating. We've gotten quite good at it over the years. The key is a lot of balloons and to use wrapped presents as part of the decor.

Ivy was elated the next morning when it was FINALLLLLLY her birthday. We opened presents all morning.

Kip was really sweet with Ivy this year, celebrating with her instead of being jealous. Of course, he got a few gifts too. 

We made German pancakes and bacon for breakfast and got to have a slow morning of play.

 

We did a Facetime with Poppa to open his gift.

 

 

And then got ready for the day while also playing with all our new toys.

 

Before lunch we did a Zoom call with Grandma and Aunt Judy and Aunt Kandi for round two of presents!!!!!!

 

Gosh these kids are SO lucky and SO loved. I am so grateful for our families who love our kids so well even from a distance. Thank goodness for technology and that our service blackout didn't happen over this weekend. 

 

More playing all afternoon, helping Aunt Mimi decorate the birthday cake, and a quick stop for lunch at Chick-fil-a by the birthday girl's request.

 

 

We tried the new bike out in the afternoon which is a tiny bit too big for Ivy to use as a balance bike so we had to order some training wheels to help her feel more confident. 

More playing.

 

 

And then helping Mimi make her cupcakes for her birthday party on Sunday.

 

 

And then it was time to sing, blow out candles, and enjoy her MASSIVE homemade rainbow birthday cake together as a family.

 

 

Oh goodness we adore this sweet little girl. She brings so much joy and fun and reminds us all to find treasures in the little things and always look forward to a celebration. 

Come back tomorrow for a recap of Ivy's first ever friend birthday party.