The Perfect Birthday Party for Our 3 Year Old.

Could the weather have been any nicer today? I've been a bit obsessed about the weather for the past week. Last Sunday I did a count of how many people might be coming to Tansley's birthday party today, I needed to know how many hotdogs to buy, and to my slight astonishment I had invited 44 people (and three babies), add the 4 of us (and one baby), a total of 48 people (and 4 babies). I suddenly became concerned about the weather because we had planned to have the party out side in our nice large yard, if it was cold or raining we would have to move it inside, and although my house isn't tiny, it isn't big enough for 48 people (and 4 babies). So I've watched the weather forecast all week, and for most of the week it did not look very hopeful, and then yesterday it started to look up with a forecast of 18 degrees and a chance of showers. This morning before church the forecast was still 18 degrees but partly cloudy! That looked good to me. And sure enough, we got that beautiful weather.

For church today, Tansley had found a new dress in her closet that she called her Birthday dress and I pulled out some pretty white sandals to go with it, she was so excited and she thought she looked very beautiful, and she really did. After church she opened her presents, and then asked where her birthday cake was. I explained that we were going to have the cake when everybody got here for the party. She looked like she was going to cry, lucky for me I had made some cupcakes with the leftover batter so I offered her some of her special cupcakes, and again lucky for me that satisfied her. We then blew up balloons and put the out on our deck. Then we started getting things set up outside, by 4pm our guests started arriving. The party had begun.

Tansley was so excited when Grandma, Grandpa and van full of Forsyth's arrived first, followed shortly by more Forsyth family. Then Aunt Jane Reese arrived, and then some Courts, who were then shortly followed by even more Courts and then by Toni and Evan Reese. In the end we had 13 people (and a baby) from the Forsyth side and 15 people (and one baby) from the Court/Reese side and two of Tansley's "big" friends from church (the ones she prefers to sit with during sacrament meeting). In total we had 30 people (and two babies). We had good food to eat and lots of it. Daniel was BBQing hotdogs while Uncle Neil was cooking them over the fire. the kids were all over the yard playing various types of games. The adults sat around and visited and just enjoyed the company. It was glorious! I love our families, I love being with them, I love the incredible friendship that we have. I love that we always have so much fun together. It was just all so perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better day.

Kathryn and Tansley have been practicing musical chairs all week, because Kathryn told Tansley that it was a birthday game. They would set up a bunch of chairs and set their babies and stuffed animals on them and then turn the music on and circle around the chairs. When the music went off, inevitably one of the stuffed toys was out of the game. So the birthday party could not be complete with out a round of musical chairs. Much fun was had watching 7 children under the age of 6 trying to play musical chairs. Some how, the number of kids playing never diminished even though the number of chairs did. It became more like a game of "How many kids can we fit on a chair". But it was fun, and everyone got a prize.

Musical Chairs

Six dozen hotdogs, numerous salads, two cakes and a handful of presents later the day came to an end and our wonderful guests started to head back to where ever they had come from. Tansley was truly worn out and completely filthy, a good sign of a perfect birthday I think.

It was cousin Ethan's 6th Birthday too.

Tansley's Flower Cake