Lizzie turns 4!!!!

Top chef birthday, a bit complicated but we pulled it off, liz had a blast and we were able to catch up with several of her daycare friends. first up was the apron decorating:

play dough making came next:

daddy helps out with the graham cracker candy ski chalets:

cupcake decorating, happy birthday singing

can you believe we did all that in one hour!! there was still another hour so we opened presents:

the older girls helped out and even organized a hot potato game, of course liz was off in la la land with her new toys.

well, we made it through another birthday party, whew! i topped my day off with a four hour volunteer job for emily's nutcracker performance (we will see her at the matinee tomorrow)... i worked the sign in and out table and i just want to say, man there are some rude parents out there! parent volunteers are there just helping make sure the right kid goes home with the correct parent. you should have seen how many "adults" just barged through and tried to grab and yell for their kids without signing them out. i had some guy tell me too back off when i asked him to get behind the roped off area (he had climbed over it). he glared at me and told me he could do what he wanted, i was like, "what???? i am a parent just like you and i am supposed to keep this area clear for everyone's safety!!!!" he just pushed right on by and got his daughter. how lame is that? so hopefully anyone reading this will remember (i was humbled by this experience myself) at events where parents are volunteering (and really any person trying to do their job, where it's chaotic and potentially dangerous and children are involved) to be respectful and patient for goodness sake! i am pretty sure thats the last time i volunteer for that particular job (even though i chatted with some super cool moms) i think i will pass out flowers next time!

what a day! happy birthday lizzie! thanks to all my buddies who helped me get it together (my camp fire moms are so amazing, they jumped right in to help without any direction from me! kathleen even told my mom to get outside and have fun instead of washing dishes midway through, she said, "i've got everything under control here! get outside and have fun!" hilarious! i had the dream team at this party, thanks guys!)