Happy Birthday My Precious Claire!!!

Claire turned 4 on Sunday. And Claire was clueless. We didn't tell her that it was her birthday because we already had her big birthday party a week ago when we were in Houston. Originally I planned to make it clear to her that she was just having an early party and that her real birthday wouldn't happen until we were back in Alaska. Then I looked at the calendar. I realized that this year, Claire's birthday fell on Easter Sunday. I couldn't imagine trying to incorporate all the festivities of Resurrection Day with all the festivities of a birthday. So whenever Claire said her birthday was going to happen in Houston, we just went with it. It did make my Mommy's heart ache a bit to know it was her birthday and not be able to make a big deal of it with her on the actual day.

But we had an amazing party filled with lots of friends in Houston. Claire was on cloud nine! I wouldn't trade the joy she had during that party for anything.

Greeting her sweet friend who she hasn't seen in months.

Another sweet friend reunion!

About a month ago, Claire came to me and requested a rainbow cake. She loves Cheer Bear (from the Care Bears) who has a rainbow belly badge. When she asked for a rainbow cake, I knew what I wanted to do. I saw an amazing rainbow cake on another blog and badly wanted to try my hand at making it. But that just wasn't going to happen from our hotel room. So instead, I enlisted the help of my good friend Kristi and she came through BIG TIME!!! She made the outside look like a cloud and even put a Cheer Bear on top.

What an amazing job!!!

Claire even danced a little birthday jig with Chuck.

While we didn't party on the actual day, I can't think of any better way to celebrate my precious 4 year old than surrounded by our dear friends back in Houston. Claire has been missing her friends so much and talking about them almost daily. What a treat to get to spend this precious time with them. 

Happy birthday my sweet and precious Claire. You are such a blessing to us. You make your Mommy and Daddy very proud and we love you more than words can say!!!