Amanda's birthday party 2013

Not so long ago it seems, Amanda was born, the very first Muffin. And then she turned 8 this year. How time flies! As usual, Amanda REALLY wanted a party, and since Mom took a year off from parties last year (and since Dad helped out and Grandmother flew in for the occasion), Amanda got her wish. It all started with the pinata:

Dad and Amanda picked it out in hopes that it would help a party to appear (and got one like Mom would have chosen to boot!). Curtis knew all about pinatas, which made it really interesting trying to keep the thing intact up until the actual party. The pinata did indeed survive, and here are Amanda and Curtis and others on the day of the party. We served ice cream and pizza for all, with a ceremonial cake for the birthday girl.

Ah, yes, presents. Need we say more?

Seriously, though, we will say a little more. Amanda got fun presents and also some extra special presents, since it was the day she got baptized. For the record, this day was the day Amanda got the CTR locket that she now wears pretty much 24/7. Another special event was Grandmother coming to visit. Here she is with Clarissa.

And here's Lydia, who really wanted her picture taken, too. (How could Mom resist such cuteness?)

Finally, it was time for the pinata, an event Curtis had been dreaming of for what seemed like forever at that point. The best part of the pinata saga was that it all lived up to Curtis's expectations. He was one happy little boy with his big bag of pinata candy. (Oh, and Amanda had a good time, too.)