The birthday weekend

Elaina turned 8 on Sunday, so we seemed to celebrate all weekend! Haha She was determined to go out to Chinese food for her birthday, so I talked her into having a date with mom and dad on Friday night since Saturday was already was packed! :) We had a really good time. She did her best to wait patiently for Mike to get home from work Friday. I let her ride in the front on the way to eat. She thought she was a super star! She chatted all thru dinner. It was so fun to watch her. Then she sat in the back with me while Mike chauffeured us home. What a special treat to have an evening alone with Elaina. :)

Then Saturday, We had a tea party. We had lots of food and gussied up the table.

Aunt Dana and Abbie made the trek to come have the party with us. Elaina was in hog heaven! The girls had such a great time. Heck, so did I. It was great to see Dana and Abbie. When I asked Elaina on Sunday what her favorite part of her birthday was, she said that Abbie coming for her party was her favorite.  What a sweet girl!

During the tea party, it decided to rain. Not that big of a deal, right? Wrong. Dana and I were cleaning the kitchen when we noticed it get really dark outside then heard sirens going off. We were in a tornado watch/warning. We tried to play it off like it wasn’t that big of deal so the girls wouldn’t get scared. Abbie got a little scared, so I decided it was time for a little re-direction. ;) I had gotten some cloth bags for the girls to decorate as loot bags. I didn’t get pictures of them making them, but I did get some of their finished products. :) I think the girls had fun letting their inner creativeness come out.

Saturday was also the ward Fall party. Mike had to leave for most of the tea party to get supplies since the Deacons were in charge of the spook house at the church. Elaina about exploded waiting for Mike to return so she could open gifts. Haha

Elaina had been talking about buying herself a special doll with her birthday money. I took her to Wal-mart after the church party Saturday evening so she could get her doll. Sunday (her actual b-day) I let her take her new doll to church~ sacrament only. ;) She dressed her in the dress that Grandma had gotten for her dolls and  then she dressed to match her. She was so excited to have her doll look like her. Unfortunately she got to feeling a little sick during sacrament and I had to take both the doll and her home after sacrament.

We also let her blow out the candles while we sang "happy birthday" on Sunday since Dana and Abbie left before we were able to do it Saturday.  Elaina loved the cake...  It was totally "her".  :)

All in all, I think she had a great birthday.  Although, the party isn't completely over.  Now we get to prepare for her baptism on Nov 27th.  :)  Click HERE and HERE for all the pics from this fun weekend.