four, part II

Ahh, birthdays. Tuesday night this week was a late one as I prepared for my Lady M's fourth birthday celebrations. We had 11 people for dinner on Wednesday night to celebrate the big day, so I had cake to bake, food to make, presents to wrap and decorations to hang.

Thankfully, I also had the US election results to watch, making for some great (yet nail biting) entertainment. This is in no way, shape or form a political blog, but yeah for Obama! It's funny because I can recall watching the elections on November 4, 2008 when I was (im)patiently awaiting the arrival of my little girl, and excited about the political milestone that took place days before her birth.

Lady M's cake...covered with M&M's because she thought
it would be fun to have her initial all over her cake! 

But, back to the birthday... Everything was set to go, all tasks were complete and we had even hung decorations in her bedroom doorway so she would see them instantly when she woke up. Mission: accomplished.

At 5:45 am on Wednesday morning (very early for my little lady who normally likes to sleep until at least 6:30/7:00) I felt her tiny little self climb into my bed and say "mummy, there are decorations in my doorway!". I responded with "why do you think they're there?", to which she replied "BECAUSE IT'S MY BIRTHDAY"!!! Let the celebrations begin.

We had promised her a present in the morning, so I had placed it on my night table for the instant gratification of a first-thing-in-the-morning-birthday-present. Buried within the bag and tissue paper was a new Hello Kitty shirt to wear to school, Hello Kitty socks and a Hello Kitty bracelet. (Can anyone identify the pattern?!)

Of course I thought it would be more exciting to open a new toy, but the thought of giving her a new toy and saying "now put it away, because we have to eat breakfast, get dressed and get you to school where you won't be able to play with your toy" just seemed unkind! So, things she could wear to school were the plan, and she was thrilled.

I had sent a note to school the day before asking if there was any way to celebrate the kids' birthdays in class, seeing as the school has very strict rules about treats and sweets. The teacher let me know that we could donate a book to the class library on behalf of Lady M's birthday, and that they would read the story and sing happy birthday to her during circle time. So, I selected a story called Wild About Books and Lady M and I read it together the night before her birthday so she would be familiar with it. I added a little inscription to the inside cover, packed it in her 'important bag' in her backpack, and she was set to go. She tells me, however, that they already had that book in their collection, but oh well! It was a really cute story, so why not have two?!

So she'd had her morning celebration, her school celebration, then she was off to daycare where they had another little party for her. Whew, what a day for a four-year old, and it wasn't over yet!!

As I mentioned, we had the immediate family over dinner for her special day, and with contributions from the whole fam, it seemed everyone was well-fed and happy. But, nobody was happier than little Lady M who was delighting in all of her gifts - clothes, toys, shoes - and best of all, a beautiful new doll house. What little girl doesn't want a dollhouse that's taller than her, with three floors of fun?! And as it turned out, it was a total hit with both my girls, and my nephew Mr. F. They happily played together rearranging furniture, checking out all the rooms, and bringing more and more dolls and toys to the house to play. It was perfect.

All in all it was a wonderful day, and Lady M went to bed one year older, and happily exhausted. This weekend will be her dance party with eight little girls and my nephew, so the fun isn't over yet! I love a birthday that lasts all week...