So 8 was always going to be a special birthday! In our faith, 8 is the age in which you can get baptised! and Ella decided she did want to get baptised when she turned 8. As well as that, it was no longer lockdown - wahooo!! which meant Ella could finally have a party with friends! Double wahooo!! So with birthday parties and baptisms and a whole heap of family and friends it ended up being our biggest celebrations yet!
The weekend before her birthday, we held an animal themed party at our church hall.
Ella had wanted a Koala themed party, also with sloths and pandas - as those are her 3 fave animals, so that is what we planned!
A koala cake!
and some little panda and sloth cupcake toppers
and panda marshmallows
Ready for her guests to arrive! We actually had 22 girls coming to the party which was the biggest one we've ever done!
Within 5 mins of them all arriving, they were dashing around like crazy things screaming and being wild and I was beginning to wonder what we had let ourselves in for, haha! but once we got them seated for lunch they calmed down luckily!!
There was pin the nose on the koala!
and all its hilarity!
with a whole lot of dancing and games alongside the Encanto soundtrack - which the girls are just obsessed with! and apparently they're not the only ones because there were plenty of sing alongs at the party with all the other girls knowing every single word too!
You can't beat a bit of Pass the Parcel!
and some musical statues! Check out Addi and her moves!
We had an amazing animal handler, Jade, come and the girls loved getting up close with all her animals!
Guinea pigs,
Snakes... and even a skunk on a lead!
What a fun and lovely group of girls!
These very special friends, Ella and Mollie, came all the way from Kelso and Ella was especially excited to have them here with her on her special day and we appreciated how far they travelled just to celebrate her birthday!
The present opening was very exciting when Ella got home and actually lasted a full hour!
She has friends who know her so well!
with sloth pjs,
cuddly koalas...
and even these Koala rubbers that Ella loved! She was very spoilt indeed.
Her actual birthday was a few days later on the 8th, so it was time for more present opening!
I was super pleased to find this koala, panda
and sloth wrapping paper on Etsy
One very excited birthday girl!
with a cuddly sloth from Uncle Ja
and a whole host of little animal characters that she got to open from blind bags
Pancake breakfasts for the win!
Daddy made the birthday girl a special 'E' pancake and everything!
She got to go to her first ever guitar club on her birthday which she was very excited about
and here she is giving us a rendition of what she learnt!
Birthday brownies before bed!
and then the following Saturday was her oh so special baptism day.
We are so very proud of how much she loves Jesus, and for the choice that she made to follow in his example and be baptised just like him!
She got baptised by her dad, at age 8 - just like I did too!
My mom helped me whip up this dessert table because it's what us Jones girls like to do best!
What a pretty sight
S'more cookie bars, Nutella brownies and oreo and biscoff truffles!
Amazing baptismal cookies made by Mamas Sweet Treats
Hummingbird cake, cookies and Biscoff and sprinkle marshmallows
Ella's primary president made those beautiful butterfly cupcakes for her - in coconut and nutella, 2 of her fave flavours and Mayra (the Bishop's wife) made some delicious lemon mousse pots too which we all loved. So grateful for all the people who came together to make it such a lovely day for Ella!
All ready for the big moment!
So special that her cousins could come from Yorkshire to watch - we were there in Menston last summer to see Ellis get baptised too!
All the Jones family!
and the lovely Bishop Nunes who welcome Ella officially into our congregation, after her baptism and confirmation.
There was some more present opening when she got home and people got her such lovely thoughtful cards and tokens to remember this promise that she is making with her father in heaven. It was a day full of tears (happy ones) and such a strong spirit, knowing that she is making such important choices which will pave the way for her future!
A final birthday hurrah to Livingston the next day with Auntie Mara, for a pancake feast...
at Stack and Still
Oreos, nutella and salted caramel ice cream for the birthday girl!
and her present of getting her ears pierced, that she has been wanting to happen for so long!
She was super brave, no tears!!
and just so grown up! I can hardly believe it's been 8 years since she was just a tiny newborn snuggling on me. Time flies by, but we're so proud of the wonderful girl she has grown into. She is making such righteous choices and is such a kind and thoughtful daughter who we love so very much!
