Our Cowgirl Turns 5!

Look at our beautiful 5 year old cowgirl!

We had a great party yesterday! There were 13 little cowpokes here to celebrate with us (including our bunch), and we had such a fun time. We all got decked out in our best western duds. I even got to wear my boots that I haven't worn since my line-dancin' college days:

Clara and her Daddy

Pioneer Woman has nothin' on me! I'm pretty sure I got the best lookin' cowboy around!

"Stick 'em up!"

"Howdy ma'm"

Here's me sneaking some cow-girl Sammy snuggles.

We did a scavenger hunt, pin the tail on the pony, and musical "saddles". We also had "horsie" cake with ice cream, and hit a horsie pinata which was stuffed with candy, tiny plastic horses, and barnyard animal stickers. I think everyone's favorite part was the bandanas. I found them in various colors at our local party store at a very reasonable price. They all got to play cowboys/girls and bank robber. It was a hoot!

Daddy was even kind enough to hold the ladies' hats for them while they tried to pin the tail on the pony!

I was pretty proud of the cake I made for her. I can't take credit for finding this beauty though. My friend Becky make this for her daughter's party last year, and it was so cute! Here's where you can find instructions to make it (it's super easy!).

OK - here's the scoop on the "carrot cakes" I made: you have to cut big sections of the cake off to turn it ito a horse shape. I hated to waste that cake! So I turned them into carrots, since we all know that a horse's favorite food is a carrot, right?!? Let me tell ya...it's tough to make tiny carrot cakes! To make up for how ugly they were, I just added tons of frosting...which later slid right off the sides (see carrot 2nd from the right). As you can see, Clara's real impressed too:

Martha Stewart, I am not!


But they served their purpose. The kids were arguing over who got carrots in no time!



We have such wonderful friends and family. And so generous! I can hardly believe the gifts that she opened! She even got a REAL cowgirl hat in pink from my sister! I was sure thankful...Clara's been after me for a hat for ages! This party was extra special with grandparents in town to help her celebrate. Grandma's sweet-talkin' Thomas...but I'm pretty sure he's only interested in her cake!




Here's Clara and her cousin, Taylor. Best of buds now...just wait 'till they're fighting over boys though! Oh, wait...that's right...Clara won't be interested in boys until she's 27 years old and is ready for the nice Christian young man her mommy chooses for her!

Here are all the little cowpokes who celebrated with us

And here's Sammy trying on Daddy's boots before bed last night

Well, that's it! That's all the Birthday Party conversation I have in me today. I'm signing off now to watch the Super Bowl. The Packers aren't playing (booo)...but the game is a good excuse to eat lots of chips, candy, chili, and cobbler! Go whatever-team go!