Because Mercer was new to soccer, we weren't sure what to expect the end-of-season tournament -- we only knew what weekend it would be happening. We had to plan the party the weekend before his tournament. It's a good thing we did... the day of her party turned out to be absolutely gorgeous. (The following weekend - the one closer to her actual birthday and the one where Mercer had 3 soccer games - was bitter cold.)
Partly because Isabella wasn't able to ride horses at the event in October, but also because we drive by horse stables every week when taking her to dance class... she / we planned a horse party for her birthday. The idea started with her asking for a horse... for KEEPS. Ummm - how about we have a party where you get to ride horses? Thankfully, she was ok with the riding-of-a-horse party and not getting-a-horse-for-keeps. Whew!
The place we went had a covered pavilion in which we set up the party area. We welcomed a few kids from her class + a couple of Mercer's baseball buddies who have little sisters that Isabella would play with at the ball field. It wasn't a large party - but it was the perfect size. There weren't too many kids there, so the ones who wanted to ride horses got to go over and over and over again.
Isabella got to ride first, of course, and she chose the LARGEST horse to start off with. She rode the other two horses (ponies) mostly because the large black and white horse was brought out for the older kids (Mercer, a couple of boys his age and an older girl from our neighborhood).
She has no fear. She just loves them.
It was interesting that most of the kids her age rode once and were done. They went to go play with the toy horses and decorating hats.... however.... Isabella rode all 3 horses over and over and over again until the girls who ran the party put them away. She never did play with the toy horses or hats. She was definitely in her element up on top of the saddle riding! Out of the 3 horses there - she wanted to ride the BIGGEST first. No fear! The girls who walked with each of the kids commented on how well she did... how most kids didn't know how to hold the reins... and what a natural she was at riding. Who knows if this will be the end of the horse thing or if it's just the beginning. (sigh) We were proud of Mercer for getting up and riding as well.
First to ride...last to ride.
Some of Isabella's classmates transitioned into playing with toy horses, decorating hats or working on a coloring sheet... but not our horse-loving girl!
She never wanted to stop riding.
Mercer had said something about bobbing for apples a week or two before the party -- not sure where he got it from, but we arranged for this to happen. Yes - it was a bit oowey for the kids to go in one after another and spit / back-wash - but HOLY COW the kids had so much fun with this... maybe more fun than with the horses?! They kept coming back and trying it over and over again!!
We had a hot chocolate bar - which was a hit. We had snacks and of course, we had cupcakes.
Isabella kept saying that was her fake birthday party. Noooooo... it was your REAL birthday party -- just a little early! (1 1/2 weeks early)
Her actual birthday fell on a Tuesday. I had worked out to have a substitute teacher cover my classes so that I could take Isabella's birthday off and take cupcakes to her school.
Absolutely love this photo!!
She woke up sick, however, and vomited several times. She has had - off and on over the past several years - done this with a build up of mucus. No fever... perhaps it's allergies? Unfortunately, she did not go to school. (I messaged her teacher and we sent in the cupcakes the next day.)
After going back to bed, she felt much better and back to normal. Since I had the day off, we ran a couple of errands, had a bit of lunch (she ordered a double-chocolate shake) and then we came home.
It was her choice not to go out - rather - to make macaroni and cheese (from a box) at home for dinner. She loves mac-and-cheese, but doesn't get it often. Her actual birthday was pretty low-key, but she seemed to enjoy herself.
Considering the weather and how she felt, it was a good thing we had her fake birthday party earlier! Ha~
We started our week together at a bowling and gaming party with Mercer's baseball crew. There was one final team-building event with a giant game of laser-tag. The Spikes versus a group from a kid's birthday party. Both Mercer and Isabella participated in the laser tag event and had a great time. We also had a blast as a whole family on the bumper-cars!
Mercer went in for a doctor's appointment and he got some milestone measurements: He now weighs 90 lbs and just stretched past 5' tall. He is 5'-0 1/2"! He has also lost ALL of his molars in about three weeks' time! The tooth fairy has just about gone broke AND missed a couple of initial tooth placements out for collection... probably just can't believe that he/she has to visit Mercer's room AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN! :)
We think Isabella has her first legitimate wiggly tooth now. Just finished this with one kid, but here we go with another~
We went to my dad's for a quiet Thanksgiving. It was small - besides us visiting, there was only my step-sister Michelle that came over. Isabella said Michelle was her best-friend and told her a secret right away. (Michelle told us later that Isabella shared that she still wears diapers at night.) :) We did not take photos of our Thanksgiving festivities, unfortunately.
Our final days of break were spent travelling back and then tending to Cub Scout stuff, Mercer attending a church meeting of his own AND getting organized for back-to-school. OK... we can hang on for 4 more weeks 'til we get our next break... right?!
