Happy Birthday Mabel

Well, my sweet little Mabel turned 3 on September 6, 2010. I cant believe how big she is getting.

I spent the night before her birthday blowing up balloons. A long time ago I read an idea in a magazine about blowing up a bunch of balloons and putting them in the birthday child's bedroom while they are sleeping. I've been hanging onto this idea ever since and decided this was a good time to try it out. Brett and I filled up a ton of balloons, enough to cover the girls entire room. And just as I anticipated, we were awoken the next morning by squeals of delight from Mabel and Emmeline both. They were in balloon heaven.

Earlier in the week, when I asked Mabel what she wanted to do to celebrate her birthday this year, she had a difficult time deciding between going to a movie or to a water park. But on the actually day of her birthday, it was sunny and bright and made the decision fairly simple.



Off we went to a small water park in the area. We got Chick-fil-a (Mabels favorite) for lunch and ate it there at the park. After we finished eating the girls splashed around in the water. Mabel loved going around the lazy river and we did that several times.



After a fun couple hours of swimming, we went home and settled Mabel and Madelyn into their afternoon naps. While they were sleeping, Brett and Emmeline hung pink streamers and other birthday decorations. The only thing my girls love more then their actual birthday is decorating for someone else's birthday. . .so Emmeline was thrilled.





While they decorated the room, I decorated the cake. It was a pink castle cake. It was not nearly as fancy or intricate as Emmeline's castle cake on her 3rd birthday, but I was going for flavor. I made a "from scratch" strawberry icing to coat the cake with. Although it wasn't as smooth and clean looking as a buttercream frosting. . .man oh man was it delicious!! After naps, the girls played with balloons and Mabel opened her birthday presents.



She got a couple of little things this time around like a miniture teaset, a blue dragon stuffed animal, a book, a Strawberry Shortcake dvd and other various nick nacks. (Her favorite present actually came a few days later when we took her to the store and let her choose out a new nightgown. I'm sure you can guess more or less what her nightgown looks like. It is very pink and has princesses on it :) ).



After the presents and some playing we had Mabels favorite dinner. . .shepherds pie with cheetos and an assortment of berries. Then we devoured the cake.

At one point in the evening her Nursery leaders dropped by and gave her an ice cream clown and a cute little necklace with her name on it. They also sang happy birthday. That was really special for Mabel. She enjoyed the calls from Nana and Grandma. I think that overall, Mabel had a special day.



I love my little Mabers so much!!