New Years Resolution #22

"I will make a big deal about birthdays"
Flip through the pages of this blog and you will find that mid September every year I write a sentimental post about the way that this girl has changed my life.  I write of how she makes everyday an adventure and a fairy tale all at the same time.  I write about how she dances when she walks and sometimes sings when she talks.  I write about stopping time to catch her, and demanding to anyone who will listen that she will stay small forever.

This year I was going to be grown up about her turning a year older. I wasn't going to get all teary when I remembered what it was like when they laid her on my chest.  I wasn't going to wish for just one more minute of that last amazing thing that she did.

So instead, I planned a ridiculous birthday party that I hope she remembers for a long time.  I resisted her request last year for a Disney princess party and tricked her into a Neverland party instead.   I knew that this year I would have to give in.

What I learned in my initial research for the party, is that one could easily spend A LOT of money on a princess party.  I did my best to make it as "princessy" as I could with out being tacky, and I tried to keep it budget friendly.
Here's some shots of the final out come and our fun day...I'll try to give a commentary.

The kids called the canopy the "castle."  I used a canopy frame and covered it in draped plastic table cloths..They only cost .97 cents a piece.  I bought 16 of them.  I also used a cheap white king size sheet as a back drop.   I made three dimensional stars that I hung inside of the tent.  I bought 2 different size packs of scrapbook paper packs, this made about 14 stars for about $8.

This was the "Royal Dressing Table"(this picture must be after the kids got dressed).  I found adorable knight's helmets and shields at the dollar store, plus scored some cheap little crowns there also.  I found a 5 pack of princess wands at Target for $2.  The mirror was one that belonged to my parents.  I knew that they hadn't used it in years so I asked my Dad to spray paint it silver so the little ones could see themselves all dressed up.  The awesome part was that most of the kids came in costume....which was absolutely adorable!

Okay, so I had one big splurge!  I came across this pumpkin coach at Hobby Lobby one day.   It was actually orange and green, so spray painted it silver and it matched the party perfectly.  I also picked up a bag of decorating pumpkins in the grocery store that I spray painted white and silver, I scattered them around here and there.  I had several sliver frames lying around unused so I framed quotes from the different versions of the Cinderella story.

I found the little silver pumpkins for .50 cents a piece.  I had the white pumpkins on hand already, so I cut them open and used them as vases.  All of the flowers I bought were on clearance, except the sliver sticks which I think I got 50% off.

Okay, here is one of my favorite parts of the party...  My friend Beth, not only took the beautiful pictue of Libby, but she also made her princess cake!  It was so amazing.  I made the little pumpkin cakes around the big cake, and I made little chocolate covered mice out of cherries and Hersey Kisses.  The favors were jars of mallow pumpkins.  The front of the jar said "Thank you for coming to my party.  Here's a midnight snack for after the ball."

 Here is the part that threw me for a loop.  I think that it was a bit too much for Libs...She almost acted shy, which was a new thing for me to manage as a mom, in terms of my big girl, I do shy all the time with my Littlest.  I don't know what to do with a shy Little...I can't ever remember her being shy in her life.

Before her guests arrived she tip-toed around and examined her party taking in every detail, and when they arrived, she clung to my leg barely even able to whisper hello to the party goers who came to celebrate with us.

Weeks before the party I has scoured the interent trying to find the perfect, yet affordable, Cinderella dress for her to wear.  I just couldn't find the right match.  In a moment of genius, I remembered I had a hand- me- down light blue dance leotard.  I made some changes to the neckline and sleeves and I made a full length skirt out of tule.  Total cost about $25.  She looked beautiful.  

 The moment that almost put my girl over the edge, was when my friend Julie arrived with her boys dressed as Prince Philip and Prince Charming. They were sooooo cute.

 I think the fact that she was dressed as Cinderella and Charlie was dressed like Prince Charming was just a little too close to the real story for her liking.  Sister wouldn't let go of my leg, she wouldn't even look up at him at one point.

Later on in the party, I heard her whisper to him that she liked his costume, but it took quite a while for her to warm up to the fact hat he was Charlie and not really Prince Charming.  I think she was afraid she would have to dance with him.

 
A month or so ago our friends went to Disney World.  As a surprise to Libby they cornered the real Cinderella and recorded a video of her sending Libby her own personal birthday message.  We saved it for her party and our girl and all her friends were amazed that "the real Cinderella knew Libby's name."

 Here's the crew of little knights and princesses.  Aren't they darling?  It was such a fun party.  It went way too fast, and in the end I was exhausted, but I love making a big deal about birthdays.  Every year when they are over I claim I'm not doing it any more...Not this year...Bring on the Littlest second birthday, I'm ready to start planning!

Earlier in the day I had switched th radio on for background music.  As the guest were filtering out, and we were busy tearing things down  on came a song that reminds me of her so much and just like that, despite my best efforts, I could feel the lump in my throat forming and tears making their way to my eyes..You know me, it doesn't take much...

 I suppressed it though.  I told myself to embrace my little girl that is so amazingly special to me.

 I'm not foolish enough to think that I've grown so much this past year that I will never again write a post lamenting the growth of my children...

But on this day I chose to enjoy watching her grow and change, and embrace our beautiful, quirky, feisty, free spirited, precious girl.

Happy 4th Birthday Libs...you're our favorite Libby in the whole world.

Grace and Peace

xoxo