September Birthdays

 Merinda's friend Lauren Allen (and her father Mark)

surprised her by decorating her room, while she was at school.

We are still tripping over balloons that escape into the hall,

 

or are rudely awakened in the middle of the night as random balloons pop.

 

But Merinda was sooo surprised, and just giddy with excitement!

 

She also loved her new blanket that Lauren made her. It will go perfectly with the colors in her new room.

This year we celebrated Merinda and Aubrey's birthdays together, since Aubrey would be at school for her actual birthday. They shared a cake...

  

but got to pick their own ice cream!

 Aubrey and Merinda obviously aren't "30" and "11" years old, so Aubrey was trying to figure out the logic behind the candles.

The explanation is really quite simple, I said: Aubrey was turning 19, and Merinda turned 13, so 19+13=32, but I didn't have a #2 candle, so I had to use two #1 candles, so 30+1+1=32, which is the combined total of both their ages.

 

This was their reaction!

Okay, time to get serious, and make a wish...

 

It didn't take Merinda long, but Aubrey had to really contemplate her perfect wish (since everything depends on this one wish--not). 

  

Finally Aubrey blows out her candle, as Merinda continues to fake blow hers (for picture-taking purposes of course).

Now its time to finally eat the cake--strawberry cake with homemade cream cheese glitter frosting (not too shabby if I do say so myself).

 And then time to open their gifts--Doritos, and electric toothbrushes.

You know what we Manwaring's say, "Go big, or go Home!" (wait, we are home, and this is so not big).

 

 But at least Grandma Heelis came through for the girls--Aubrey received money for college, and Merinda got Grandma's comfy blanket (that Merinda took over while we stayed with Grandma in Utah this summer). 

She was in heaven!

Thank You Mom, it was the perfect gift! 

So who goes and tries to steal Merinda's blankie the minuet she gets off the couch. As if Aubrey doesn't have enough softy blankets and things!

 

The girls also received a birthday package in the mail from their big sis Brittney in El Salvador! Merinda got this way cute satchel purse,

and Aubrey this super darling dress!

Now, don't feel too bad for Aubrey, because these are actual pictures of us at Red Robin, her choice for a birthday dinner out!

And, she got a mini duck rice cooker to take to college from her Dad.

 

Plus, I took her to Culvers for one last lunch out together (and I never eat out!).

So as we said "goodbye" at the airport, I knew it would all be okay.

Aubrey's actual birthday fell on a Monday--the first day of classes. She was a little bummed because that's pretty much the worst time a college student could celebrate a birthday.

But in typical Aubrey fashion (she is so loved!), her roommates from last Semester threw her a surprise birthday party/reenactment from her favorite show "The Office". 

 With the whole lame sign, cake, decorations, and everything!

 She was just tickled to death. And I want to thank her roommates personally for taking such good care of Aubrey, not only on her birthday, but always!