Reese's 4th Birthday Party

A Tinker Bell Birthday Party : by Reesie Pie

This year after Reese talking about Hello Kitty, Little Mermaid, Barbie Island Princess, and Chuck E Cheese birthday parties, she decided on a Tinker Bell party. I went out and bought her the original green Tinker Bell costume thinking Reese would be all excited....I was wrong. She wanted to be a PINK Tinker Bell. Apparently she has seen too many previews for the new Tinker Bell movie that comes out this next week. She wanted "tinker bell's sister" as she calls, Rosetta, the pink/red pixie from the movie.

Fortunately for Reese, Granna indulged her birthday wish with a pink tinker bell costume for her party. Granna also come up Friday night to take Reese out for her birthday dinner and help mom and dad get ready for Reese's party.

Reese and Granna the morning of Reese's party. Unfortunately Granna could not stay for the party itself, but we sure are thankful for her help the night before and all the love she gave Reese!

Reese all ready for her friends to arrive. Granna bought Reese this dog so Reese could have her very own "Cookie". As seen in this post. This was the perfect compromise to Reese's "I wanna little doggie as my pet for my birthday like Granna and Madison's, mommy".

THE SET UP:

Tinker Bell decor with a little "cookie" on the side.

With "balloons that go high" as requested by the 4 year old.

Tinker Bell in all her Light, Bright and Sparkly glory.

THE FRIENDS:

Reese, Madison, Elizabeth, Chloe, Jenna, and Chloe

and Clarksyn (with Reesie)

and Faith (with Reesie) joined Reese in her birthday celebration!

THE GAMES:

As the girls arrived we had them (with help of a parent if needed) take a guess at how many m&m's were in each tinker bell jar Granna and I made. Winner takes all of course!

There was a "stick the pixie wand on tink's wand" game that we made up with Jenna winning almost dead on!

We did two games with the wand I'm holding. First we did a "duck, duck, goose" type game only we changed it up a bit and did "fairy, fairy, tinker bell" and the kids enjoyed bonking their friends on the head and chasing each other. We also did a "hot potato" game using the wand instead of a potato that went over well with the girls too.

With the weather so beautiful (in the 80's) we took most of the partying outside. We played "pixie dusted" a game I made up! Basically, I made some pixie dust using glitter, sequence, and other sparklies and put them in a decorated bag. Each girl got a bag and then I let them run around and sprinkle dust all over each other...kinda like tag. This was a big hit!!!

And another birthday girl request as the pinata! Every girl got in a good hit and birthday girl Reese was the one to break it open!

THE CAKE:

We weighed all our options for Reese's cake and decided it was actually cheaper (b.c she wanted a doll/figurine on top) and certainly more convenient to just have Reese's Tinker Bell cake made for us! She chose the design and decided on a vanilla with strawberry cream filling cake! YUM!

She blew out all four candles with FOUR blows! One for each year I suppose!

Reese (losing her dress) with Elizabeth in the background.

Clarksyn and Chloe enjoying their cake (with Jenna in the background).

Jenna and Faith with cake.

Chloe and Madison. Chloe was asking for more "fairy potion" (lime sherbet with 7up) in her tinker bell goblet.

THE GIFTS:

She was spoiled! Tinker Bell everything you can imagine, a few learning games, jewelry and baby dolls!

THE ACTIVITIES:

All the girls took their goblets after cake and fairy potion and we decorated them with Tinker Bell stickers. Left to right: Clarksyn, Chloe B., Jenna, Faith, Elizabeth, Gavin, Madison, Reesie, and Chloe.

Reese decorating her cup! Also wearing her hand made necklace that Jenna gave her!

The swings on the swing set were of high demand among 4 year old birthday goers! Reese being pushed by Chloe and Faith on the other.

Reese swinging high!

Jenna on the left and Chloe swinging. Half of Christopher's HOT toosh on the right.

Chloe and Madison sharing a ride.

Madison going down the slide.

Of course the little bounce house had lots of use!

Cute little Snow White Jenna.

