You're only 4 once

One thing that Abby asks me on a routine basis is

when is my birthday mommy?

She knows that it is August 8, but when August is coming and how much longer she has to wait for her next birthday is a big concept for a 4 year old.

It is already marked on our monthly calendar, and she asks me quite often about her next birthday party.

And now I am going to say something kinda sad...

I am not sure if I can have a party for her this summer, because I really don't know that many people to invite!

(Commence tears.)

I am afraid she would be super disappointed in a party with only 3 or 4 friends.  Abby is so extraordinarily social that, for her, friends are better in quantity.

That's why her party last year was like a dream.

We had it at the Nashville Zoo and it was nothing short of

FABULOUS

for her sweet, 4 year old self.

MY favorite part?

THIS:

The amazing princess cake made by a friend from my MOPS group in Nashville. Abby wanted a princess cake SO SO much. And I was kinda obsessed with Cake Boss. So, win-win.

Isn't that the cutest, fatest princess ever?! 

One funny story that I forgot to tell happened after we got home from the party with what was left of the cake, and we had decided to save the cake princess for Abby to eat later.  Well, the princess was there all-right, but she was missing an arm! We all looked around in the boxes for a fondant-arm and couldn't find anything. I suspected one of the children at the party had sneaked it as a treat. My mom, who noticed our searching, asked us what we were looking for...

"Oh, I ate that!" She told us.

Really mom!? You ate a little girl's fondant princess arm? We got no end out of teasing her about that one.

Audrey Kate's birthday is a week before Abby's, so she was "celebrated" that day, too. This was her smash cake.

Ugh. I loved this cake. Maybe it was MY four year old dream cake? I don't know, but it was also very yummy--strawberry. MMMMMM.

Abby had nothing short of a great, great time with her many friends. (I want to say we had close to 75-100 adults and kids.)

Abby still talks about this party every week or so.

Who wouldn't love a party at the Zoo, complete with carousel and amazing play area?

Oh yes, and also - - pizza!

Hellooooo again cute princess cake. (The large "A", which is so awesome, right? I found at a local store that was going out of sale--it originally formed the words "baby" to advertise that section. It was like 70% off. Cool!)

The only picture of me the whole night? Hot, sweaty, yuck.

I was so busy I didn't really see my girls the entire night. Thankfully we had BOTH sets of grandparents come in for all the fun. Good thing we took pictures!

Seems like AK liked her cake.

And opening presents--always the best part of a party.

I don't usually join these linky things, (from Kelly's Korner) but I LOVED Abby's party last year, and it makes me sad that we might not get to have one this year.

(In case you are new to the blog, we just recently moved from Nashville to a new town and don't know many people.)

I am still not sure what I will do. I guess I will have to work really hard and make Abby some friends to come celebrate with her this summer.

OR,

we'll just make her feel special and loved with just her family.

And that, sometimes, is even better.