Ella's 11th Birthday!

After a very busy weekend of attending all three of Lia's "Honk" performances, I turned around yesterday afternoon and hosted Ella's family birthday party.  Unfortunately, my dad had come down with a bad cold and canceled last minute, so only my mom came to the party after watching Lia's final performance with Ella, Emmett, and me.  We came home in time for me to finish up making dinner before we gathered around the dining room table to celebrate Ella and her 11 years of life.  We spent a pleasant evening eating dinner, opening gifts, and enjoying dessert.  Ella loved all of her presents and was most excited about receiving the horse and stable set from the collection of her newest AG Doll, Lila.  Ella felt thoroughly loved and spoiled, and I am so grateful for the chance that we had to spend this evening celebrating this spunky, fun-loving, and happy girl in our family!

Ella posing with her gifts before the party started.

Sitting around the table before eating Ella's birthday dinner.  She requested ham, mac 'n cheese, strawberries, carrots, and dinner rolls to eat.

Ella opening up her card from grandma and grandpa.

Ella happily showing off her new American Girl horse named Hollyhock.

Holding up the necklace that Sarah made for her and sent in the mail.

Ella standing next to her new bedside table that daddy put together for her.

Smiling for the camera before we sang, "Happy Birthday" to her.

Ella dramatically singing along with us.

And blowing out her eleven candles on the chocolate cream pie.

The four kids posing with grandma before she headed home.

A family picture that grandma took of us.

Although we celebrated Ella's birthday on Sunday, her actual birthday was today on Monday.  Although I had to work, I was able to make her birthday breakfast of waffles with whipped cream and strawberries thanks to the hour late start.  Here are Logan and Emmett posing with Ella before she blew out her breakfast candles.

After school, Poppy came over to play with Ella and her new horse stable.  Since Poppy already owns an AG horse, the girls had so much fun playing together.

I treated Ella to Chic-fil-A for dinner that evening.  Since she was the only one who got to eat this for dinner, she felt quite special.

And we finished off the evening with Ella eating one more slice of her leftover, birthday pie.