4!

In our family, it was a very special day today... Hope's birthday!  As Hope said, "Today's my birgay!?!  Now I'm 4!?!  I'm not 3 anymore?"  

The day began with Hope opening up her presents.  

Geoffrey gave Hope some of his toys from when he was little.  Of course, I didn't think about the fact that the toys were stored in an old Pampers box.  Hope pulled off the wrapping paper, and said "Baby diapers?" which resulted in minutes of her and Geoffrey just laughing and laughing.

After gifts, it was time to get ready for a Princess Day.  Hope's friends would be arriving later in the afternoon, and were invited to dress as princesses.  So, of course, Hope wanted to start to dress the part immediately after breakfast.  (By the way, she started the day in one dress--Princess Tiana's gown--then had her first change into a pink princess gown before her party, and during the party changed again into a different gown.)

After getting dressed in her (first) gown, it was time to pick up Hope's very special birthday cake.  Hope had gone with me to order the cake, which was to feature her very own Princess Tiana doll.  She was fairly disapointed that Princess Tiana did  not come home with us from the bakery, but we decided that Tiana was on an adventure at the bakery.  Needless to say, Hope was thrilled when she saw the way her cake had turned out.

The Princess Party was a big hit for Hope and her 3 friends!  Highlights included:

~crown decorating

~dancing, complete with dancing ribbons (each girl selected the ribbons she wanted, which I tied on to a ring)

~reading of "Princess and the Pea," followed by each girl's Princess Test (I hid a pea--an apple, actually--under one of four pillows and the girls had to see if they could find the pillow that had the pea... if they could find it then they were a Real Princess.  Each girl was awarded with a princess wand.)

~a game of "Put the tiara on Rapunzel" (think pin the tail on the donkey, but Princess-style)

~a piñata (the best part was how well-mannered the girls were when the candy came out of the piñata... I've never seen anything like it!)

~of course, presents and that beautiful cake!

I am so happy with how Hope's "Happy Birthday" turned out for her.  She was just so excited these last few days leading up to her birthday, and it was so special to watch her enjoy this day.  I had stayed up late last night putting up all her decorations and getting the girls' prizes and treat bags ready.  It was so neat to see her reaction to my party preparations... during lunch she looked around once again, and said "Look at this celebration!"

Hope is such a joy!  I'm so proud of how she has grown this last year, and I can't wait to watch all that she accomplishes while she's 4!

I love you Hope!  Happy Birthday!