Joint Birthday Party

It is just easiest to have one party.  I don’t think it bothers the girls, but I wonder that every year.  We still try to do something special on their birthday for each of them.
This year we had about 18 people here to celebrate, and it was a lot of fun.  The girls had worked hard at making (glitter!) signs in the weeks leading up to the party.  They also made signs detailing the menu.  All this is put up the day of the party, and that is a lot of what they love about parties – getting ready for them.  This was the first year that they were both able to really help me prepare the food.  Madison sliced all the strawberries for her angel food cake.  Ellie peeled and chopped veggies.  I worked on some of the other stuff – cheesy potatoes, cowboy caviar, chopping harder veggies, sloppy joe meat, shredded chicken.  All of it was pretty easy, just kinda time-consuming to cut it up. It definitely went faster with their help.  They also had a chance for some fun.

Then, the guests started arriving…. slowly, because the snow had started.  Last year was ice; this year was slick snow covered roads.

We tucked in, let Pepper greet everyone, and then started the meal.

 

Then, we had dessert.  Madison chose angel food cake with strawberries, spoon dip, and whipped cream.

Ellie chose a DQ ice cream cake.

While others finished their desserts, the girls opened presents.

It is always fun to see their reactions.  They truly love the act of opening gifts and seeing what people thought to give them – sand art, slime kits, hooded sweatshirts, American girl clothes, and “fit bits” to name a few.

 

We remembered to capture a few pictures with the grandparents before they left.  (Forgot to take a picture with us and them…a little disappointing.)