Rock-n-Roller Party Time!

What a FUN day! I think it's safe to say that Reese had a fantastic day of birthday celebration. We all woke up early (must have been all the excitement) so we had breakfast and went to church. By the time we got home we only had a couple of hours to go before the big birthday bash. Reese was very excited to get dressed because she worked very hard to find the perfect party outfit. This is actually outfit number two. I bought her one and it wasn't until afterwards that she found "the one".

We arrived at the skating rink and the kids (and gifts) started piling in.

The kids were all very excited to get out there and skate.

Including the biggest kid  there.  They give the birthday girl a pair of skates.  When they asked her size, I promptly responded "women's size 6.5, please". 

I'm so happy to have my own skates now (with hot pink wheels to boot!), and Reese was happy to pawn them off on me. She's too cool for old school. Rollerblades only!  And the littlest kid there was beyond excited when they told us we were allowed to "stroller skate":

Going....

Going...

Gone!

A quick chalkboard break:

Time for the hokey pokey!  They called Reese into the center of the circle.  Rather than act embarrassed, she full embraced her 5 minutes of fame and ate up the attention.  I have videos as well but need about 4 hours of free time if I use my computer to upload them.  I get the blue screen of death about twice a week now.  Awesome.  But I digress.  Back to Reese and the hokey pokey.... 

Cake:

The smell of cupcakes totally woke him out of a dead sleep.  So now for the obligatory "Talan-shoving-his-face-full-of-food" photo(s):

25 kids at a party = 25 gifts to bring home.  I really wish I could have convinced her to have everyone donate in her name instead but that's not a decision I'm prepared to make for her.  She's young and I'm not about to take any of this away. 

That said, we've already had the big talk....the one where I tell her that this was the last big party she will have.  Next year it will be cut down.  At least in half.  Kindergarten was easy.  Invite all of the girls in her class.  But when they make it to 1st, they have the friends in their class AND the friends from the year before AND the kids they run with in the neighborhood AND family friends.  It gets to be out of control. 

She had a blast today.  I can say that with 100% confidence.  I'm also confident in saying that this is one she'll remember.  That makes it worth every bit of work and money.  And lucky Reese.....her birthday isn't for another 10 days so the celebrations will continue.  I'm a firm believer in week long birthday celebrations.  Because hers fall during Spring Break every year and her party is always early, she'll get an extra week of fun. 

I get 10 more days to let the fact that she'll be 7-years-old set in.  Oy vey.