the lantern invitations.

It is now that time of year when party posts overtake this blog!  We had the most delightful party this morning in the backyard with all of Ava Carmel's cute little friends.  Ava was so very excited--she just kept saying "oh mommy thank you for this party!"  It was super sweet and of course words like that, make every effort worth it.

(And just in case you think my children are naturally full of gratitude, please know I have taught them in no uncertain terms to thank me for everything!  Perhaps this is a little self-serving, but I think they will have happier lives, simply by noticing the things that are done for them; whether it is making them a meal or buying them a snow cone or planning a birthday party.  A thankful heart is a happy heart, is our motto!) 

And now moving right along from that fascinating little tangent.... 

These were the invitations we made for Ava Carmel's "Tangled Lanterns" birthday party.  It has become a birthday tradition for me and the birthday child to work on the party invitations together, and they really look forward to it each party year.  Their involvement usually varies, depending on their age, interest and my patience level that day...

For Ava's help with this invitation, I cut out all the lanterns and then I told her to "choose four lanterns for Ellie's invitation."  She would deliberate over which ones Ellie would like best and put them on the card.  Then we would move on to the next one, "choose four lanterns for Meg's invitation," until we had finished them all.  

After they were all finished we got on our bicycles and went for a long bike ride, hand delivering most of them.  Ava has a freak out every time Jimmy tries to remove her training wheels, and it cracks me up how she just cruises right along beside me pumping those legs so fast--those little wheels rattling like mad.  Those wheels are going to just come flying off one day.  

Hope you all have a happy weekend!  We have plans for cleaning out the basement (it has become full of random piles and half empty moving boxes and bins).  And of course, on a much more exciting note, we will be celebrating Cam's 10th birthday.   Woohoo!

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