ava's birthday: the rundown

her morning started off with a phone call from daddy, followed by a call from grandma olivia then another from her great auntie nena.

for breakfast, ava requested pancakes, so i surprised her with her favorite heart-shaped ones with a candle... she loved it.  i could tell she felt really special.

after breakfast, we got ready and took a bike ride on over to her friend ruby's house, for play group.  

there's nothing ava loves more than playing with her friends, especially when it involves her dressing up as cinderella.

for lunch i took ava to, in her words, "old mcdonald's", one of my least favorite places to eat.  nothing says, i love you more than a mom who sacrifices a good meal for a less tasty but more fun atmosphere.

then it was home for naps and some quick last minute party prepping.  we originally planned to have a small family party, but last minute decided to invite a few of ava's closest friends, friends whom she personally named when we asked who she wanted at her party.  she was so happy to be there celebrating with her family and friends.

ava has been asking when her birthday is ever since last summer.  so, when it was finally time for everyone to sing happy birthday to her and for her to blow out the candles, she was beyond happy.  she has been talking about it ever since.

by the end of the party, bryce and i were exhausted.  but as one last birthday present, we let ava stay up and watch her favorite movie, monsters inc., with us on the couch.  needless to say, she was one happy, little, busy, birthday girl.