McKel's Birthday PARTY!!!

I decided to go all out for McKel's party, since we usually just do something small with the grandparents at home, for birthdays.  So I arranged to rent out the Jump Around Utah, and invited lots of kids to come join the fun.  We also had pizza and cupcakes.  When I asked McKel what kind of a party she wanted, she said she wanted a chick party... so I bought her a new chick T-shirt to wear, and bought some light-up chick party favors for the kids.  Other than that, there was lots of jumping, and lots of fun!!

Our friend Sierra (our old next door neighbor) came all the way down from Logan for the party.  This meant a lot to us, getting to have her there.  These girls have a blast together.

A nice father/son picture.  We were so glad that Bret was able to come to the party!

My good friend Sara came with her little boy, Matthew :)

Even the grandparents got some bounce time in!

Adrian and Brittney were able to come too!

And Uncle JJ!

Mike preparing for a really cool jump...

A toe-touch, caught mid-air!  :)  Showing off for his son...

Nana enjoying time with the grandkids

McKel catches some air!

Papa, McKel, and Parker jumping together

Parker and George jumping...

Sweet Avril

A family photo for the Christmas cards...

The birthday girl eats her cupcake:

There's that silly personality!

Avril and some of her playmates from Lotsa Tots daycare- Gabe and Lainey

scarfing down the cupcake!

Sierra

brothers... notice Mike in the background...

3 generations...

Pizza!  Pizza!

Edison loves it!

Olivia jumped even with a broken arm!

Sierra's brother came and showed off his cool tricks!

me and my mama!

Nana and Papa with the Bday girl!

Another shot, with a silly smiley McKel

Mommy daughter shot

All the grandkids...

Grandparents with grandkids...

The Parkinson family :)

Since we wanted to maximize jumping time at the party, we took all the presents back home to open...

This giant puppy dog from Lainey was McKel's favorite gift.  She is IN LOVE with it!!

so soft!

Avril even got to open a present...

Happy girls!

Some lovely artwork, made by Avrill, for her sister :)

A Hello Kitty stepping stone!  Made form scratch... super fun for parents to make (sarcasm there).  It was pretty complicated, but she loved it... so it was worth it :)

LOVE

Finally!  A booster seat!  Like her big sister has...

Proof that we all had a blast:
 Jump around! Watch Papa! and me :) launch Ali Hurricane!  racing!

To end my post, I want to share what a joy it is to have McKel as a daughter.  I can't believe she is 4 already.  Time has FLOWN by.  She was supposed to be my baby, and she is definitely far from a baby now.  She is active, energetic, goofy, athletic, and learning new things every day.  There is nothing more heart-warming than watching McKel get excited about something.  She lights up the whole room.  She jumps up and down and bursts with happiness, grinning from ear to ear.
I can't talk about McKel without talking about her affinity to take tumbles.  Her exuberant energy overflows from her little body and causes a lot of crash landings.  She will have a lot of good stories to tell some day :)
She adores her big sister, as she always has.  She looks up to her and tries to be just like her.  Yet, she is definitely no Avril, she is unique McKel, and that's what we love.
Not long ago, when I went to pick her up from daycare, there was an accident form for her due to a bloody nose she got from a little boy hitting her.  There was blood all over her clothes.  The little boy's name was Gabe, and he happened to be the cute little boy in some pictures above, since he came to the party.  He was the sweetest thing.  After watching McKel play with him at the birthday party, I can more accurately see what must have happened.  McKel tackles and wrestles with the boys, which is what I watched her do to Gabe at the party.  I think I had the wrong person pinned for the bloody nose!  McKel is quite the tomboy, and prides herself in that, often saying when you try to give her something girly... "I don't like girl things, I only want boy toys."
McKel also does have a softer side, that we've been lucky enough to see more of.  She loves to spontaneously run and give you a hug or tell you that she loves you.  This is always a surprise, when you least expect it, and sure to cheer you up!
She is our little Mac, our little Kel Kel, our little Mickey, and we love her.  Happy 4th Birthday McKel!!!  :)

Avril couldn't wait to try out her new stepping stone present.  Mike was able to pour the mixture into the mold and make the Hello Kitty stone for Avril to paint.  Totally a kid friendly toy (ha!).

McKel was thrilled that she got balloons.  One of her favorite gifts :)