Ashton's Birthday

We celebrated Ashton's birthday over the course of a weekend. Her birthday was on a Thursday but we tricked her and told her it was really on Friday. I wanted her to be surprised on her birthday. This was the last year that she won't know how to follow the calendar and know what day is what. So we did it and I loved it! I surprised her with balloons and everything that morning. She got to plan the entire day from start to finish.

Her breakfast request was to go to IHOP but with three kids (one being Tanner) that's a no-go. So we made sprinkle pancakes at home. Much easier for everyone. Tanner and Ashton loved them. I have a feeling that will become a new birthday tradition.

For the morning, we went to an open gym at a gymnastics place in town. I wanted to do this in Lake Jackson but the gymnastics places didn't offer it. I'd rather pay $10 every few months for Ashton to practice gymnastics than $75/month for classes. The kids loved it and I know we'll be back every few months. They ran around a lot and they had two instructors helping teach basic skills. Ashton worked with one for a while on cartwheels. That's her newest goal in life.

Lunch was at Sam's Club (her pick) because it's cheap and I let them get ice cream and walk around for samples. We spent nap time working on crafts and then had beef stroganoff for dinner. We opened gifts and had butterfly cake that evening once Joseph got home.

They got the little square scooter things like I had in gym class growing up. I love them. I imagine we'll have some pinched fingers along the way but I like active toys like this.

This describes their relationship so well. Always telling him what's what.

Stamping supplies from my parents. That's been keeping her busy most days now.

And this describes Tanner so well. Always jealous of what sister gets. Her birthday was rough for him as he has a better understanding of birthdays now. I look forward to his birthday and what he wants to do next year.

Then, on Saturday, we drove back to Lake Jackson for a birthday party. We weren't sure if we would do this but Ashton hasn't made a ton of friends in Clear Lake yet. The few that she has made go to school now so she can't have playdates with them. So we invited some close friends and had a party at the church building (the bugs/rain made it impossible to have it at the splash pad as planned). The party's theme was all of Ashton's favorite things. So she picked the cake on Pinterest, picked a Little Mermaid pinata, picked the games, food, etc. I enjoyed letting her plan the details so she would love it. All our friends were able to make it and I enjoyed seeing them too.

Best friends together again.

The Spanish branch was hosting an activity later that day so kindly let us use the gym. Plus they're the best at pinatas so helped us set it up and play music for us.

Ashton cried the night of her birthday because she was sad it was over. When I asked her what her favorite part of the day was, she said, "spending so much time with my family." I'm grateful we don't do formal gifts for our kids for birthdays and rather just spend extra time with them on their favorite activities.