Ava's 3rd Birthday : Act III

Ava's Birthday Party was last Saturday & luckily for us, the rain held off! When I asked her a few weeks ago what she wanted for her birthday, this was her list:

• For everyone to sing her 'Happy Birthday'
• A Horsie
• A strawberry cake with pink icing
• Her friends to come over
• Balloons
• Cake (any kind)

Well, I am happy to say, that she did in fact get everything she asked for - and then some!

Growing up, my Papa always brought a horse down for my & my sister's birthday parties.

It was the one thing everyone remembered about our parties (seriously, when I run into our childhood friends today, they still say 'I can remember y'all always had a horse to ride at your birthday parties!')

So, to carry on the tradition, I asked him to bring down the oldest, gentlest horse he had & decided to theme Ava's party 'Rhinestone Cowgirl' (even though I didn't get the hay bales & all the decor I intended to due to the rain :( oh well!)

Ava & I pulled in the driveway (after getting 3 dozen balloons) to Papa unloading Star & that girl couldn't get on that horse fast enough!

She hopped right up there & went for a ride! I'm so glad she's not scared one bit!

We invited all the fam over for a cook-out lunch & cake - I love me some char-grilled hot dogs!!


Well, what do you know?? She got her scooter after all!!

My grandma, Ninner, made her this cake - I love that icing! It's like marshmallow fluff & we all know it doesn't get much better than marshallow fluff :)

Here she is opening some of her gifts. I love that she & Emma are looking at me like 'Please stop reading the card & just open the present already!'

Ava & Kinley waiting for their turn to ride the horse! Kinley was totally prepared & even came with her cowgirl boots on!! So cute!

Awwww!! Ty is just the sweetest thing! Don't get me wrong - he is ALL BOY - but he always makes a point to be so nice & sweet to Ava (& to pose for a pic with her, too :)! I'm so glad she has such wonderful cousins (even if one of them is has an 'age limit' to the parties he attends, hahaha-still cracking up about that one LBH)!

Here she is blowing out another candle! Those are some of her cousins Josh, Jase, & Ty - and her friend from Bible Class, Owen.

Can you tell she loves 'pupcakes' just as much as her Momma?

It did start to sprinkle just a little bit, so we busted out the Pinata & did a little Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey in the garage - who knew 'old school' party games would go over so well?!?!

Just chillin' waitin' for someone to bust that Pinata :)

Oh this girl - she is just so wonderful!