June 18 EIGHT?????

Thursday:  Today is Erin's 8th birthday!!! She has been anticipating it since Christmas! I was invited to come and celebrate with her this evening. I came bearing gifts ...

Erin is very into AXOLOTLs, so a few months ago (at one of her sleepovers), we were looking online (most likely Amazon) and Erin picked out all of these items! The only non-Axolotl items is the little camera she ordered that has a cool blue dinosaur case (the whole thing was only $29). Anyway, before I wrapped them up the other night, I snapped this picture of everything laid out on my bed. Inbetween the legs of this stuffed animal is a bad full of axolotl "charms" that Erin was crazy about. It's difficult to see them in this photo. 

When I arrived over at their house, Erin and Kelly were out on a birthday shopping spree over at the mall. Erin loves shopping sprees with her mom! They have so much fun picking out things for Erin. While we waited for them to return, Aidan and Cal got wrestling around ... they reminded me of rascally kittens!

Soon, Erin arrived home with her stash of mall items. Erin's close friend, Emmy (who lives down the street) knocked on the door, and was invited to come in and watch the gift opening. Look at these two!

They are completely darling!

The gift she is opening (below) is a bath toy that brags this Axolotl will swim five different directions!

Erin's anticipation is so delightful ...

Brendan, watching the birthday girl opening her grandma presents ...

I bought a colorful little "bag" in which to keep the clothing that comes with the stuffed Axolotl ... I figured it was worth a try to at least have a place to keep all the small items that came with this gift instead of having them "lost in the sauce" of regular everyday life with four children, etc.

Erin really loved her gifts -- YAY!! And I LOVE HER so much. 

For each child's birthday, they are treated to dinner out. Erin chose "Fuji Buffet" and everyone coaxed me to come along. I surely hope they didn't feel obligated to have me come -- I couldn't say "no" to these guys, could I? Anyway, for the record, if I lived this close to a Chinese buffet, I would be in big FAT trouble (B I G  F A T). Yummy food. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ERIN LUCIA!