Eliza's Eighth Birthday Party

Birthday Parties come every four years at our home.  Eight is a "BIG" Birthday and deserves a grand celebration.  Eliza was one happy girl having her first real friend party.

The girls were invited by way of a royal invitation...

Her Highness Eliza Stevens of 2330 E. Highmeadow Ct. would be delighted if the royal ladies of the court would join her for “tea” & cake in celebration of her eighth birthday.  Come in your finest gown as the clock strikes 11AM on the 18^th day of this 2^nd month in the 2012^th  year of our Lord.  The festivities will conclude at 2 PM.

The girls came in dresses made cute wreaths of flowers and magical golden wands.  They giggled, ran around, curtsied and vied for the position of being the center of attention and loved every minute of it.

Eliza chose all the food including pixie sticks, chocolate twists, donut holes, sandwiches, grapes, olives, carrots, bell peppers, cucumber slices, several drinks including hot cocoa, cake and skittles!  

We played several games including a princess trivia, balloon blowing and bouncing contests, circle animals sounds and actions and ball toss.

Eliza was the girl of the hour and was flying high with happiness.  I am so glad she had a successful party and felt so special.

Not that many years ago Danielle had her eighth birthday party...wearing the same dress, giggling with lots of girls and doing pinkies up sipping hot cocoa!  This time Danielle was my side kick and life saver.  She is so helpful and intuitive.  I had forgotten how loud little girls can be.

Ever wonder why people in large families say it's a party everyday?  

 The past three weeks included:

Eliza's 8th Birthday on the 13th

Grandma Stevens, Eliza and Mom go on a birthday outing for the evening

Thomas, Eliza and Mom have lunch with Principal Leforge for being students of the month

Valentines parties and festivities

Feed the missionaries

YM chef for the night

Ballet Wed. and Fridays

Danielle introduced the YW and attends New Beginnings w/mom

Meet with new piano teacher twice and 6 am lessons Tuesdays

VT visits and meeting

James turns 15 on the 15th

Scouts for three boys

Eliza's HUGE "Tea" Birthday Party 

RS enrichment night

Eliza goes to 2 B-day Parties, Danielle goes to 1(shop for presents)

Dental appointments

Jump Rope for Heart

Stake Activity Days for Danielle and Eliza (carpool for several girls two separate times)

Scott goes snow shoeing and caving for 3 days

Take Ellie Moss and Miranda Soelburg for the day while parents are out of town

Blue and Gold Banquet and Luau/Mom does decor, food, entertainment etc.

Host Danielle's Book Club

Danielle turns 12 on the 1st

Special visit from YW presidency at home with Danielle

Danielle sings duet with Karlie Moss at baptism (two practices)

Scott has a Board of Review for the troop

James gets asked to come for a last minute set of voice lessons

James performs voice and piano solo in recital after two weeks of instruction

Eliza is Baptized by her dad Scott

Clean and organize top to bottom, two bedrooms, bathroom and office and all closets to make a nice place for Amanda's parents 

Amanda's parents return from Nauvoo mission and move in

Host a Skidmore dinner in celebration of our missionary parents

Host Skidmore/Stevens party for Eliza's Baptism

The FLU again

My head is still cloudy from the fever and migraine so I know I forgot things...any personal time including sleeping and running had to be put on the back burner, some of the nights I actually fed my kids more then "magic soup", but at least the Mt. Olympus of laundry is starting to disappear.

Eight is Great!

Eliza is just darling.  She is really starting to shape into the Young Women she is to become.  I see glimpses of her future and am so pleased with my little pint-sized, spirited, lovely daughter.  She is service oriented, kind, has no guile, the life of 2nd grade, organized, loves little children and loves life.

We took Eliza on a special outing and Grandma Stevens spoiled her with delight.  She loves the one on one and was super excited for the brand new white Sunday shoes and her scripture bag.  She mostly just loves feeling like one of the "girls"!  Eliza would be just as pleased to have time without any presents.

Daddy surprised her with a jumping blue dog toy she had seen months earlier.  She was elated.

My favorite part of most days is when a wiped out little four year old falls asleep during family scriptures.

 

This beautiful daughter of God was crowned a princess at New Beginnings. We sang the Tangled music together, introduced the new girls for the year (25 Beehives) and enjoyed the talks from the leaders.  I cannot believe I have three children in the youth programs! 

Valentines Day would have been lonely this year had my Visiting Teachers not made a sweet visit.  Scott has been working most nights past nine or even ten and Valentines Day was no exception. 

I am appreciative of my chosen life and all the blessings associated with children but everyday requires monumental self-motivation and discipline to keep it together.  I wouldn't have it any other way although a maid, a private chef and a team to do laundry wouldn't hurt.