Life and Times of The Johnston family: Elizabeth's 6th Birthday Celebrations!!

Friday September 12th our baby girl turned SIX years old!! We can't believe it! But let's go back a day for a sec. The previous day is as you know is 9/11 and I've always had a hard time knowing how to tell Elizabeth about that day, so until this year I never have...and in truth I wasn't planning on doing it this year either, but she saw on the calendar that it was Patriot Day and wanted to know why and what that meant. So thanks to the History Channel for kids website and an awesome book I bought at a Scholastic clearance sale over the summer(called September 12th, written by a fist grade class), we talked about what happened on that tragic day 13 years ago. She was as she always is very teachable asking great questions. She was shocked that something like that could happen, which led us into a great discussion about our freedom and the men and women who fight to keep it everyday. She read about the plane that was headed for the White House and the brave passengers who gave their lives to stop that from happening. And we had an absolutely amazing discussion about what a hero REALLY is. (I'm in tears just remembering it) We did get to math or spelling or anything else actually and yet I feel like Elizabeth learned more that morning than she did all week. When all was said and done, she went and told Devin all she had learned about that special day and I couldn't help but smile and tear up a bit. I packed Elizabeth an overnight bag as she was going to her first BYU football game with her grandma and grandpa Johnston and spending the night in their trailer. Devin was devastated that he wasn't getting to go, but Elizabeth was super excited!! I drove to Rich and Sandy's work at noon to drop Elizabeth off with them, and had to get Devin some "cool blue" gatorade as he calls it to console him. When we got home he was still sad so I let him watch his favorite movie, Super Buddies...anyone who knows Devin knows to key to his heart is through a screen....sad but true! He perked right up after that! Tony called in a to go order at Texas Road House that we ate while watching the game, Devin was hoping to see sissy on the t.v. but somehow we just never saw her ;). Friday morning Devin and I went to Walmart to get some things to decorate and have for Elizabeth's birthday, then he played while I decorated the school room with Frozen stuff! Tony's parents dropped her off just shortly after I finished, so it was great timing! After hearing about all the fun Elizabeth had and how great she did, we commenced her Frozen Party! We had lots of fun! For dinner she requested to go to McDonalds and play at the play place, my parents joined us. The kids had fun playing for a good long time, then we came home and Elizabeth got to open her presents. My parents got her the movie Barbie and The Pony Tale, and the Barbie stable set that goes with the movie, that comes with two ponies and the little barbie girl and the tween barbie girl, as well as the Barbie from the movie in her dress from the Gala part of the movie. Oh and the Barbie card they gave her had a Barbie dress attached as part of the card! Elizabeth was thrilled and has played with it non-stop since! Devin gave her an Elsa puzzle which she is very excited to put together, and we gave her an Elsa bag full of fun Frozen things, like an Elsa personal dry erase board, and Elsa and Anna t-shirt with sparkle pants to match, an Olaf art set a book of Frozen stickers and a Elsa and Anna water bottle. Her big gift from us was the Elza and Anni dolls set, which she was super excited about and has also played with a lot! Instead of a cake we did pink snowball treats to go with the Frozen theme. We sang to her and she blew out her number six candle then played with her new toys, until her later than usual bedtime. She said it was a GREAT birthday! Saturday she wore her new Frozen outfit and we went to Chuck E Cheese for her friend birthday party, her friends Liza, Lilly and Phenley joined her and Devin(though Devin just did his own thing mostly) Elizabeth took turns doing rides and games with each of her friends, though Liza and Lilly and Elizabeth and Phenley seemed to pair off quite a bit. It was a very fun party and everyone seems to have a grand time. I loved not having to set up or clean up, or have to entertain the kids even! It was truly great! Elizabeth ended up with over 1800 tickets! So she got a pink stuffed Webkins poodle dog, and large slinky and some other little things. Devin got three things and didn't want anymore so Liz got his extra tickets. After the party we stopped by the house to drop stuff off and get some stuff then we drove to Gateway Mall in Salt Lake and both kids napped pretty much the whole way there. We went to Build a Bear to use Liz and my birthday coupons as well as a couple gift cards we had, Elizabeth just got clothes and accessories as she doesn't need anymore stuffed animals, though it was a struggle to make her believe that and we almost left with nothing! After Build a Bear we went to Barnes and Noble where Elizabeth read a few book while the rest of us looked around. Devin found a Step Into Reading Bold book that he just had to have, and I found him a Paw Patrol one as well, though he couldn't seem to understand he could get and have both of them, silly boy. Elizabeth once again almost got taken out with nothing over her desire to get a needless stuffed dog, but shaped up and ended up getting the American Girl book Meet Caroline. Then we stopped by the T Mobile store as Tony's phone was having issues and they were very helpful(Tony got a replacement phone yesterday!) Then we went to an early dinner at Applebees. After that Tony spoiled me at Bath and Body works letting me get 5(they had buy three get two free) boy washes and two super yummy smelling three wick candles(they were 2 for $22), then to top it all off we got delicious chocolate treats from Rocky Mountain Chocolate! It was a great day!!

The SUPER fun Frozen party!!!