Paige's Skate City Party and Sleepover

Paige turned 8 years old on October 25th. It was a whirlwind birthday this year with our plans getting all switched around. Paige's birthday falls a week before Halloween and always during FALL BREAK with the schools. Usually we are out of town or going out of town for our fall vacation during this time, so planning her a birthday party is often a scramble of fitting things into our busy schedule. This year was no different. We had planned a family vacation to the Mexican Riviera and planned to be in Mexico on Paige's birthday. We promised Paige that she could have her birthday party as soon as we got home and she was just thrilled that we were going to be on the beach for her birthday. However, just a few days before we were to leave, we got word that my Grandpa had been rushed to the ER in the middle of the night for a GI bleed and a low, life threatening heart rate. If you wish to know what all happened with his hospital stay, refer to my previous blog post, "Prayers for Grandpa."
Needless to say, we postponed our Mexico trip. As well as Paige's birthday celebration.
So FINALLY she got to have her party. This year she only wanted to invite her closest friends to go skating with her at Skate City and then back to our house for a sleepover. It proved to be a really simple and relaxing experience for us. The girls were SO good, and even WE enjoyed skating. The evening was filled with everything a good slumber party should have. Lots of giggling, snacking, movies, and even scared little girls (when Kate convinced them all she saw a mouse in the basement - which turned out to be a little white lie on her part to try and freak them out! IT WORKED!) All in all, the party was a success and Paige bonded even more with her friends! Since the party it has been a revolving door here with all the girls going in and out. Either that, or we have finally reached the age when Paige wants to be with her friends all the time. The phone is ringing, we are finding messages for her on our voice mail, we are having lots of playdates. I am so glad that she has made so many great friends in the neighborhood, but she is growing up way too fast!