year 11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AFTIE! 

 i've always told afton that she was my best mother's day gift.  so this is an extra great year since her birthday falls the day before mother's day! 

friday morning aftie found her locker decorated by her cute friends!

she loved it!

ella and i took cupcakes to her classroom and checked her out of school a little bit early, just for fun.

 at 5:00 the giggling and squealing began.

it didn't end until 10:30 this morning.

oh, my achin' head.

 there was much laughter, much trampoline-ing, much game playing, much batting (trying to break that cute owl pinata), much pizza consumed, many starbursts roasted (on the firepit), many water breaks, more laughter and squealing, many moves busted during just dance2, new games learned and made up, and a tiny bit of sleeping.

 everyone got lots of turns hitting the pinata!  that tiny little owl would NOT break open!

 afton chose the theme of "camp party"

my awesome tree made of plastic tablecloths fell down 5 minutes after the first girl arrived.

the tent-like atmosphere in the family room was pretty fun, though. 

we even had sparkly stars (white christmas lights).

 afton wanted to play games outside, eat pizza, chips, "dirt" cups, and have s'mores.

we served all of that, PLUS cute vegetable cups and fruit cups!

 after the friends were collected this morning, we went for lunch at red robin.

afton debated going to a paint your own pottery place, but i sort of talked her into going home to open her presents from ryan, ella and i.

i can't stand the waiting!

 her big gift was an ipod touch!  woo-hoo!  so excited!  but she loved every single gift she received.

she had a few gift cards to deal with, so off we went to target and barnes & noble.

afton's dinner request was once again...

peanut butter noodles!

then dark chocolate cake with dark chocolate frosting.

i thought this picture showed the signs of a good party. 

the decorations are falling down, the furniture in disarray, scattered sleeping bags, etc.

a very happy birthday for our sweet and wonderful-in so many ways-aftie girl!