Chloe and Reese having so much fun!

Of course the girls often congregated to Reese's room for free time play.

Lastly, a final picture of Reese and her BFF Madison on her way home. 4 years together girlfriends!

Over all, I believe the party was a hit. I've never seen Reese smile for so many pictures! She even told Christopher as every left, "I want another party, daddy!" I love this girl!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY, REESE!!!

Happy Birthday, Reese!

I decided to go ahead and finish this post with the rest of the pictures from Reese's Birthday Dinner at Chili's with Granna.

Reese and Granna waiting to be seated at Reese's favorite restaurant (b.c Chuck E Cheese isn't a restaurant, right?!?)!

We headed out to Rockwall for our Chili's dinner...it was closer to a Target for some after dinner dessert...present shopping!


We were surprised at how well Reese handled the birthday song from the Chili's employees. We figured she would get really shy and hide! She LOVED it!

However, I'm pretty sure she enjoyed her complimentary chocolate milkshake with whip cream, sprinkles and a cherry on top a little more!

Then it was time to shop! Of course, she was spoiled rotten by Granna! (Gavin thought it was his b-day shopping trip too!)

Then it was time for her birthday girl bling to snazz up her jammies! Off to bed for her big Tinker Bell party in the morning!

4 years of Reesie Pie

Reese, your entrance into the world wasn't nearly as dramatic as your brothers in their quest to be birthed. You were actually my easiest pregnancy and birth hands down! If every baby and pregnancy were like you, there would be at least 12 more little Reesie Pie's running around our house! Every thing about my pregnancy with you was perfect.

I remember being at the Outback Steak House in Provo on a date with Daddy in early January of 2004. It was at that time I told him I felt prompted to have another child and that I thought I might be up to it. I had just finished my Bachelors at BYU and Daddy was in his last year. Our original plan was to wait until Daddy finished and we found a job. However, I knew that it was time and I even knew you were a girl. I told your daddy this and his eyes perked right up with the thought of having a little girl. We just weren't sure that was in the cards (having a girl) given the Lloyd track record.

Sure enough, a little more than a month later (b.c I took a bit to test b.c I didn't think it would happen "just like that"), SURPRISE, I was pregnant with you!! I had a hard time believing it b.c it took so long to conceive with Gavin (and subsequently Caden too) I didn't even tell your Dad I was pregnant. I just left a positive test by his computer and went to work. He called me later that day and asked "what's with that pregnancy test you left by my computer? What does it mean? Are you pregnant?" I told him, I guess so!

Everything went as planned with you. I gained a lot of weight but not nearly as much as with Gavin. I did swell quite a bit but it did not develop into edema. Just the normal aches and pains. We moved to Washington with Grandma and Pa for the summer of 2004 and it was there that we learned you were a GIRL! I was literally in shock. Your Dad started crying! He was SO excited. We moved back to Provo to finish Daddy's last semester at BYU that August.

Your due date was approaching and Dr. Gordon wanted to get one last ultrasound to make sure you were indeed another large baby. We were already planning a cesarean section delivery with you, due to complications from Gavin's birth. I remember lying down on the table and the ultrasound tech getting all your measurements. I asked if he could indulge my doubts and check to make sure you really were a girl. AND YOU WERE! Imagine that! Dr. Gordon wanted to deliver you on the 16th and then even tried for your due date of the 18th. Again, no rooms available for both you and I until the 19th.

Grandma came for a visit and stayed with Gavin. Daddy and I woke up at 4:30 am on the 19th so we could get to the hospital by 5am for your 7am scheduled c-section. I was so nervous. I had your daddy give me a priesthood blessing to calm my nerves. I got prepped by the nurses and at 6:30 am I was wheeled into the operating room. I cried as Daddy had to leave the room while the anesthesiologist gave me a spinal. We weren't going to risk doing an epidural and have it not work (as was the case with Gavin) and then have to knock me out to deliver you. I was scared and cold. I remember the anesthesiologist as one of the most kindest, gentle and comforting man. He seriously was like a guardian angel to me at my most fragile and weakest point. I was comforted that all would be well. And it was.

