Ella's 6th Birthday!

In the midst of the chaos and uncertainty in our lives, I did the best that I could to make Ella's 6th birthday special today.  We started off the day with our traditional buttermilk waffles with whipped cream and strawberries.  After school time and lunch, I hosted an outside, 15-clue scavenger hunt for the kids as the replacement for our daily exercise activity just to help Ella's day feel a little more special.  Although a torrential downpour complete with hail came right after I had finished hiding all of the clues, it luckily only last for about five minutes or so.  As a result, the kids were able to complete the hunt without getting too wet which I was grateful for as it took quite a bit of time to set the entire thing up.  After the scavenger hunt was complete, we all came back inside so that Emmett could take his afternoon nap and the kids could have their TV time while I made Ella's birthday dinner.  Ella enjoyed watching a movie from the cozy comforts of her awesome, blanket fort that I had helped her make yesterday on the couch. After the dinner was made, my parents arrived at 6 p.m. to help us celebrate.  Although we knew that it was risky to have them come especially due to their advanced ages and also against our governor's mandate to only leave the house for essential activities, we decided to just go for it since all eight of us are currently healthy.  I tried to lay down some 'ground rules' before my parents came to help them stay six feet away from us throughout the evening.  I set up their own table in the foyer so that they could eat dinner and dessert in a separate area from than us.  In addition, I asked them to remain in the same spot to watch Ella open her gifts in the living room.  Although my mom did a pretty decent job following the rules, my dad had a very difficult time practicing 'social distancing' and was found all over the main floor of our house less than six feet away from all of us several times throughout the evening.  Oh well.  The best laid plans often go awry.  As wonderful as it was to have them join us for Ella's birthday, I hope that we didn't infect anyone with an undetected Coronavirus.  We enjoyed eating Ella's requested dinner of orange chicken with all the fixings, watching her open up her collection of gifts, and singing "Happy Birthday" to her before she blew out the candles on her Ariel-themed cake that I had made the day before.  I was grateful for this chance to gather together during such a crazy and stressful time to celebrate our special girl who joined our family six years ago.  Ella has been such a source of energy, excitement, joy, and laughter to our family these past six years.  She is seriously the cutest, little girl around and we just all love her to pieces!

Ella smiling before blowing out the candles on her birthday waffles.

The four kids about to begin the scavenger hunt around our yard.

Logan reading a clue to Ella and Lia that they had just found on one of the swings in our backyard.

It was a bit of difficult to manage Emmett while chasing the kids all over the front yard and back yard several times.  He kept on tripping on the uneven ground as he is still getting used to walking in shoes outside.  By the time the hunt was over, his pants were almost totally wet from falling so many times on the wet ground.  Oh dear.

Lia, Logan, and Ella finding a clue taped to our neighborhood mailbox.

Ella enjoyed a fruit roll-up from inside her blanket fort while watching a movie.

A shot of Ella's legs sticking out from her blanket fort.

After a wardrobe change and fresh hair-do, Ella was all ready to go by the time her birthday party started.  Here is our cute girl posing in front of her gifts.

Grandma and grandpa enjoyed eating dinner from the little table in the foyer.  I told them that it was almost as good as having a romantic, dinner out at a restaurant somewhere!  I just had to take a picture of this as we have never hosted family or friends for dinner at their own table inside our front door.  This is such a sign of how strange our times are right now.

The kids and me enjoying our dinner in the dining room.

A close-up of Ella drinking her Martinelli's sparkling cider that she requested as the drink for her dinner.

After dinner, we retreated into the living room for gift opening.  As always, Logan immediately made a pillow fort in the small couch to watch from while the birthday girl opened her gifts.  I don't know why, but Logan has been doing this for every birthday we have had in our family for the past few years.  What a silly boy.

All four, Hartland kids sitting together before Ella began opening her gifts.

Ella opening up her first gift.

Ella showing off her Disney, Ariel Lego set from grandma and grandpa.

Much to my chagrin, Emmett has been playing with my giant, Easter eggs over the past few weeks and bouncing them around like basketballs.  He kept himself thoroughly entertained with this activity while Ella opened all of her gifts.

Ella showing off her new, Ariel backpack and stuffed, Anna doll.  She definitely loves Disney princesses as much as her older sister did when she was the same age.

The birthday girl and her mama before lighting the candles on the cake.

Ella showing off six fingers while wearing her new, Ariel nightgown.

Ella smiling while listening to us sing to her.

Ella blowing out the candles on her cake.  After blowing multiple times on the cake, Ron muttered under his breath, "Ugh.  That's a lot of coronavirus."  Oh dear.

After cutting and serving the cake, we put a candle on grandma's piece and sang "Happy Birthday" to her since her birthday is tomorrow.  If Ella had been born one hour and nine minutes later, she would have shared her special day with her beloved grandma.

Ella thoroughly enjoying her birthday cake!

Happy Birthday, Ella!  We sure love you!