The Pirate Party

It is done... normal life can now resume!

The cake.  I could do an entire post just about the cake.  My Mom's friend Maurie messaged me a month ago asking when the girls birthdays were so she could make cakes for them.  She sent pictures of ideas for a pirate cake.  Kate picked the pink pirate ship.  We picked up the cake last night at my Mom's.  It looked amazing.  Absolutely amazing.  I think we were all in awe of the cake.  At its tallest point it was four layers of cake.  It was wrapped in pink fondant.  She bought Play Mobile pirate people to go on top.  Happy Birthday was written on top of the ship, 5 on the front and Kate on the back.  Eating the cake was just as awesome as looking at it.  It tasted so good.  SO GOOD! (Thank you to Maurie for the awesome cake and to Grandma/Mom for paying for it!)

The party was to be from 11 - 1pm.  This was the first year that Kate invited her own friends, eleven kids were invited, eight kids were able to come.  Four school friends - Abby, Gwyneth, Natalie, Madison, and four "Mommy" friends, Darby, Ava, Cooper, Ciaran.  Originally the plan was for Ken to dress up like Red Beard the pirate.  We would have pirate competitions to win clues to solve a riddle, and then Red Beard would give up his treasure map.  The treasure being the candy filled pinata.  This first hitch, Ken wouldn't/didn't dress up.  He wanted to sit and chat.  We had both been going all morning (not to mention the night before) getting things ready and well, there is this thing called fatigue.

The kids began arriving right at 11.  They started playing in the basement.  They were up and down and up and down and they were all happy and I almost didn't want to bother them.  We then did a modified version of things.  We did the party poppers (aka Christmas crackers) and then I gave Kate the clues to read.  She guessed that the treasure was in the crawl space, which earned her the map.  Then the kids worked on smashing the pinata.  The smashed away for quite a while.  It is always so amusing to watch the smashing.  Some kids lightly tap the pinata while other kids hit it for all they're worth.  The fun is, you never know which kids are the biggest smashers! The biggest smashers were Ciaran, Darby, Gwyn and Cooper.

After the pinata was smashed the kids ate pizza, and then THE CAKE!  

Then the school friends left. And darn it, I forgot to take a couch picture of everyone.  I made these silly pirate hats and I bought moustaches.  The moustaches and hats got forgotten about.  I did remember them eventually - the hats that is, and after the school friends left, and during the chaotic present opening, we took a group shot on the couch.  (Well several group shots! I took these pics, but my sweet friend Ruth took most of the pics during the party - THANK YOU RUTH!)

Then one by one the "Mommy" friends left. 

Parties are crazy.  I have been stressing and planning this thing all week.  I'm feeling like maybe I over plan.  Maybe.  I'm not sure what I'm thinking totally because I'm tired. 

I think I'm feeling a little bit of post-party-let-down. I'm trying to put my finger on what that is exactly.  Is it because we were all cranky tonight?  Is it because Kate seemed greedy and ungrateful, even though she wasn't earlier?  Is it because there is so much stuff in our house it feels kind of gross to add more?  I feel like I want parties to be something different as my children get older.  Service and gratitude... how can you have a fun party and incorporate service and gratitude?  Oh and being nice to your sister.  Kate was not very nice to poor little Alice today.  Alice had a little bit of a hard time with it being Kate's party and Kate was not very forgiving.  Always things to learn I suppose, that is what we are here to do, learn! 

(Okay, I hit post thinking that I remembered all the things I wanted to, but I didn't!  I wanted to remember that Fiona slept through almost the entire party.  That Kate was supposed to be dressed up like Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  I made her a kerchief and a little pouch which she was wearing at the beginning of the party, but took off and somehow I never did get a picture of her.  AND most important of all, even though we were stressed and at times crazy, we really did have a great time with all our friends!  I do love birthdays and parties!)  

Birthday DInner at Grandma's (and Grandpa too!)

I had all of these grandiose ideas about picture taking.  Posed shots with Grandma, the ladies, and me.  We were all somewhat coordinated.  I was going to take a birthday shot of Kate with her Grandma and Grandpa... and then well.  I didn't.  Sometimes I'm awesome at taking pictures and other times... 

