Mackenzie's 12th Birthday.

April was a crazy full month for our family. In addition to working at Hee Haw Farms it's also known as birthday month around here. A very appropriate title considering 3/4 of my children have April birthdays. Usually Easter is also in there somewhere. So busy is an understatement.
Our April birthdays were kicked off with Mackenzie's 12th birthday. These past 12 years have flown by. It seems my baby girl grew up overnight and turned into a beautiful young woman. How can this be happening? I'm not getting any older!
Kenzie asked for her birthday party to be at her gymnastic gym, Arete. I agreed on one circumstance. She had to clean her room and keep it clean longer than a week. She kept up her end of the deal and I kept mine.
Having her party meant I didn't have to clean or provide the entertainment. I consider that a win win.
We held her party a week after her actual birthday. On her birthday we did have cake and opened presents as a family.

I surprised Kenz at school with a treat for her class and a bouquet of flowers. 

She thought she was being so clever making the candles read '21'.

For Kenzie's Arete party I made cupcakes and set up a simple party scene at the gym. I did this while the girls were busy playing on all the equipment. The girls had the entire gym to themselves and nothing was off limits. They played on the beams, bars, trampolines, foam pit, cargo net, spring floor, vault and anything else their little hearts desired.

The party room.

Mackenzie and Taylor

just "hanging" around.

Cute Taylor

Clara and Kaylee having fun in the foam pit and on the bars.

Erynn looks like she's drowning in the foam.

And

Kenzie's friend Megan.

Taylor doing a high flyin' flip.

The girls messin' around at the 'handstand' wall.

Taylor pushing Kenzie around in this giant foam ring.

The girls all had a blast at Arete. It was worth every penny to not have to worry or stress over what kind of party to have. I didn't have to clean my house or come up with ideas on how to entertain 8 twelve yr. old girls. Party made in heaven!