and this girl's party

One of Savannah's very favorite things about any trip or vacation are always the accommodations...
whether it's a vacation home or a condo or a hotel room or even a tent, she gets a kick out of staying somewhere new, somewhere out of the ordinary, somewhere special. Loves. It.

So while we were coming up blank on a birthday party "theme" that caught her fancy her the past few months, she quietly suggested just getting a hotel room with a few friends and calling it good.  Remembering how thrilled she was with our just-for-fun Mom/Daughter night at a hotel a couple of months back, I obliged.  After all, you only turn TEN once. ;)

I have to admit I was a little disappointed... I have kind of decided my days of throwing themed and detailed parties for the kids ends when they turn ten.  After that I figure we can do something fun with a friend or two (movie out or sleepover, etc.) to celebrate simply each year, with maybe a bigger shindig at some milestones like 15 or 16 or something.  We'll see.  I may not be able to resist.  If you know me, you know I find party planning a little addicting.
But so I was gearing up for this one to be one of the last for Savannah... and I was kind of bummed when she didn't like any of my ideas and there wasn't much for me to plan or execute here with a hotel stay.  I played around with a hotel or spa theme for awhile, but gave up.  I'm no good at putting together hotel scavenger hunts or pulling off spa treatments in our bathroom.  So simple hotel party it was! And it was fun...
With a Kit-Kat candy cake...
This girl loves her some Kit-Kats... so I "frosted" her cake with Kit-Kats and m&m's.  And lollipops for a topper to make a 10! :)

Savannah invited three of her closest girl friends...
(and Ryan, Sawyer and Coen briefly stopped in, since they were almost literally across the street at another birthday party that evening)
(Savannah was not thrilled to have the boys crash her party, even if it was only for 10 minutes!)

And after the boys left, we had a perfectly girly night at a local hotel.
We decorated flip-flops to wear down to the pool...

They did lots of swimming...

And spent about three hours painting nails and applying press-on tattoos, while snacking on candy and popcorn...

Before I made them go to bed at midnight...

 And then they were up bright and early (at 6:30am!) for more giggling girlie fun...

in our room

 

 and at the breakfast buffet

and of course riding up and down the elevators. :)

It was a really fun night. Even if we were way low on sleep. ;)
It was fun to hang out with Savannah's friends, really fun to be "fancy" in a hotel, and super fun to celebrate this awesome ten year old!