Before I forget...

Cecily turned 4 on July 16, and I never posted about her birthday. She decided weeks before that she wanted to have a ballerina birthday party, so we really got into it this year!

My friend, Jenn, put this birthday invitation together for me. Didn't it turn out cute? She has started a little business doing things like this, so if you are ever in need, visit her blog.

A couple of weeks before Cecily's birthday, we took the girls over to the amphitheater by the Mt. Timpanogos temple and took some photos. The girls were being so cute, so I had fun playing around with my camera. (By the way, does anyone know of some good photography classes in the area? I'd love to learn to take better photos).

I love this photo below. Whenever Cecily points to something, she winks her eye. But if you try to get her to wink and any other time, she just doesn't get it!

She was pretending that her prince had to rescue her on this "balcony." Derrick had to go save her several times!

Wow, what a princess. Picking her nose and everything!

Cecily got a fun new jeep from Grandma and Papa. She ABSOLUTELY loves it!!

She also got a big-girl bike.

On her actual birthday, we went to the Steel Days Carnival. Cec had a blast on all of the rides.

She got a supergirl cape from Grandma Thomas, which she loves.

These 2 photos are a little out of order. But this is the cake from Cecily's birthday party. Yep, another one of my cake adventures. But I have to say, it turned out better than my last cake, the fairy cake, and WAY BETTER than the transvestite Cinderella cake!

Ainsley enjoying her licorice.

For the birthday party, Cecily invited a few of her little girlfriends over. When they came over, they each got magic ballerina glitter dust stars put on them and a new tutu. I was so excited about these tutus. My sister told me about haloheaven.com, where I got the tutus for $2. Then I hot-glued a flower on each of them. It didn't take much time, and I didn't have to pay a fortune. I was also able to get a bunch of stuff for the goody bags from the same website, such as butterfly tattoos, feather boas, and wands. I didn't get a photo of the bags, but I just took white gift bags and hot glued pink tulle to the inside and added a flower to the outside. I thought they turned out cute, and kept with the ballerina theme.

I had ballerina music playing and the girls danced and twirled while we waited for Miss Ashley, our "real" ballerina to come and teach the kids some ballerina steps and a little dance. I had contacted BYU's dance department to see if they knew of a ballerina who wanted some teaching experience with little kids, and they connected me with Ashley.

The kids were IN LOVE with Miss Ashley!

Here the kids are, eyes glued to Miss Ashley, as she performed a dance for them.

I have to say, the party was a success (although our air conditioner broke that day, and it was SO HOT)! Cecily still talks about Miss Ashley. She also prays every day that she will grow up to be a big ballerina.

I can't believe my little baby is already 4! I love this girl so much! She is honestly one of the sweetest little girls. She is such a good helper, and loves her little sister so much. She is so good to share her toys with Ainsley, and always tries to keep Ainsley happy. Cecily is very enthusiastic, and cannot hide her excitement when she is enjoying things. She will often stop what she is doing to come and tell me she loves me, or to give some kind of compliment. As her vocabulary grows, it is so fun to listen to her use it in her kind ways. She loves preschool, dancing, gymnastics and swimming. She loves to learn how to do things by herself, and is always wanting me to teach her how to do things from making lunch to cutting coupons. I am so lucky to have been able to get to know and be the mommy of this precious girl!