Ellie's Half Birthday

Ellie turned 12 and a half this summer!  

She continued our new birthday tradition that somehow started of having two birthday parties instead of one.

For her first party, she invited her neighborhood friends. Gabby (far left) moved to our neighborhood a few years ago and has been a wonderful addition.

The other four have been friends for almost their whole lives.

The girls came over for dinner and a movie ("Mamma Mia!")

and ice cream sundaes.

Both sets of grandparents only live here part time now, so Ellie took advantage of the fact that they were all in town and had a grandparent birthday dinner.

You've never seen someone so thrilled to get Nutella as a birthday present!

Ellie wanted cinnamon rolls for her birthday breakfast. She told me that even though her actual birthday is December 28, June 28 feels more like her real birthday. 

We had Ellie's annual pool party birthday with all of her school friends. It was unusually hot and sunny for the end of June so the pool was more packed than usual, but we still had room to set up a little party area.

These are her closest friends from school: Taylor, Lily, Kaylee, Gianna, Kenzie, Emily and Olivia.

They are a sweet bunch of girls.

Still not a cake girl, so birthday cookies it is!

It's been fun watching these girls grow into middle schoolers.

Before we know it, they'll be in high school taking prom pictures, and they are ready!

Last but not least, we drove through Chick-fil-A for Ellie's official birthday dinner and came home and watched "The Princess Bride" with the five of us. It was a great way to end her week of birthday festivities!