Birthday-palooza Part 1

You know, Kendra has quite the sweet deal when it comes to her birthday.  She gets to celebrate AT LEAST twice.  Once in Michigan with that bunch of family, then once with friends when we get back home to Texas.  This year it felt like she had a zillion celebrations!  The first was the ear piercing extravaganza.  The piercing and earrings were part of her birthday gift from Bama and Papa, and that day started with a really yummy breakfast at a cool diner, then the earring experience with cousins, topped off with ice cream at the mall.  Then she got her card from my dad when we went to visit.  He always gives the kids a couple lottery scratch cards, and this year she won $5!  Woo!

The next celebration was the traditional dinner and kickball game at Bama and Papa's house.  Kendra had requested a Hawaiian luau theme.  We had ham, grilled pineapple (YUM!), and summer-y salads for dinner.  Kendra and I used our skills we learned in our cake decorating class to make the flowers to put on cupcakes, then I arranged the cupcakes to look like a lei.  (At least it is supposed to look like a lei!)  I got necklace leis and coconut cups for the kids as party favors.

Um, these girls don't have too many more years before they are causing their daddy's ulcers, do they?

After dinner we had the third annual Kendra's Birthday Kickball Game.   It was really hot that day---we all felt like we were melting!  Michigan heat comes with a HUGE dose of humidity, so it felt very much like running through pea soup.  But it is tradition, so the game must go on!  This year Kendra chose herself and Uncle Jack to be team captains.  My mom was the all-time pitcher, and Papa Troy was the umpire (due to a foot injury).  

Team "Number One" with Captain Kendra, Tessa, Pat,  Jack and me

Team "Bieber"  My niece is obsessed!  Captain Uncle Jack, Aunt Erin, Gracie, Luke and Big Jack

Bama, the all-time pitcher

After we all melted into puddles we headed in for cake, ice cream and presents.

An earring holder from the Garnetts.  They also got her the Selena Gomez CD.

Cute PJs from the other Garnetts--my BIL's parents who are like an extra set of g'parents to Kendra

And the gift from her dad and I...

Yes, that is an iPad.  Lest anyone think that my kid is rotten, let me 'splain.  Kendra's dad purchased a very nice iPad for himself a while back- the kind with mega memory.  Apparently, he got a BOGO deal when he got his---this one was free.  So we gave it to Kendra for her birthday.  There is NO WAY she would have gotten one any other way.  :-) 

So, birthday part 1--success!  Part two is comin'!