Avery's 5th Birthday

A week after Christmas we had another celebration.  Our little Avery aka "super skinny tan" (the nickname she gave herself), Boogs, or Aves, turned the big 05.  Every time we have a milestone like this in our house it still shocks me to think about how fast time flies. 

Avery didn't want a cake for our family celebration so after eating her favorite dinner we made homemade oreos with pink frosting.  Doesn't she look so beautiful and grown-up?  :)

 It's always hard to give birthday presents 1 week after Christmas, but she got just what she wanted from us and her grandparents.

 At the end of January we had a birthday party, carnival style.  The carnival started with the invitations.  We put the invitation inside a balloon, blew them up, put a note on them that said "pop me" and took them to the girls houses.  On the big day Ashlyn and I dressed up as clowns.  She's such a great big sister.  They were the costumes that my mom and I wore when I was Ashlyn's age.  We painted faces and played pin the tail on the donkey.

 We also played a bean bag toss game and had a pinata.  The kids each got their own popcorn bucket filled with a popcorn ball, balloon and the candy from the pinata.  After we opened presents the kids went fishing and got a little toy to put in their popcorn bucket.

 I think it ended up being a great party.  Avery was just happy to have lots of her little friends playing at her house all at one time.  By the looks on the girls faces I think they all had a good time.

Avery, we love you so much.  You are growing up so fast.  You are so smart and kind, thoughtful and creative.  You are a great sister and we all love you so much.  Now if you could just obey your mommy and stop growing up so fast life would be perfect:)