Brooke celebrates!

So for Brooke's bday this year, we offered her a one time chance to get the highly coveted American Girl doll she's been wanting for soooooo long.  I have been SOOOO opposed to these dolls forever.  Too expensive.  For a doll????    Ugh.  Well, we told her...instead of a party for her bday, we would take her to the store and buy her the doll, one doll.  (hey it got me out of party planning/expenses!) Then she could use HER money (bday money or saved spending money) on clothes, etc...  She took that deal in a heartbeat.  So.  sometime a little before her actual bday, we went to the store and spent the day shopping.  It was an experience.  For sure.  A little bit crazy....but kinda fun.

Here's some pics from the day -


Eating at the Cheesecake Factory beforehand...

Finding the store....

She did ok.  She found THE perfect doll.  Then the biggest things she wanted were glasses for her doll and matching outfits.  So she got the same outfit the doll came with for her and one more set of matching outfits and a pet dog for her doll.  We bought the doll.  She bought the rest w her bday money from grandparents, etc....

While we were there I thought it was hilarious that there are even doll holders in the stalls of each bathroom!  Haha!

They have their own hair salon for the dolls (which we did not particpate in, but still got this pic)...

Sage is the latest new American Girl of the year so they had Sage stuff everywhere!

But the day was a success for Brooke.  She (gulp) has her an American Girl doll now...

Anyway.  So then, when her actual birthday rolled around, first they celebrated with her at bible study a couple of days before with cake and presents...

Then her birthday day, she woke up to what she thought would be a normal day.  However, I still believe in making birthdays super special around here so I had other plans.  ;)


Balloons everywhere - Brenna and I awake and up and dressed ready to surprise her when she got up (normally Brooke and Brad are up first)...

Our now annual tradition of donut cake for breakfast...

And a couple of little presents. I wanted her to have SOMEthing to open day of her bday...

A stuffed owl (like the one from Harry Potter) she's been wanting...

Willy Wonka DVD (also on her wish list since reading the book)...

And....sigh!....her first Aggie shirt and bow to match along with a 12th man towel (and coincidentally MY first Aggie thing to buy.  Ever. - hey people!  I went to Sam Houston okay?!).  She loves the Aggies and is thrilled with her new gear.

Then off to school for the day where they recognized her on morning announcements and then I brought her lunch of her choosing (happening to be Chick Fila), then she thought she was done.

However, lo and behold I surprised her again with bringing up a cupcake cake for her and her friends at school.  She was REALLY surprised by this.  And even more surprised b/c it was a ....gasp!....Harry Potter cake!  (I had one a cake at our Spring Fair auction so I got her to do this super cool cupcake cake for Brooke)....

After school, we had loads of activities - dance and softball - but after getting through with that we went out to eat at her pick - Casa Ole.  And she was surprised (or fuming?) that we did indeed tell them ahead of time it was her bday so they sung to her and brought her out a dessert...



She wasn't so happy with me - haha!  But got over it pretty quick.  :P

From there we let her go to Toys R Us with her gift card she had gotten and pick out one small thing.  Then back home and another Harry Potter cupcake before heading to bed.

So I'd say she had a pretty good birthday.  Mission, complete.  Till next year that is....  :)