Emma's birthday.

Our little Emma turned 4 on St. Patrick's Day! Every year it's hard for me to believe that she's that much bigger. As any good Irish mother would do, I dressed her in green to send her off to school, but it was her birthday and she was determined to wear her Cinderella dress. She knew it was her special day and wanted everyone else to know it too! What a girl. We should all dress like a princess on our birthday shouldn't we?
That morning, her Daddy gave her a special present. If Daddy ever goes out of town (which isn't very often) or for special occasions, he always brings back a music box for his little girl. This time, it was a very special music box. It has a snow globe on top with a white porcelain angel inside, sitting on a silver base with the words "My Sweet Emma" engraved on the front. She loved it. Absolutely loved it, and melted her Daddy's heart.
We threw a Princess party for her and invited her friends from the neighborhood as well as her favorite little friend from Farmington, and her cousins from Murray. All the little girls came dressed in their prettiest princess outfits. It was magical for me too -- as I'm used to doing parties for rowdy little boys. Who knew you could tell little girls to dance around like a princess while you get the next activity set up, and they actually do it! Nothing gets broken or knocked over, and Mommies keep their sanity! wow. magical I tell you. magical.
We started out by decorating little foam crowns with stickers and gems. Then we played "kiss the frog" (altered version of pin the tail on the donkey) We had a birthday parade with Emma carrying a fancy sparkly wand to lead the girls around the family room. We played the Princess and the Pea game - hiding a small ball under pillows, then each girl has to sit on the pillows to see if she is a real princess and can find which one the pea is under. Of course, they are all real princesses! Then we ended with cupcakes and presents. Oh yes, and we took snap shots of each princess to send home as a thank you later.
A few days later, we had Grandma and Grandpa and a bunch of aunts and uncles come for dinner, and cake and ice cream. Chris made a beautiful Cinderella castle cake! It was amazing! Emma was thrilled. It even came with a little Cinderella - Polly Pockets doll!
Obviously, she had a GREAT birthday!!!