Lydia Birthday and Party

Lydia turned 7 and we had a party for her. We have decided that "friend" birthday parties will be on odd birthday's and "family" birthday's will be on the even years. That is what Shantel did growing up. With my family, I feel like we had a friend party only once or twice.

This first picture is actually the weekend before her birthday, but I love it so much I wanted to throw it in here.

Last year we did balloons every day of her birthday week to pop and do something fun. I few days before, Lydia wanted to make sure we would do that again and so Shantel put some things together. Lydia loved it. 

I've written about this before, but Shantel has really valued making the kids birthday cake with them. That rather than having a "perfect cake" (which Shantel could certainly do), she wants the kids to be able to help and not feel like she was too busy for them because she was trying to get the cake just right. It has been such a good thing. The day before her birthday Shantel and Lydia worked on Lydia's cake. About 3-4 weeks before her birthday Lydia all the sudden got a "big cat" kick. So she wanted to have a big cat birthday  party and cake. Here are some pictures of them working on the cake. 

That night I worked on wrapping some presents for her. My art is really bad- so for me, these are a pretty good effort. 

It is funny because the thing that Lydia has been most excited for on her birthday has been that she does not have to do her family economy that day. Monday's are the most work because that is the day that they do a full room clean, vacuum and clean the bathroom. So she has been extra excited that her birthday is on a Monday and so she got the day off of family economy on a "hard day." 

That afternoon we had 10 of Lydia's friends over for "Lion, Lion, Cheetah." (Duck duck goose). Then they designed their own big cat on balloons. They all got their own big cat headband with cat ears. Then we did presents, cake and finished with "big cat" races. 

After the party we did dinner and then presents and cake as a family. Lydia actually requested her full meal plan for the whole day a month in advance. For breakfast Lydia wanted to pick her cereal from the store. Then for lunch she wanted pizza and dinner she wanted nacho soup (chicken tortilla soup). Lydia likes it without the chicken, but it is her favorite. She likes to put it in these little tiny bowls and scoop it into there from her big bowl. 

I feel we did pretty good for her birthday this year. She got a big cat book, roller blades and a book light. She also got from family some books sets and a remote control car. 

Happy Birthday Lydia! We love you!