Elaine’s “Real” 4th Birthday

Elaine turned 4 two weeks ago.  We have been sick almost this entire time, and I haven’t even had a moment to think about sorting through her birthday pictures. 

Her birthday is the 5th, but Grandma & Grampa Fezzie came down on the 2nd to celebrate with us.  This is all very complicated for a four year old to understand, especially when there are presents and party decorations, but its not “really” your birthday yet.  So Elaine expressed it as her “pretend” birthday when her grandparents were here, and her “real” birthday on the actual day.  It was cute.  And then, on November 6th, she woke up and asked me if she was still four.  Yes.  For a whole year, dear.

I decorated the night before her “pretend” birthday with some tissue pom-poms and the birthday banner. 

We started off the day at Elaine’s friend Havilah’s Fall Fun Fest while waiting for Grandma & Grampa to arrive

Since we didn’t have a party, I did get some special candles and a crown for Elaine to wear.  I got a present on her birthday, too.  Grandma & Grampa brought down this new-to-us couch to replace ours which has been molting its leather for a while.  Word to the wise – never buy a bonded leather couch!

New princesses for her castle

Opening play food for her “kitchen”

We are a chocolate cake with chocolate icing kind of family.  So a little girl needs some pink sprinkles and princess candles to spice it up!

Nolan got a present on Elaine’s birthday too – a dragon “cape” dress-up.  First boy dress-up he has loved!  And he looks so stinkin’ cute in it!

On Elaine’s “real” birthday we were rather sick.  She had the sniffles, Nolan was coughing, and the babies were in the same boat.  We had a doctor’s appointment and got some McDonalds for lunch, to make the day seem a little special. 

 
These pictures were taken at the same McDonalds – one on Elaine’s 4th birthday, and one on her 1st birthday!

  
After McDonald’s we stopped at the park.  We waited in line quite a while to swing on the “big girl swings.”  Because what four year old wants to swing in the “baby swings?”

Then Elaine got this big {!} box in the mail from my mom.  Inside?

A twin jogging stroller!  And it was much {!} bigger than anticipated, to Elaine’s delight!  {What was Grandma thinking?  Good thing it folds up!  Love you, Mom!}  It came just in time to walk over to vote!  {We got quite a lot of looks!}

Elaine also got some money from her Great-Grandparents and her Great-Grams.  She had to put some in the offering plate – time to learn about tithing!  She put some in the bank (and got a lollipop in exchange).  And we let her use the remainder to purchase two new Berenstain Bears books.  I drove the kids to Barnes & Noble one day to make the purchase of the first book.  After the parking fiasco, we decided to order the second book on Amazon.  Elaine enjoyed getting to pay for her book by herself, but she also enjoyed opening the mail.  {And Mommy enjoyed a little bit more variety in the selection of bed time bear stories!}