Happy 5th Birthday, Leah!

Leah turned 5 March 10. There were days when 5 seemed so far off, yet she's now 5 and then some. (My friends with older kids warned me about time sneaking up like that!)

Since this was a milestone birthday, we threw Leah a party with a couple of her friends. (Actually, her birthday was more like the party that wouldn't end, since we celebrated three different times.) Where did she want to celebrate? Where does any kid? Chuck E. Cheese, of course! We bit the bullet and had CEC host/organize/etc. the whole thing rather than us trying to piecemeal order food, buy tokens, etc. This turned out to be a wise decision on our part. The funny thing is, Leah wasn't really interested in all the fun birthday extras. She refused to hi-five or even look at CEC when he appeared, instead scowling at the camera at the mere suggestion of looking at him. She also passed on the ticket blaster, even though Scott offered to go in with her. (Thankfully, Hunter was more than willing to try it out; when it was over, he said, "I want to do that again!") Still, Leah and her friends enjoyed themselves.

Party #2 was a family party with the grandparents. One of the highlights of the party happened to be a cat card. This was no ordinary card, oh no. This card was a cat's face, and when you pulled down on the "chin" (tab), the cat sings (meows) "Happy Birthday". Kid you not, Leah played that card over and over and over. (And in fact, she still has it in her room, and is known to eagerly show it to friends who might come over.) She'd ask, "Do you want to hear the cat card?" (Guess it was rhetorical, since no one ever had a chance to answer.)

Party #3 wasn't exactly a party, but it did occur on her actual birthday. Although we had celebrated the weekend before, I couldn't let her special day pass by without doing anything to commemorate it. So, based on her choice, she, Hunter, and I celebrated with some Sweet Frog (a wise choice, I must add).

What a joy celebrating this not-so-little girl who is such a blessing in my life!

Per her request: pink & purple cat cupcakes

Trying out the CEC birthday goodies (an inflatable token tiara & guitar balloon) while waiting for her friends to arrive.

Carter, Moira, Hunter, Leah, & Kate: Just give us our tokens and let us go play!

 

Hilarious! Who knew CEC could make a child scowl?

Scott rockin' out on the air guitar in an attempt to get Leah to do take over. Obviously she was more concerned with other things...

like eating her pizza and watching the CEC show on TV.

Karate chop!

Scott grabbed tickets while Hunter stood there laughing.

The annual birthday flowers for my beautiful girl.

There's the cat card!

Leah was kind enough to ask Hunter if he would like to help her open her gifts.

Like the wrapping job?

Trying out her new wheels.

Look who else had to try 'em out?

Happy Birthday, Leah!

Rip-roaring ready to go! She took off down the street on her bike, and couldn't get enough of it. (Fast forward to a month later, and she wants to do anything BUT ride her bike.)

Final hugs and kisses with Papa, Grandma Mel, and Grandma Teddy before they had to head home.

Hunter wanted to be a part of Leah's official birthday photo, too.