Avery's 10th Birthday

On June 9th my "Sweet Ave's" turned ten years old. Her birthday was on a Sunday this year, so we did her friend party the Friday before her birthday. She invited a lot of her friends from the ward. I had saved some luau decorations from our youth ward auction a few months back which worked out perfectly. They ate pizza, watermelon, cupcakes and ice cream. They swam for hours and I had a hard time getting them out of the pool when their parents came to pick them up.

We played a few diving games which turned out fun. Below is Avery's good friend Mia from school. They have a unique relationship because she is in a different ward, and they haven't had a class together for a couple of years but they love to see each other. They have always joked that they are twins because they like all the same things, and then Mia showed up in a matching swimming suit without planning it. They are so cute!

Not a great picture, but this is Avery blowing out her birthday candles in a cup cake. 

Avery had this birthday party planned for months. Abbie and Avery worked on the perfect CD of music to listen to while they swam for weeks. In Avery's planning she was dreaming of everyone swimming with glow sticks. She had such a great idea because they had so much fun.

No one wanted to get out of the pool after we broke out the glow sticks. I can't blame them because it looked super fun.

On Avery's actual birthday she had to wait until after church to open her presents which was really hard. Micah had meetings in the morning and I had one right after church. The poor girls kept waiting and waiting.

Hopefully it was worth the wait. Abbie framed Avery's picture from Sea World to hang in her room, and Aliza was insistent on buying her gum and chap stick. She loved it all.

I had a really hard time knowing what to get Avery this year for her birthday. I finally decided that the perfect gift would be surfing lessons. Knowing that we would be back in San Diego this Summer I did a little research and found a few companies who will give her lessons. She will get private lessons, wet suit, and a surf board rental for a few hours. I made a certificate and tied it to a balloon so that when she opened her gift the balloon popped out with the certificate attached. I thought it turned out cute, and she seemed thrilled. Can't wait to see her riding the waves in a few weeks.

Knowing that Avery has been wanting to redecorate her room I did find her a few surf items, and she used her gift cards to buy a new bedspread. We are working on her room slowly to transform it into a surfing bedroom.

We invited Avery's good friend Ellis over with her family to have cookie and ice cream. Avery really wanted a cookie instead of a cake, so we gave it a try. I learned a lot in cooking this cookie for next time if we ever do it again. Thanks to all her friends and family she was spoiled, and she loved every minute of it. Love you Aves!!!