Neta's 7th birthday - more than 7 presents

After the bike ride, we had popsicles and warmed up mac-n-cheese for lunch. Xela rode her bike to Dunahees to make a skirt for the youth conference trek and we went to do a little work on the properties.

By 3:30 I was home with the younger four. We worked together to take down the tent, pick up the kitchen of sleeping bags, bake and decorate a cake and get a fire started for a 5 o'clock-ish cookout start for Neta's birthday.

Neta wanted to have a party with her friends and so we invited the Robinsons, Dunahees, Aults, Patience Gaydos and Mindy Rawlins over for a cookout and cake.

Aaron Robinon, Logan Ault, Makayla and Matt Dunahee
enjoying food and conversation outside
on a beautiful birthday evening.

Mindy, Patience, Amber Ault & her mom
munching and mingling

We had 17 kids running around, getting wet (yea I probably shouldn't have put water in the baby pool) and playing with each other after "real" food and then I brought out the cake.

Neta decorated her cake with Lego Friends stuff

I love Myya Dunahee's face.
Myya looks at Neta as a big sister.

Love Ro's face here.
So patiently waiting for a piece of cake. :)

I thought this was a cool picture.
All the candles are blowing, but not out, with the breeze.

Eric pushed Neta's piece of cake into her face.
She wore a purple chin the rest of the night.

I ran out of plates and forks/spoons, so kids got to eat cake off napkins and with my dinnerware. Not a problem. I didn't do ice cream, because, well, ice cream is hard to eat off napkins. I saved the ice cream for dessert when we have dinner with missionaries on Sunday.

Shortly after cake was presents; what Neta had honestly been waiting for all day long.

A beautiful, long, summer dress from
"our favorite Cartwright" (also known as Amber's mom)
Neta wore it on Sunday and loves it!

Present from Grandparents Hibbert.
They knew exactly what the kids will like.
Nake and Myron Dunahee seem excited too.
Neta got a Tangled Lego set, some Polly pockets
and a few more dresses.

My kids didn't get baths until the nine o'clock hour and then all but Neta went up to bed around 10ish. Nate's body was starting to hurt (he apparently fell down on the ride) and I told him, even thought he wanted to stay up with Neta, that his body was trying to tell him that it was done and wanted to rest. As soon as he hit the pillow, he was out.

Eric and I let Neta stay up and put her Tangled tower together while visiting with Patience and Mindy. At 10:45, I told Neta it was time to go to bed. She could get up as early as she wanted to finish, and no one would touch it until then, but it was REALLY past her bedtime. I asked Neta if she had enjoyed her birthday and she said she had.

Patience and Mindy left, Eric and I finished up a few little things before Sunday and we went to bed shortly after midnight. We'll all be a bit tired come tomorrow morning and church. :)