We can’t believe that our little girl is now 4 years old!  Her birthday is on July 21st and we had a whole day of celebrations on Saturday the 23rd.  We invited her friends from daycare to join us for lunch and playtime at Kid Junction in Chantilly.  Then after her nap, we had a big dinner with our family and a massive present opening event.  In order to not overload, we saved her friends’ presents for each weeknight (hence why this post is so late) so they were spread out and she would hopefully remember each one more.

She had been so excited well over a month before her birthday and the excitement only built up more as she went to more birthday parties from her friends at school – and as she and Jen planned her birthday cakes/goodie bag favors.  The week leading up to her party, she told everyone she saw about her upcoming celebration and also transitioned seamlessly to calling herself 4 instead of 3.

Here she is enjoying the games and rides at Kid Junction.

 

The kids then sat at a long table and had lunch.

Abby and Jen had been planning the cake for weeks and she loved it!

Here’s the guest of honor that night for dinner after her afternoon nap.

Here’s the whole family!

Uncle Mario gave her a new little mermaid towel so she could dry off quickly at the pool.

Auntie Kelly’s sunny side up egg pillow was an instant hit.

Grandpa (Jen’s dad) bought her an Ariel doll and she opened it while on the phone with him from all the way in California.

Grandma bought her a hammock and Abby enjoyed a preview with the help of uncle Mario.

Auntie Kelly and her friend auntie Janice’s gifts for Abby.

After her bath and before we even dried her hair, she got to try some sparklers for the first time!  Jen and auntie Kelly picked them up at Target that afternoon while buying party decorations since we didn’t have a chance to celebrate July 4th together (and also because they were on sale for a great deal!).  Abby had so much fun after initially being a bit scared.

And voila!  Here’s an album of all her friend’s gifts that we opened separately each night.  Check out the album.