We did lots of celebrating our seven year old. First, Jillian requested to have a party at Quarry Hill Nature Center. QH hosts great (and easy for parents!) birthday parties, and the kids get to pick a nature activity led by a naturalist. Jillian chose to have a cave tour as the educational part of her party, and we did this the Sunday afternoon before her birthday. We lucked out for some absolutely gorgeous 60 degree late October weather. In addition to J and A, William, Rachel, Lizzy, Caitlin, and Ella were in attendance.
The kids clowned around as we waited for the naturalist to arrive. Here they were pretending to be snakes slithering towards me.
Love the envelope that Rachel wrote on to attach to Jillian's present...these girls are growing up!
Matt couldn't take the snake slithering, so he decided to entertain the kids for a few minutes by spontaneously starting an animal charades game. They were ALL IN. Nice call, Dad.
Finally, it was time to head to the cave. Jill led us to it via a short hike.
Preparing to go in the cave, getting instructions from Jill.
Love the identical expressions here...
At the entrance of the cave, testing their flashlights.
At the back of the cave, looking out the tiny two windows.
The crew: Adrienne, Ella, Will, Rachel, Caitlin, Jillian, and Lizzy
After the cave tour, we had just enough time for some cupcakes. Jillian requested "chocolate chip cupcakes, with chocolate frosting, and dirt, and worms". So--thanks to oreo crumbs I had my dirt, and then I shaped the gummy worms into a "7" on each cupcake and called it good. Easy peasy. Oh, she also requested "blue Gatorade" as the official party beverage. OK...
On Jillian's actual birthday, she woke up to a nice surprise--her birthday shirt and a decorated room, and a gift from Adrienne waiting outside her door.
Adrienne kindly gave her a "coronation Jane" doll from the Descendants. Jane completes the Howe girl female Descendants character collection. It's very exciting.
We've got some awesome bed head over here...
I love the card Adrienne drew--it's Adrienne (on the left with her signature "donkey ears" hairstyle), and Jillian in the middle, wearing her new Mal birthday shirt and holding the Jane doll.
Jillian wanted to take Dunkin Donuts for her school treat, so we quickly ate some yogurt to offset the donuts, then headed downtown to eat some donuts and pick up more for school. Jillian had a fun day at school, then chose a dinner out at Newt's as her birthday meal. The girl needed some cheese curds and a bacon cheeseburger. We opened her gifts when we returned.
More proof of growing up: Requesting music for gifts. She was over the moon to finally have all the Descendants music at her fingertips!
Oh boy....excitement over the Mal Spell Book (I am telling you, the Descendants obsession is just out of control!)
Jillian asked me for ice cream cake on her birthday, so I made an easy layered ice cream dessert with crushed oreos and sugar cones, and ganache on top. Fa-bu-lous.
Cheers to being seven!
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