Delainey's Birthday Party

All ready to party!
Lainey with Scarlet and Ellen and their mom from upstairs
She loves the attention!
Presents!
Aidan, Scarlet, William, Clara, James, Teddy, Lily, Lucy, Ellen, Lainey, Lea

When we were planning our move here, I was really feeling sad for Delainey. I figured that she'd miss out on having a birthday party since we were leaving all our friends and family behind. I think I really thought that for the next 3 years, it would always just be the four of us for celebrations. I didn't that we'd make friends quickly. Luckily, I was very wrong!

I just put the kids to bed after a 2 1/2 hour Disney Princess birthday bash with 14 kids. 14. Yep. 1-4. Ranging in age from 6 months to almost 13 years! I invited all the kids that live in our apartment complex, because they all play together so nicely. I couldn't leave anyone out, no matter their age. In fact, the 2 oldest girls (Ellen-almost 13 and Clara-11) asked me to move the party from it's original date of Friday to today because they were leaving for vacation right after school on Friday. They told me they really wanted to come, and they even asked their moms to postpone their trips until Saturday! Seriously? A 5th grader and 7th grader wanting to come to a 3 year old's birthday party? So, I switched the dates.

Most of the kids (and one cross-dressing mom!) came in Princess or knight costumes. They all played together, no matter what age or gender, and did crafts and ate a dinner of fairy wands (breadsticks and pizza sauce for dipping), princess parfaits (granola, fruit, yogurt), tea sandwiches, and tea in little tea cups.

I don't think Delainey walked anywhere at the party, Ellen was always carrying her! Ellen and Lainey adore each other. All I hear from Lainey is "Where are the big girls? When will the big girls be home?" Luckily, according to Ellen's mom, the feeling is mutual.

Lainey and I made cupcakes for dessert (Betty Crocker is a big hit around here where boxes of cake mix cost 9 francs!) and the kids sang "Happy Birthday" to her in 3 languages-English, German, and Swedish. It was so cool.

I'm sure she really felt like a princess today.