Mckinley is 4!

Mckinley turned 4 last week and we can't believe how fast time has gone by. She has really grown up fast and it is kind of sad for us to see her acting so grown up because we thought she would always be our little baby.
Anyway, if you know much about four year old girls, you probably know how important it is to have a birthday party with just the right cake, and the right outfit, and fun friends to be with. So THANK YOU to everyone who came to see her on her special day. She was so happy and excited about her party.(if you remember, we didn't do a party last year because she was sick.)
The day started out with David and I singing happy birthday to her just as she was waking up. We took a candle in for her to blow out when we were done singing. The night before her birthday, I wrapped her little gifts and set them on a chair in the middle of her room so that they would be the first thing she would see in the morning. She was very excited when she woke up. Her main gift from us was a doll head that you can comb and style her hair and do her makeup. Yikes! We are already starting this! The funny part was that she picked this doll quite a while ago and she was calling it her "chocolate girl," because she is a black bratz doll. She also got some jammies and Pinkalicious, which is a book about a girl who eats too many pink cupcakes so she turns pink.
After she opened her gifts, we had a special birthday breakfast. She wanted "eggies" and "meat." Her daddy did a good job making things just how she likes them.
Later, in the afternoon the doorbell rang and it was a special delivery from Grandma and Grandpa Holmgren.(always timed perfectly. How do you do it?) Mckinley used to watch the Velveteen Rabbit when she was a baby and she was so excited to open the new version of the movie and the book. Thank you for reminding us of that fun time in our little girls life. Grandpa Kurt also knitted Mckinley a gorgeous sweater and a hat. (I'm a little embarrassed that I thought that the little yellow sweater was for her, when it was actually for Dolce. But you should see how cute it was on her. Haha!)
Later on it was party time. We decided to do an open house style party because I was a little intimidated by the idea of having everyone all at once. (It's weird the things you find out about yourself. I guess I'm a little overwhelmed by large groups.) It turned out so fun and Mckinley loved seeing everyone. I think she changed clothes in between every guest arrival. She loved all of the gifts and couldn't believe that everyone was giving her all those things. She hasn't stopped playing mermaids, Cooties, and wearing the bright green Tinkerbelle outfit. Thanks everyone! We served Wassail and Gingerbread with whipped cream, and of course ice cream and cake with the most amazing pink and purple Icing I think I've ever seen. It was a great day. Happy birthday, Bearsy! We love you!
This is a picture of Mckinley reading Pinkalicious to Dolce in her crib. Dolce was listening so carefully. Mckinley knows this book by heart now.