extravaganza

so before we get into summer's various birthday posts, i'm going to go ahead and be out with it: there was no "party."

*gasp*

i know.

summer and i had visions and dreams and schemes of a fantastic little mermaid party for her and her girl friends. including the best party favors ever -- designed, hand-crafted, and sewn by yours truly.

but those dreams went down the toilet (along with a lot of other things...), and i was beginning to worry that poor summer would be a victim of the dreaded pregnancy-induced birthday shaft (i.e., as far as the official family records show, bryan never turned twenty-seven. ask him about it. you'll see there's still a dark cloud over his head).

but it turns out there is no need to feel sorry for our little princess. we ended up maybe overcompensating and jam-packing the weekend with an extended (three day!) celebration of all things summer.

first off, her grandparents were in town to celebrate with us. they took her to the disney store, and she got to shop to her heart's content.  ice cream sundaes for dessert.  then on saturday, she received the royal mani/pedi treatment from our favorite local nail salon (complete with painted nail art), her first-ever trip to the famed birthday hot spot, chuck e. cheese's, and more ice cream for dessert. to continue the revelry on sunday (her actual day of birth), she flounced around in her brand new birthday dress, told everyone at church she was the birthday girl, was sung to in primary, came home to a delicious roast beef birthday dinner (yes, her choice), busted open a cupcake pinata filled with ten pounds of play doh and play doh accessories, opened more delightful birthday gifts, and topped it all off with candles, singing, dancing, and homemade bubble gum ice cream.

whew.

i really think that's as much as one newly-minted four-year-old girl can handle.

birthday shaft averted.

ps - the photo is of the white chocolate and sprinkles covered birthday treat summer brought to pre-school to kick-start the festivities.