Lily's birthday was on Monday, and we had a great time, but it definitely came during a pretty full weekend.  Saturday, we had a yard sale, Lily went to a friend's birthday party, and I had a photo shoot that evening.  Somehow in all that, I got her cake made and her presents wrapped for our party on Sunday.

Sunday evening, after eating Lily's favorite dinner of German Pancakes, our friends, the Tollefsons, came over for a small party.  (After all the things we did last year, we wanted to keep it simple this year. Seethis, this and this if you don't remember.) 

First, we had cake . . .

I was so happy she picked a simple one this year, especially since the humidity was making the frosting melt off the cake :).

Then we had presents.  She loved EVERY one of them, but was especially excited about getting a digital camera.  (Kevin and I gave her our old Kodak EasyShare – it still works great, but it won't matter if something happens to it.  A perfect learning camera, and it does video for her too.)  She immediately started taking pictures of everything around her, and I will have to do a post with some of them soon :).

Lily and Derek also had fun during the party taking turns holding our friend's new baby, Sonora.  They were so adorable with her.

It was a fun and low-key celebration, and we all had a great time.  Good thing it was low-key, because that was not the case with Monday.

After a birthday breakfast, I sent her off to school, and then the preparations began.  Between baking and decorating cupcakes for her dance awards party, trips to Walmart, and doing laundry, the morning was crazy. 

At lunch time, Derek and I took donuts to school for her birthday treat (they have to be store-bought at her school) and had lunch with her.  It was very fun, and Derek was pretty well behaved, even if I did have to slip him an extra donut to keep sitting at the lunch table :).  Lily loved having us there.  Wish I had brought my camera, but I had so many things to hang on to, and it was pouring rain all day.

After she got home from school, we were on the run again, this time to her dance awards party.  Lily loved that it happened on her birthday, because not only did she get an award, but we also had treats afterward.  She really loved showing off all her moves to Derek and I, and I am pretty proud of her for doing her best and coming so far from the beginning of the year :).

After the party, we met Kevin at Texas Roadhouse for dinner.  She wanted to be dressed like a cowgirl, and so she wore her pink hat and her boots to the restaurant – so cute.  And hey, she even brought her camera so she could take pictures at dinner.  What a cutie!

By the time we got home, it was getting late, but we made time for Family Home Evening.  Lily picked out the songs: "You've Had a Birthday" for opening and "Happy Happy Birthday" for closing :).  And for our lesson, we looked at Lily's baby book and talked about when she came into our life.  Then Kevin gave her a Father's blessing.  It was the perfect end to the crazy birthday celebration :).