Let's Party

MadHatter has never really had a birthday party.  Don't get me wrong, we have celebrated, and celebrated big - she turned 5 on the Disney Cruise for goodness sakes.  I don't feel like she has been deprived in any way.  But she had not yet been able to pick the venue and decide on a theme.  She had never been allowed to decide the guest list (until now it was mostly family or our friends, not hers).  But finally, this was her year, her birthday to plan.  And she knew exactly what she wanted from the moment I gave her the go ahead.

She chose Beckiland.  An indoor play space that has climbing walls, and huge trampolines, and bouncing slides.  Heaven for children.  But it is also dark and stark and very germy.  The parents mostly hate it.  But we tolerate it for our children.  And if this was going to make her happy, who were we to say no.  And thankfully, Beckiland has an animal/jungle theme going, which is what MadHatter chose for her party.

Two weeks after her actual birthday, we welcomed 16 of her friends for an afternoon of wild fun.  We had pizza, we had not one, but two cakes, and we sent home some rosy cheeked little kids. When I asked MadHatter if it was all she had wanted it to be, she smiled and said, "Yes, and so much more".

Happy 7th MadHatter.  I hope all of your wishes come true!

Seven

She is Seven.  And thrilled.  Can you tell? 

We told her that her birthday was hers to plan.  The only caveat was that we did it all as a family.  And she didn't hesitate for a second.  She had it all planned out in a matter of moments -  pancakes that spelled Happy Birthday for breakfast, followed by present opening, a movie matinee at the theater where she would have candy, not popcorn, with it all culminating in a late lunch at Hard Rock Cafe where they would sing to her while she ate an ice cream sundae.

Gotta love a girl that knows what she wants.

And it's exactly what she got.  ON her birthday.  

But the day before we had a little surprise for her.  We told her that we were going to L and R's house for pizza night.  She was super happy as she loves to play with their boys.  Little did she know that there was a bit more to it than that.  L and R had set up a Parisian birthday surprise for her.  

We kept her up in the playroom while waiting for everyone to arrive.  When it was time for the big party reveal, we had everyone sneek downstairs and wait for her to be brought in.  

She opened the door and we all yelled Surprise (so loudly that we scared the littlest of the girls).  MadHatter was very surprised indeed.  And a bit unsure of how to react to all of the attention.  But she adapted quickly and we went about our party.  Which even included face painting by our wonderful friend H!  We all had such a great time.  And when I sent Stinkerbell off to put her shoes on to go home, we found her with one boot on and sound asleep at the front door.

As requested.

Number 7.  She was so happy to add this to her train Nana and Grampa!

That looks says, "Don't Touch, Stinkerbell"

A hug for the perfect present from her sister.

What girl wouldn't want a stuffed shark for her wall?

The movies - Penguins of Madagascar.

We were lucky enough that J (and her mom and dad E and J) could meet up with us after the movie.

Happy Birthday to my BIG girl.  I have loved you since that first moment and I will love you forever.  I am so proud to be your Mami (your spelling).   I hope your birthday was everything you had hoped it would be!