I am finally getting a minute to post about Lily's birthday weekend,  As I said in my other post, she turned 5 on Saturday, and she was very excited about it.  Here are some of the highlights:

*Looking on-line for the perfect cupcakes to make for her birthday.  We looked through tons of pictures and she decided on green with pink flowers.  (Oh, and I used this recipe – so good!  Thanks Melissa!)

*Having Lily help me decorate them – she was so cute as she put the yellow centers on all the ones we took to her school.

*Having her birthday "breakfast" for dinner on Thursday, since we were all gone camping the morning of her birthday.

*Remembering to buy streamers and balloons, and Kevin secretly decorating the living room while she and I were gone doing her birthday photo shoot.

*Doing the birthday photo shoot, and realizing that although she is my most gorgeous subject, it is impossible to get her to look at the camera :).

*Having the missionaries and John and Victoria over for Lily's birthday dinner of pizza rolls - her favorite - and having Victoria help me make them.  We had a great time, and it made it more of a party for Lily.

*Having to make a "bonus banana cake" since we only had 8 cupcakes left over from taking them to her preschool class on Friday - and one each is just not enough.

*Lily getting fun gifts and being super excited about each and every one of them, from her new Mia doll, to her Polly Pocket Jeep.  (She didn't get her Diego Rescue Center, however, since Kevin and I forgot about it for the 4th time in a row – she has been asking for it for her birthday and Christmas since she was three.  About an hour before dinner she says to me, "Mother, I really hope I get my birthday wish of a Diego Rescue Center this time."  Too late to get one, but not too late to put an IOU into her birthday card – he he!)

*Lily having to blow out each one of her candles individually – it was pretty darn cute!

*And finally, having Lily pick going to Sea World over having a party with her friends :)!!  We went on Tuesday and it was a blast, but I will save that for another post . . .