Rayna was able to switch her day off and so she and Andrew were there!  We had a lovely dinner.  The girls were happy and played.  Fiona was batgirl.  Alice and Kate learned about belly button rings... um thanks Rayna!  (I suppose it wasn't that bad, they were kind of scared of it, even if it is a pretty flower!)

Cutest moment though was in the office/play room.  Rayna, Andrew and the girls were hanging out, having fun...

Kate: (talking to Rayna and Andrew) Are you two married with each other?
Rayna/Andrew: (In unison) No.
Kate: Well do you love each other?
Rayna/Andrew: (In unison) Yes.
Kate: I think you are going to get married.

So cute, so innocent, and totally unprompted.  Now listen to the smart little girl and get married, okay?!  (Oh wait, Andrew and Rayna never read my blog!)

Kate is FIVE!

Before Kate went to school I took her 5th Birthday Picture.

 Kate did not want to go to bed tonight.  She didn't want her birthday to end.  (It is like that isn't it?)  She has been anticipating this day for so long, it finally comes and then of course it has to end.  She was very happy today.  She had a great day at school.  She took cupcakes to share with her class.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the cupcake carrier full of cupcakes but I didn't!  The cupcakes were Betty Crocker rainbow bit mix enhanced with a pinterest recipe - so good.  I used my friend Rebecca McLaren's suggested icing recipe, we turned it pink and then put pink sugar sprinkles on top.  They looked pretty cute.  I was going to pipe the icing, but I didn't get a piping bag and the ziploc with the tip cut off didn't cut it!

Anyway!  Kate and Alice made pizza with their Dad for our dinner - Kate's choice.  We had broccoli too.  Then the cupcakes for dessert.  The funny thing was, she didn't really eat her cupcake.  She ate some of the icing, but not very much of it.  She just wanted to blow out the candles.  We re-lit the candles five times for her to blow out, twice for Alice, once for me, once for Ken and there might have been another time.  We all had fun blowing out candles. 

Kate said the prayer at dinner tonight.  She prayed that she could be five years old until next year on her birthday.  I thought that was really cute.  I don't want her to get any older.  I feel like she's already old enough.  Already independent enough.  Now I want to go upstairs and cuddle her! 

I am so grateful for my family.  I can't believe I have three precious daughters.  I love my girls so much.  Happy birthday my sweet Kate.  I love you more than you'll ever know!

The Birthday Questions - Kate is 5

On the Eve of her birthday I asked Kate the birthday questions.  Here are the questions and the answers!  FIVE YEARS OLD!!

1. What is your favourite color?

            Pink

2. What is your favourite toy?

            Disney Princess Castle

3. What is your favourite fruit?

            Apple

4. What is your favourite tv show?

            Jake and the Neverland Pirates

5. What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch?

            Hot dogs

 6. What is your favourite outfit?

            Pink princess shirt

7. What is your favourite game?

            Dinosaur train (on PBS kids)

8. What is your favourite snack?

            Cereal

9. What is your favourite animal?

            Birds

10. What is your favourite song?

            I am a Child of God

11. What is your favourite book?

            The Three Little Pigs

12. Who is your best friend?

            Madison

13. What is your favourite cereal?

            Mini Wheats

14. What is your favourite thing to do outside?

            Play with cars that you ride in

15. What is your favourite drink?

            Apple juice

16. What is your favourite holiday?

            Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

            Teddy bear

18. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?

            Eggs and toast

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?

            Homemade pizza

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?

            A zoo keeper

Fiona is Seven Months Old

Time moves too quickly!  Miss Fiona is still a ridiculously cute little stinker!  This past month she cut two teeth, and if I was thinking I would have tried to get a picture of them.  They are the bottom middle teeth.  She is now getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth.  She can sit up, but she still falls over lots, so I don't leave her sitting very often.  As to moving, she goes in circles really, really well, and is amazing at moving backwards.  She loves her big sisters and they love her.  I was really happy with the picture today.  I only took two!  Oh and for fun I'm including a picture of her in her super girl jammies that her Uncle Andrew bought her for Christmas.  The picture was also taken today! 

Oh and the poor little thing has a little cold and cough.  This is the second time in her short life that she's been sick.  We didn't go to church on Sunday (our first week back in Orangeville).  She was up in the night with a fever.  She sure didn't sleep very well today, but she's still been pretty happy!