Time flies.....

As a mother, it's hard to believe how fast time flies and your babies go from this....

 to this....in just 4 short years.

Yes, it's hard to believe but Lizzie celebrated her 4th birthday this past week.  She is growing up fast but she is still my sweet little girl.  For the longest time Lizzie has been in love with Alice in Wonderland and we read the book almost every night, we go on the ride and the tea cups every time we visit and I think it's still Lizzie's favorite.  So this year, we decided to have our own Mad Hatter Tea Party for her birthday.  Lizzie helped pick out and decorate her own cake this year...she wanted the Cheshire Cat in her cake - I did my best with what I could find, but Liz was more than excited about her cake. Nothing better than a happy little girl for her birthday.  For her party, she dressed in what we call her "Alice dress," yes, it's purple but we had to make do without Grandma close, and did her hair like Alice and then created our own Wonderland in the basement.

 Then it was down the rabbit hole (the basement stairs) to enter Wonderland. The walls were lined with pictures of things that Alice passed as she floated down the rabbit hole

And then you entered Wonderland and our Tea Party.....

 Our catepillar

 The window decorations....

 The party table....Kate and Lauren made the birthday banner for Lizzie, the drinks were bottles of Kool-aid with a "drink me" label on them, we ate heart shaped sandwiches, carrots, fruit and dip, and chips while we wore our "mad" hats. 

 Birthday Girl.....just too cute!

 We even had Alice in Wonderland Tea Party music playing in the background and "painting the roses red."  The kids thought it was pretty cool!  After our dining at the tea party, we played musical chairs, card toss into the Mad Hatter's hat, find the hidden Cheshire Cat, and "Off with your head" (Simon says, but instead, the "Queen says").  The kids had fun with that and being able to tell someone "off with your head" when they would make a mistake.   Does that mean something?

 Then it was on for cake and ice cream!  The kids had a blast blowing out the candle and everyone taking their turn.  They even had a competition to see how far away they could be and still blow out the candle.  Needless to say, I did not eat the top piece of cake as the wax was quite drippy after this shenanigan.

 Then it was on to presents and playing.  This year, I taught the kids the "Heavy, heavy hangover," saying that mom used to make us do for birthdays.  Jared didn't think the "hangover" part was appropriate, but I don't think the kids caught on.  Where did mom get that saying anyway?  Oh well....

 

 Lizzie got more than enough for her birthday with a Minnie snap doll from the Schneiders (our fill in family while we are away), Pop the Pig game, and a new doll to play American Girl dolls with Kate and thanks to Grandma, doll clothes to dress her up in!  Thanks Grandma!

 Then it was on the play with the toys and enjoy our friends and let the cake settle.  As I put my little girl to bed, I thanked my lucky stars that I get to spend so much time with her and her sweet, loving, carefree attitude.  She is a delight to have and such great entertainment to have around.  She is one who makes me smile and gives me loves just when I need them.  Happy Birthday, my sweet Lizzie!