Lia's 12th Birthday!

We wrapped up Lia's 12th birthday celebrations tonight a day after her actual birthday.  Due to her ski bus getting turned around on her first scheduled ski lesson back in January, a make-up lesson was scheduled for yesterday.  As a result, Lia spent most of her birthday on the slopes which I think is a pretty cool way to spend her birthday.  I did manage to sneak up a bakery-made, sugar cookie with colorful sprinkles and the words, "Happy Birthday," piped on top for her to eat for dessert at lunch time.  When Lia and Ron pulled up last night in the garage, Lia was greeted by a birthday banner that Logan and Ella helped me make along with a bunch of balloons.  When she came into the house, we had turned off all the lights and lit the candles on a small birthday cake that I had bought.  We surprised Lia by singing "Happy Birthday" to her right as she walked into the door.  We enjoyed eating our favorite teriyaki takeout for dinner and then feasted on her birthday cake with mint ice cream before heading to bed.
We started off today with our traditional buttermilk waffles with whipped cream and strawberries for breakfast.  We enjoyed singing to Lia again before she blew out her candles.  After church and a lazy afternoon, grandma and grandpa joined us for Lia's, family birthday party.  As always, Lia requested "breakfast for dinner" followed by gift opening and her favorite banana cream pie.  Lia got the ultimate surprise during gift opening when she opened up a brand new, retired, Felicity doll.  Although she has loved this historical, AG doll for years, I had never planned on getting it for her especially after I announced that we were done buying Lia dolls after we gave her Kanani a few year ago for Christmas.  However, after Lia and I recently had a conversation about her still wanting Felicity, I found the deal of a lifetime on OfferUp on a brand new, still-in-the-box doll from 2011. This doll had been purchased by a women who used to work at the Seattle AGD store and who had kept it all these years until she recently decided to sell it for a really low price.  When I found her posting, I decided that it was a deal that I couldn't pass up!  It was so priceless to see Lia's reaction when she opened up her doll this evening.  She seriously jumped up from the floor and hugged the box with the doll inside.  It just made me so happy to see Lia get so excited about this gift especially at the age of twelve (thanks to all of the photos she takes and videos she makes for her AGD social media accounts).   I hope that she stays this way for a few more years to come!

The banner and balloons that greeted Lia when she drove into our garage on Saturday evening.

Lia and Ella posing next to the little cake we surprised her with after her long day of skiing.

Lia getting ready to blow out the candles on her waffles this morning.

Blowing away!

The family gathering around our dining room table for Lia's dinner-for-breakfast this evening.

Lia posing with baby Emmett before opening up her gifts.

Lia opening up her Felicity doll.  Since I knew that she would recognize the size and shape of the AGD box, I put it in a large, plastic bin so that she wouldn't figure it out in advance.

Lia posing with her new doll.

And hugging it, too!

Lia showing off her new Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven book that she received from Aunt Austin and Uncle Robbie.

Lia reading a card that Ella made for her.

Giving Ella a hug after reading her card.

Opening up grandma's and grandpa's card.

Lia waiting for us to sing "Happy Birthday" to her one last time.

Big sissy giving Emmett an adoring look.

Blowing out her twelve candles.

Mama posing with her two girls before cutting into the pie.

Lia enjoying her favorite pie with Emmett at her side.

Emmett enjoying his pie that daddy was feeding him.

A final birthday shot with the birthday girl posing with her favorite birthday gift.  Welcome to the family, Felicity!  And Happy Birthday to our favorite, 12-year old girl!  We love you so much and are so grateful that you are a part of our family.