Monday, October 27, 2008

My baby is TEN?! You've got to be joking!

Well, Alyssa did it. She went and grew up on me. How did that happen so quickly? I swear I was pregnant and COMPLETELY miserable with her just yesterday. Now she's entered the double digit era. What a great kid Alyssa is. I wouldn't trade her for the world. She's always such a help to me and has such a talent for caring for her siblings. She's such an example to us all. You will never hear a naughty word come out of Alyssa's mouth. She's the language Nazi around here. I love that she is so firm in her beliefs and has such great self esteem. Alyssa knows what she wants and where she's going. I knew she would be an amazing person from the minute I laid eyes on her. Happy Birthday baby, I don't care if you're 10, you'll always be my baby.

Alyssa gave me explicit orders that she was going to have a poppy seed cake with NO frosting. That kind of dashed my hopes of decorating a fun Halloween themed cake, but after I added the spider rings, I felt better about it. And besides, it wasn't my birthday.

Building haunted houses was a hit. Thanks Emily for the adorable idea. The kids all loved it.

If you thought that Kate was going to be left out of the fun, you were dead wrong! Thankfully she was satisfied with broken graham crackers and I didn't have to glue a whole house together for her.

How cute did these turn out? (It also looks better if you display them on the counter with a few chocolate sprinkles spilled about.)

I think my ears are still recovering from the din of the party. They played "monster tag" in the dark basement and my oh my can little girls scream. But what fun they had.

Alyssa has asked for an Easy Bake for every birthday and Christmas for the past 3 years. I finally caved and let her have one. Can you see the sheer bliss on her face. She's been a cooking fool ever since.

I'm always so grateful for my mom's help at the birthday parties. She's been to almost every single one I've thrown. Even some when we lived in Boise.

You'd think with a wind up like that, she'd have gotten all the candles in one blow, but...it took two.

After the guests have gone home, I wonder to myself why I even cleaned the house before they came. :)

17 comments:

Mrs. X said...

Happy Birthday, Alyssa!

Good job on the cake, mom. You managed to make it look decorative WITHOUT the aid of frosting... definitely an amazing feat!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you're just right on the ball, 12:01 am, catching the birthday right at the very start. I can't believe our little Alyssa is into double digits either. Hope she has a great day.

becky ward said...

happy birthday alyssa! an easy bake oven sounds like so much fun.

looks like the party was a success. way to go elena!

Mama Williams said...

She looks 10! What a grown up face that looks a lot like Grandma. Happy Birthday Alyssa!!

Tamie said...

that looks like so much fun...i've been thinking that i want a halloween baby (i've even figured out when i need to get prego....) i love the look on alyssa's face with the easy bake...you're right: sheer bliss!

Wendy said...

Maybe that's why I'm not the greatest cook; I never got my Easy Bake Oven! LOL

What a great post! Happy Birthday to your daughter, from one October baby to another. I hear you on time passing, Elena. My "baby" will be 15 this winter! ACK!

Also --- thank you, thank you, thank you for the haunted house idea! I have my nieces coming over for Halloween and this will be perfect to do with them!

Deidra Smith said...

Looks like it was a lot of fun. Happy Birthday Alyssa!!!

Miki said...

You know what? How is it that a "best talking over the phone long distance relationship friend" such as myself, can swell with such pride over Alyssa, whom I hardly know? You know why? HMMMMMMmmm? It's because of the many, many conversations we've had with interruptions of you telling me how great Alyssa is. When I look at her in these pictures, I think of all of the times she was at home whilst we were chatting away, and she helped you out in one way or another, or how studious she was, or how she was banging away (quite nicely I might add) at the piano. She really is a great kid. Yes, great kids exist, in the Manwaring family.

Kudos to you Alyssa. Thanks for being such a good little girl to your mommmy. You bring her much joy and satisfaction. Happy Birthday double digit girl!

Brenda said...

Looks like a fun party! What a great idea! My girls birthday's are in the middle of the summer, so we get to do them all outside! (it is a wee bit better on the ears!) She is darling, and she looks QUITE happy with the easy bake oven! Oh, Thanks also for the block directions! I have a 2x4in the garage right now, I am going to get my husband cutting! Thanks Again!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Happy Birthday Alyssa! My oldest will be 11 in a few months...and it still baffles me of how I can be the mother of a tween. Surely I am not old enough :-)

And you are so right...the "din" made by little girls is rather deafening!

Laural Out Loud said...

What a great birthday party! Love the idea to creat haunted houses- no wonder it was a hit. I might have to steal that for next year.

Oh, and I would've had a secret stash of frosting to smother my piece of cake with, lol. I can't do dry cake! But good for you for giving her exactly what she wanted.

Unknown said...

WOW!! Can you believe our babies grow up so fast! I remember you being prego with Alyssa, and how grateful you were when she was born before Halloween and healthy! She is adorable! Time does fly though!

The Wood's said...

Was it 5 or 6 years ago we did the joint birthday party for the kids. I can't believe that they are 10. I want to cry.
Tell Alyssa HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love you.

"The Queen in Residence" said...

Welcome to the "Tween" stage. I sure hope that she stays so wonderful. Why they want to grow up so fast I do not know....

What a great party you had, I love those houses too. Something I think the kids and I need to do.

So glad that it was a great party for her. I cannot wait to see all the culinary delights that she wips up with her new oven.

Brandon and Emily said...

Holy Cow!!!!
Man Alyssa you're growing up too fast!! Happy Birthday to you. We hope all your birthday wishes come true.

JandK Manwaring Family said...

Well, Happy Birthday to Alyssa. And congrats to you, Elena for making a great and memorable birthday for your sweet daughter. It was fun to read about her.
She sounds lovely.
Oh, and sorry to hear about your retainer story. It sounds awful!

Jennifer P. said...

You KNOW I didn't forget, right?! Sunday was slightly overwhelming, but nice messages from a certain great friend got me over it :)!

You still throw THE BEST parties ever! They're not super fancy, but everybody is entertained, and there is always a great theme!

Alyssa,
You will always be a baby to me too ;)! But you have grown into such a lovely girl and I am so glad you and Zane still like to hang out! I hope you have a totally fun and fabulous year ahead...and bake lots of brownies in your E-Z Bake for me too, alright?! :)