Double digits made for a special day for the youngest mini. We straightened her hair (for the first time with her new hair straightener) for the special occasion. As usual, she went over and beyond in her food requests for the day, supplying her friends with an over-the-top amount of carbs and sugar. My eyes slightly fell out of my head at the price tag for her day, but I'm told it was perfect, so I guess that makes it worth it. We had to spread out our celebrating due to dance classes. She spent her actual birthday with daycare friends and then immediately off to dance for the rest of the night until bedtime (recital season can be rough). She loved to be dancing on her birthday, as it's one of her favorite things to do.
After opening her presents as soon as her eyes were open, she once again had her daycare friends putting her presents together for her. Mini brands are the new hit toys amongst the preteen group. She didn't have a clear plan of exactly what she wanted to do on her birthday, so we left the activity portion of the day free. No surprise that paints and nail polish were busted out of storage and became a big part of the day.
One of her daycare friends brought this giant pop it for all to play with for the day.
Elizabeth's birthday eats included: a waffle bar for breakfast, Oreo brownies and ice cream for morning snack, Papa John's pizza, green beans, and apples with Nutella for lunch, and rainbow fruit trays for afternoon snack. We did her birthday dinner of egg roll in a bowl the night before her birthday (since that dance class isn't until later in the evening). Egg roll in a bowl is on our regular dinner rotation due to it's simplicity, healthiness (hint: serve with brown rice), and keeping the hungriest child full (that would be the oldest mini). 
The waffle bar was a hit with endless mini M & M's, sprinkles, chocolate chips, berries, syrups, and whipped cream.
I usually make one big rainbow fruit tray on St. Patrick's Day for all of the kids to enjoy, but with Covid and health regulations, large trays and platters are out. So, each child got their own plate full of marshmallows, strawberries, oranges, bananas, kiwis, blueberries, and grapes.
What are Oreo brownies you ask? Well, it's a dessert made up by Elizabeth and brought to life by me. I used Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie mix, added crushed Oreos to the mixture and full Oreos to the bottom of the pan. Once baked and cooled, I covered the brownies in chocolate fudge frosting with crushed Oreos on top and served it with cookies n' cream ice cream.
Last, my favorite tradition: last pictures as a nine year old. My husband asked why I still take the Last Day As... pictures and I told him I'd never stop. I've always thought the book Love You Forever is super creepy (hello, the mother breaks into her grown ass son's home!), but in all honesty, that may be me in the future. I may show up on their doorsteps, no matter where they are in the world, the night before their birthday's just so I can get that picture. You may be laughing at my words, but I've given my children fair warning, it might happen.
