Happy Birthday Greta!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Greta!

This year Greta wanted a Strawberry Shortcake party, and that is what she got.  It's been interesting that for several months when asked about the party, she'd always say that this year she'd like this particular theme.  Greta has exactly one book about Strawberry Shortcake that she got last year at Easter time, and she's read it maybe three times.  Nonetheless, she had her mind made up.

Before the party, Greta milled around the back deck and checked out the lay of the land.  Then - - the guests arrived!

Greta's best neighborhood friends, best family friends and even her best school friends came to her party.  Not to mention, all four of her grandparents made twelve-hour trips to come to this little shin-dig.  Greta is one loved little girl.

Wyatt enjoyed giving Mina a nice snuggle between her face-painting sessions.  What a great job she did on the girls' faces!

These little friends will be more a part of the action this time next year! 

Aside from the wonderful children who came to celebrate with Greta, she had some grown-up guests, too.  Kelly and Sara are her favorite of her Dad's "co-workers".  She was thrilled that they came.

So many children . . . and so many moms. 

Wyatt practicing for his own birthday in just about two months.  

Greta had her face painted . . . .

 

opened her presents,

. . . and finally got to blow out all four birthday candles!

We couldn't coax Greta into wearing her birthday crown this year, but Carey wore it for her!

Ah, the punch.  If you ever put a sugary drink right at kid level with a kid-friendly spout and kid-sized cups, you are just inviting them to drink FOUR BOTTLES of it.  Sugar buzzes were apparent.

Aside from the normal birthday festivities, the party-goers christened the tree house Paul recently built for Greta and Wyatt.  This was reason number two for Greta's insistence that the party be in our back  yard.  She wanted her friends to "get to play" in her treehouse.

The children climbed up and down the ladder, opening and closing the trap door while the adults tried to throw balls up into the treehouse window.  It was a make-shift basketball game that pitted the adults against the kids. 

After everyone said goodbye, Greta and Wyatt continued painting and playing with all the crafts.  You know it's a good party when kids are still playing five hours later.

I somehow managed not to get a single posed shot of my girl and me.  But I actually really like this one of us just being us.  Greta spends about an hour (minimum) in my lap each day, and when I am very old and Greta is very old -- holding her in my lap like this will be my overarching memory of her childhood.  It's nice to have it captured.

Goodnight, little strawberry.  It's been a great four years.  Here's to forty more!