At 7:20 am on October 19, 2004 at 9 lbs 4 oz you came screaming like a mad woman into this world! Seriously, your lungs billowed the most piercing cries that everyone in the room commented on your "very developed lungs". The first thing I said was, "is it really a girl?" And you were and I cried! My baby girl! I got my wish to be a mother of both a boy and a girl. And once they told me you were just perfect I was the happiest person in the world. My heart grew so big with instant love for you it was all encompassing. I cried with joy.

Dr. Gordon stitched me up fast while talking about the past weekend BYU football game with his partner. Everything went so smooth and I was soon wheeled back to my room and you were there with me! Gavin soon came to meet his little sister and the rest is history! Now get ready for MAJOR picture overload. It was sooo much fun looking through Reese's old pictures!

BIRTH:

Daddy and his new baby girl Reese the day after bringing her home from the hospital.

A week old with lots of pink!

More pink and looking pretty for church.

You loved your new swing that Granna bought for you....so did Caden!

Daddy graduated and found a job that took us out of Utah and down to Texas. We stayed with Granna and Pa until we found our house outside Dallas.

You were six months old and loved eating your feet or shoes!

There isn't a bathtub at the barn so you and Gavin shared this tub every once and a while! Look how small you both were then!

You were our first baby to "do the Bumbo"! We used is as your highchair while living at the Barn.

In June of 2006 we bought our first home and moved to Forney! You learned how to crawl literally as soon as we moved in and I let you loose on the floor!

You spent your first 4th of July at the Arlington Parade!

It wasn't long before you were walking. In fact, you were walking by 11 months.

Always so cute!

FIRST YEAR:

First birthday party was at home and daddy made you a block cake with the letters that spell Reese.

You had no problem destroying you cake!

And you have always LOVED chocolate and sharing it! Unfortunately this is the same night that the "dragon tooth" came.

You also loved falling asleep in your highchair. You were our best sleeper. We could tell you it is time for bed, you would go willingly, and be zonked out within seconds! For the WHOLE NIGHT!

However, you have always been the drama queen! So hormonal and never afraid to show your ragin' girlie emotions!

You love being silly with Mommy! But, man, it was sure hard getting to you smile for anyone else!

You were 8 months old when you met your BFF Madison. You two are inseparable and it is so much fun to watch you two play together!

Your first dress up Halloween. You were Princess Leia of Star Wars. You matched Gavin who was a Jedi.

You loved to ride around with the Forney Four on Wheels.

SECOND YEAR:

Then you turned 2 years old!

You have always loved cats but mostly kittens so it came as no surprise when you told us you wanted a Hello Kitty Party.

You looooooved having a new baby brother in the house and thought he was just one of your dolls!

You absolutely loved the beach in Galveston while on a mini vacation.

You spent all day at the beach and did NOT want to leave!

In fact, you have always loved the water! Like a little fish, a natural. No fear whatsoever. Even after your close call with death.

This is the same year we had to extract your beloved dragon tooth. Days before we went on our big Washington vacation.

THIRD YEAR:

Because you were really into Hello Kitty but you liked Dora the Explorer a lot too, you decided you had to have both for your 3rd birthday party!

You were so excited to be the birthday girl and make your Toys R Us birthday trip.

But, I would have to say my favorite party of your 3rd birthday day (love the video that goes with this pic!) was before the party even happened. My baby girl was acting so grown up trying to get all dolled up for her party.

Because your 3rd year of life is so well documented in our family blog, I didn't bother putting too many pictures in for this year. This picture does say a lot about your 3rd year however. You would get into a mess and then start crying your way out of it!

Like this time when the "TV needed me to do this for you mommy" several times a day.

Or when "Super Reese" makes you do things...we get the picture! With all your drama we can't help but love you and we are so glad you are ours forever!! Love you my Reesie Pie!

TODAY YOU TURN FOUR!!!

Stay tuned for Reese's Birthday Party post!