Ella's Birthday Fun.

We tried to make Ella's birthday super special for her this year.  She needed a bit of fanfare after becoming a big sister and all.  I wanted to celebrate her and all her love for sparkly pink princess-y stuff.   

So like Miles, she awoke to a decorated room.   

 

Britton and I stayed up until midnight watching House and creating "flying lanterns" (from Tangled) for her room.  There really isn't anything I wouldn't do to ensure this...

On his lunch break, B picked up another of her presents from The Bike Shoppe and brought it home.

She loves surprises.  She voluntarily covered her eyes while he brought it in.  

"I go hide my eyes for my surprise!!"

At first she wasn't sure about her new tricycle, but by the end of the afternoon she was riding it all over the house.  

I took this photo on my phone to prove it...

...super happy birthday girl.

Also, she wore her new pink Minnie Mouse nightgown all day long.  There was NO talking her out of it.

Thanks to my awesome friends, we threw an impromptu birthday celebration.  I gave them about a day and a half notice and they came bearing gifts and smiles for my girl.  Such good friends I have.

The kids rolled out their own pizza dough and topped them just like we did when Miles turned three.

Then the kids got to decorate sugar cookies shaped like the letter "E" and hearts.  During this time I had to feed Emmett so Ella brought me her cookie across the room.  

She dumped the entire bowl of skittles out on top of her icing.  She was so proud.  

We sang.

She blew out the candles (with a little help).

She opened pink presents filled with pink and sparkly things.

Then later in the weekend she was surprised by her Papa and Grandma with this new play house! 

They came by shortly after she received 4,876 hair thingys from her beloved Aunt Rach, if you were wondering about her accessories.  

It was a wonderful birthday for my girl.  

Three.  

I recently read something someone wrote of their child turning another year older.  I can't remember where or exactly how they said it, but it was something like...

The days can be long, but the years are most certainly short.  

Here's to cherishing every day this year.  Even the hard ones.  

Happy Birthday Ella!