Trip to Texas...Part 2: Waco

We headed to Waco after just one night in Amarillo.

E did end up spending a large majority of her actual birthday in the car...

but there would be plenty of celebrating once we made it to Waco.

A party at Peter Piper Pizza had already been planned and both sets of grandparents,

one set of great-grandparents, an uncle, and one of Trav's cousins would all be there!

It was so much fun to get to celebrate all together...on her actual birthday.

Trav's parents and grandparents were on their way up to Dallas for

Bret's wedding, so they were able to stop in Waco for the party.

Ellie is a passionate little fireball (I think that's redundant...oh well.)

She likes a lot of things...

but she LOVES,

LOVES,

LOVES,

to play the guitar.

She got her first guitar when she was 19 months old...

When Sarah Grace was born she got a present when

she came to the hospital 

"from Gracie".

It was a little guitar (actually, it was a ukelele).

This has been the best $30 toy that has ever been purchased.

Hands down the favorite toy for I guess 21/2 years!  Crazy.

It has been played and played and played.

One time last fall it was lost...for two weeks!

And Travis found it under a pile of leaves in our backyard.

We thought it was a goner for sure...but it dried out and has been

loved just the same.

It's been the only guitar she has ever had.  She's never even asked 

for another one.  In fact for this birthday she kept telling me that what she really

wanted was a strap for her guitar so she wouldn't have to hold it 

while she stood up to play.

(Thank you Adam and Shelly, who got her the strap at her party!)

Travis and I searched everywhere...talked to Seth, our guitar expert,

and finally decided on one.  As a parent, we could not wait 

to see her open this gift.

She's been super expressive since she was a little baby, 

so it makes it really fun to watch her face when something

exciting happens!

This one is my favorite.  Sheer joy.

There she is!

Then came the cake.

She told Mimi she just wanted a big 4 on it.

And there you have it...

(Gracie's always there to help!)

Emmy and Poppy enjoying the fun!

After a few...or maybe a lot of games at Peter Piper

(Ellie loves games...and let's be honest, so does her Daddy

so he helped her use her tokens!)...

 we went to to the Baylor girls game with my parents and Scott.

Papa and SG

Uncle Scotter and the birthday girl!

Look at those Baylor Bears...

That Good Ole Baylor Line.

Ellie is quite the sports fan and is becoming quite the 

Baylor Bears (and Brittany Griner!) fan so this was a fun

way to end her 4th bithday!

Whew!

Lots of celebrating.

Now...on to the wedding festivities.