9 year old girls

I am the proud mother of a 9 year old girl. I LOVE to celebrate the kids' birthdays! We try to drag out as much celebrating as we can!!! So, this weekend was her family celebration and next weekend is her party with friends. Here's the lowdown on our weekend...

After school on Friday, we had frappes from Mickey D's. (She LOVES this). Then we played at the park before soccer practice. Every year we always have a special portraits session, and this year was no exception. She couldn't wait to get ready and have her special photo shoot.Here are some results from the shoot! I have a beautiful girl!!!

Friday night, we celebrated with pizza and a movie at home.
Saturday, I took her for a pedicure at "Changes City Spa"it's an excellent upscale spa just around the corner from our house. She has been wanting a pedicure, so I booked our appointments last week. She was so excited. And we had a lot of fun!!!She chose a shimmery raspberry polish and mine was the color of BBQ. *smile

We had a family style lunch on Saturday afternoon with all of her favorite dishes. Beef stroganoff with noodles, my macaroni and cheese casserole, and veggies. What birthday is complete without a cake? Well, my girl enjoyed a 5" Country Club Turtle Cheesecake. She had a mess of gifts to open and I think she is pretty well set with clothes, music, and books for the next 6 months.

The stroganoff is a creamy and rich dish! I love the flavors and that's probably the reason it's one of her favorite dishes!
Slow Cooked Beef Stroganoff

2 Pounds of Beef stew meat
1 small chopped onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup water1 Tb dried chives
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. worchestershire sauce
1 beef bouillon cube
1/4 cup milk
1 Tbl all purpose flour
16 oz. sour cream
1/2 tbl chopped parsley

In the bottom of the slow cooker, place stew meat and season with salt and pepper, place chopped onions on top of the meat, then add soup and water. Season with chives, garlic, worchestershire and bouillon. In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of milk and flour and pour that over the top. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Then stir in sour cream and parsley and continue cooking for another hour.

Serve over hot buttered noodles or rice. What a great birthday lunch!

This creamy homemade cheesecake was the perfect compliment and everyone LOVED it!!! Happy birthday to my sweet Isabella!