Madie's Party!

FINALLY, it felt like Madie's birthday! After going all week without a single decoration, it was fun to finally have something up to remind us to celebrate! Madie got a new apron and was ready to greet her guests when they arrived. It was all about the cupcakes yesterday! Even Livie joined in on the fun! She got her apron on, ready to work on her mad baking skills. :-) We only had 4 friends show up, but that was the perfect amount. We took the computer table out of our room and used it as a work station. Each girl had their own space to work. We made pink lemonade cupcake batter, then I made up (before they got there) some yellow, white, and chocolate cake mix. We had a menu of 6 different kinds of cupcakes - two were chocolate based, two were yellow, one white, and then the one pink lemonade. Then each got their own tin of 6 cupcakes and picked out whatever kind of wrapper they wanted. We had a few different options of those too. Then they scooped up the batter and filled their trays and we popped them in the oven.

While they were baking, the girls sat down for chocolate milk and mini-cupcake balls that were covered in cinnamon and sugar. They were delicious!

After the snacking was done and the cupcakes continued to cook, then cool, Madie opened her presents. She got lots of fun things! She got lots of great stuff to play with outside. Tater joined the kids outside after the party was over and played with all of it!

She opened her present from Nana and Papa T and my besties Michelle and Ricardo. Even more cute things were in there!

After a bit of playing, we all got together again and started decorating. Every girl made the same kind, but this was Madie's finished tray. Starting at the top and moving right, we have Key Lime, Celebration Cut-out, S'mores (which was amazing!), bottom row is birthday, pink lemonade, and princess. Loved the little straw in the pink lemonade one. :-) They were all so cute!

The kids all went outside and played with some of her new toys and Tater. They all LOVED the puppy and he loved them back!

What a great group of girlfriends!

While they played outside with Pete supervising, I came inside and boxed up their cupcakes. Instead of doing a take-home bag of candy, we just let them take home their cupcakes. We tied them up with ribbon, added a little butterfly to the top, and added their recipe book. Turned out so great!

Madie's friend Gracie and her parents stayed after the party and we all hung out together. We ordered pizza and had a really great night together! The kids didn't want the night to end and neither did we. It was such a fun day!

This morning, Madie wore one of the outfits that Nana and Papa T got her to church. How cute does she look?! If only it was flip-flop weather! She looks ready to go to the beach. :-)

My friends Michelle and Teresa and their families have given each of my kids on their birthdays one of these shirts that Michelle and Ricardo got in Venezuela. Ricardo and Michelle also gave them to Teresa's kids, so next time we get together, we'll have ourselves a little soccer team - especially once you add in their little guy, Alexander! The kids love looking like "triplets". :-) Even Tater wore his blue collar to join in on the fun! Thanks everyone for making Madie's birthday celebration so fantastic!! Happy 10th birthday, Madie Moo!