Camryn is 5...

I'm doing a quick post about Camryn's fun little birthday parties (yes, partIES). I feel sorry for my Joellie who is on OB call tonight. I know at some point he'll check this blog tonight. I figure the likelihood of his seeing the actual pics are much greater if posted on the blog - I'm right huh Joel??

Anyway, so here they are...

I can't believe it, but my little chaquita banana is 5 already! Joel and I laugh occasionally at how my view on Camryn has changed so dramatically this last year. She used to make me, well....crazy! Now that she's a little older, she is an absolute joy in my life! She is such a great 2nd mother to Christian. She's always so quick to respond to the deeds I ask her to complete. She lets things kind of roll off her shoulder (something I'm not used to with her older brother :) ). Her zest for life is contagious: easily finding joy in the simplest of things. She's very social and has a great sense of herself already. Her favorite things in life are: Apples and milk for breakfast, treats, playing with Brittani and Christian, watching movies (oh so girlie - poor Christian knows all of the Barbie movies by name), singing along to Joyschool music in the car, when Mom assists at her preschool, treats, her cupcake birthday shirt (getting a little small by now!) sleeping in mom and dad's bedroom and birthdays.

Way back in September I remember her being so excited because her birthday was just around the corner. When I explained just how many days away it was, she burst into tears for like 5 minutes because she just, "couldn't wait that long!" Anyway, I think she thoroughly enjoyed her 3 days of birthday bliss...

First, we decided to make it a tradition to carve pumpkins as part of Camryn's birthday (kill 2 birds with 1 stone eh?) We joined with our friends, the other Gardner's for a fun family night activity. We carved some pretty freak'n cool pumpkins if I do say so myself. And yes Tanya, Joel's alien pumpkin totally kicked your witch pumpkin! JK

Camryn was so excited for her "school party" at preschool. She got to help Mom decorate cupcakes, make a birthday crown, and have the whole class sing and chant for her special day. When people would ask her how old she was, she'd answer by saying, "Today I'm 5 and I'll be 6 tomorrow." She said that to everyone! I think she got confused because she was having a family party one night and a friend party the next. I gave up after trying to explain it to her for the 10oth time!

So after much MUCH consideration, Camryn decided to celebrate her "family party" at Chuck-E-Cheese. And yes, we were just here for JD's family party too. She was so excited I thought she was going to burst - so she busted a move with Chuck instead. She opened her presents, but I told her her big surprise was at home waiting for her. When we got home, we presented her with her first fish tank. It's just 1 gallon and purple - perfect! She named her new friend, Abby. JD kept pushing for Ruby (it's a red beta), so she settled on Abby Ruby Gardner. She was quite excited about it. She cried that night because she wanted to kiss Abby goodnight. I told her to hurry and kiss the tank and get in bed - seemed to work.

So today was her "friend princess party." Man o man was she excited for this. We had planned this party together for 2 or more weeks. I convinced her to have a small party (just 5 total) so we could buy more treasures for everyone. She seemed to like that idea. She invited a couple of girls from Northwood and a couple of girls from her preschool. It was the perfect size group (last year she had like 15 or more - crazy!). So they made cute little crafts (crowns and gift bags) to start off the festivities. We played games (with lots of prizes for all - which they LOVED), and decorated cupcakes. The funniest thing was this trick I played on the girls. They totally ate it up.

So while we were downstairs playing a game, my friend Tanya came over and "stole" the cupcake tower and put a wicked witch's hat in its place. The girls came up to decorate cupcakes that had been stolen! I acted the part well and read the clue the witch left. The clues took us around our little neighborhood looking for the missing cupcakes. We knocked on some doors and got prizes along the way. We eventually made it back home to see that the witch had put the cupcakes back where they belonged. The girls loved it. One girl thought that the good witch came and killed the bad witch. Nice. Another girl thought that the wicked witch changed her ways and was really nice after all. Another girl looked at me and said, "I didn't think witches were real, but they totally are! They have to be! She was here!" Wow, my work here is done: I've corrupted many little minds. Nice.




Anyway, the day was fun and the girls were so dang cute: all dressed up like their favorite princess! Camryn was so appreciative. She kept saying thank-you to me and kissing me for the rest of the day.



I love her!