Anastaya's birthday party

The party, minus Kiramie who had to go home Friday night

This year, Anastaya decided that she wanted to have a sleepover on the trampoline for her birthday party.  Since January is a bit cold for sleeping outside, she decided to have her party in June.  Well, she managed to wait a month and by the end of February she realized she didn't want to wait any longer.  It took a while to find an open day on the calendar but we finally managed on March 25/26.  Since Miriam's party was the 26th, we used the decorations for both parties.

Although Miriam had the rainbow party, Anastaya's party had real rainbows in the sky!

Anastaya told Elizabeth she was welcome to come to the party.  In addition to Elizabeth, she invited seven friends from church and school.  Elizabeth told every adult she came in contact with in the days leading up to the party that she was going to a teenage party!  She was so excited.  Although we knew she really wanted to spend the night with the girls, we were worried that she might get picked on.  At 10:30, we called her inside and she watched a movie on a little DVD player on our bedroom floor until she fell asleep.  Dode and I are usually laying in bed a few minutes after 9:00.  (Especially on Friday night before produce.)  But, because we love our daughter and are responsible parents, we sacrificed sleep so we could monitor the party.  Most of the girls fell asleep by 11 pm.  The produce truck arrived at 5:30 am.

Anastaya loved her party

The girls jumped on the trampoline en mass,  took rides down the zip line, took a dip in the hot tub, watched a movie, and even played house with Miriam and William.

T-Shirt Craft

Anastaya wanted to decorate t-shirts for her craft activity.  It ended up being a great activity because it was something the girls could do while talking with each other.  They'd work on their shirts for a while, leave to let the paint dry, and come back again.  It really solved the "What should we do, we're bored" problem.  Each girl was really pleased with her creation.  I wish I could have gotten a photo with everyone in their shirts but I was busy outside running the coop when the shirts were dry and by the time I came in they were decorating them again.

Since March is not the warmest or driest month in Washington, the girls did not sleep on the trampoline.  They slept out in the room over the garage.  I'm sure they were pretty surprised to wake up in the morning and see gridlock in the driveway as cars came and went for produce.

Dode was the chef for the morning and cooked up pancakes, french toast, and sausages for the girls. 

It was a successful party.  I didn't see any mopey "she hurt my feelings" that can sometimes happen with a group of girls.  Dode came home from Isaac's scout camp out and told me that although the energy levels at the camp out and the party were the same, the volume definitely wasn't.  There was lots of squealing and loud giggling here at the party.  Thankfully it was all happy noises.  And, thankfully our next birthdays aren't until June (when three children have birthdays, joy!)