Eighteen months old, and very talkative, Ainsley, her mom and dad, and her other grandmother, "Gigi," came to San Antonio from Houston to spend the long weekend with us and to attend Macy's and Marshall's birthday party. She learned the word "airplane" this weekend and everytime she saw one out our window, she'd say, "airplane" and point. She had been practicing the names "Macy" and "Marshall" and she had both names down really well, but "Macy" is just a little harder to say, so she said, "Marshall" hundreds of times. She pronounced it, "March-all." Saturday night, she was about to go to bed, and she was lying on the sofa on a pillow between Colleen and me. Drowsily, she'd lift her head and say, "March-all?" Then her head would go down. She'd say it again, and each time, Colleen would say, "Yes, we're going to see Marshall tomorrow," or "Yes, we're going to Marshall's birthday party tomorrow." Then she'd put her head back down, lift it again, and say, "March-all?" This went on about 20-30 times. Like all toddlers, she loves any game with repetition. Here she is saying "Marshall" about 5 times the next evening. Turn your sound all the way up....
Here she is at Macy's and Marshall's birthday party at Pump It Up yesterday afternoon. She was not happy at all. She had fallen asleep in the car and they had to wake her up. When she walked into the "party room," the music was loud, and there were tons of kids yelling, screaming and laughing. It took a long time for her to get used to it all, and finally, she decided to try out the little car, but she was clinging tightly to her baby for security! Later, she went into one of the "bouncies" with her mom and warmed up to the action and noise!
Macy and Marshall had a blast at their birthday party. Julie managed one more year to have a "joint party," since Macy's 6th birthday was May 3 and Marshall's 5th birthday is June 22. Every year, she thinks they will protest and want their own party, but so far, this has worked, and it definitely saves time and energy! They each invited all the kids in their classes, and since they are so close in age, many of them all know each other.
Macy had a "High School Musical" cupcake cake. If you look closely, you can see the cupcakes underneath. This made it easy to serve without having to cut the cake!
Marshall had "Transformer" cupcakes with "Transformer rings" on top for all the boys!
As always, Macy and Marshall had a "no gifts" birthday party, and had their friends bring some items for a worthy cause. This year, they brought swim/water toys for the Muscular Dystrophe "Camp For All" which is a cause very dear to Aunt Colleen's heart. She has been working with this group since she was in high school, and every summer, she gives a week of her time to work at the camp. They collected a ton of neat water toys which will bring smiles to lots of faces this summer.
I have to include these funny pictures of Ainsley. She had just gotten out of the bathtub, and John had brushed her wet hair straight back. Her grandmother, Carolyn, Larry and I were sitting out on the back deck, when she came out to join us. We laughed at her, and Larry said, "That's just the way I combed my hair in the sixth grade!"
Our house is eerily quiet now, and we miss our funny little girl. Ainsley, we are so glad you came for the birthday party and to bring laughs to our family! Mimi will see you in three weeks! Keep your mom and dad on their toes!
