Fancy Nancy Birthday Bash

The day had finally arrived.  After dealing with the disappointment of having to wait a week and a half after her real birthday, then getting sick and having to wait another whole week, Rose finally got to have her much anticipated birthday party.

 Rose has high expectations for pretty much everything in life.  She gets an idea in her head of how things should be and gets disappointed if they don't turn out just how she wanted.  The morning of her party, she kept telling me, "this is the best day of my life!"  This was one day I really didn't want her to be disappointed.  

Everything that she wanted to do for her party involved getting glammed up from head to toe, so we decided to base the party on one of her favorite book series...Fancy Nancy.  We invited 6 of her little girl friends over to help celebrate along with two of their moms who joined me on the glam squad.  (Paul was on baby duty).  

The girls started out the night by making beaded name bracelets.  Being fancy is all about accessories, you know!

We had a gormet meal of pizza and strawberries, with sparkling grape juice in plastic wine glasses.  I think I was more excited about their fancy drink than they were!

(*Of course we also had an "adult" drink for all the Mommies who stayed to help out.  It was a mixture of Corona Light, Vodka, and pink lemonade concentrate...pure deliciousness!)

For dessert, we had parfaits, which is a fancy way of saying ice cream sundae (as Fancy Nancy would explain).  We sang "Happy Birthday" to Rose, but had to get creative with where to place the candle since ice cream and fire don't mix well.

After dinner, it was time to get glamified! (ok, I know I totally made that up, but it just sounded fancier:).  We set up 4 stations that the girls could rotate between to make them look fabulous.  

Laura took on the role as manicurist at the nail-painting station.

Alicia at the make-up station, trying to talk the girls into a more subtle make-up look (although I don't think she was very successful!).

And I played hairstylist.

Then the girls chose from a plethera of dress-up clothes to finish off their looks so they were ready for the runway.  

And now for the fabulous fashionistas....

The birthday girl, Rosemarie

Chloe

Ava

Ceci

Madeline

Amelia

Ally

Our shy spectators, Whitney and Catherine

and our surprise grand finale....sweet Ella Bell, working the crowd!

A couple weeks later, we were talking about our favorite things we did in the summer and guess what both Rose and Ava said was their favorite...Rose's birthday party.  I guess I can say with confidence that her party was a smashing success!

Hugs!

My 6 year-old

As most of you know, Rose turned 6 on July 23rd.  She is so funny about her birthdays.  She talks about them all year long and plans what she is going to do at her next party before she even has her birthday party for this year!  She thinks about every detail and knows exactly what she wants.

About a week before her birthday she started reminding each of us to make her a card.  Each day she would ask me if I had made it yet and if I said no, then she politely reminded me that I only had a couple more days to make it, insinuating that I better get on it.  I think she has figured out that I am a procrastinator!

We did all make her a card since we knew how important it was to her.  I loved watching Paul pick out girly polka dot paper and stickers, and take the time to sit down and make something Rose would like.  So sweet!

Rose loves her birthdays because it is a day that is all about her.  She gets to do everything first.  She gets to pick what to eat.  She gets presents...she LOVES presents!  I think it is important for kids to have at least one day that is all about them, especially in big families.  I think we succeeded in making that happen.

She woke up on the morning of her birthday to a balloon bouquet, her card from Daddy, and one birthday gift.

At my workout class that morning, she told everyone it was her birthday and just smiled from ear to ear whenever anyone wished her a Happy Birthday.

After class, we picked up a Little Caesars pizza for lunch...her favorite...then headed to Chuck E Cheese with some friends for an afternoon playdate.

My two social butterflies, Rose and Madeline, both made new friends while we were there.  Madeline was so funny...it didn't matter who was on a ride, if there was room for her she would jump right up and join them.

My kids LOVE Chuck E Cheese...what kid doesn't?!  We haven't been back since Ava's party  in January, so this was a quite a big treat.

We finished off the day with a family dinner of spaghetti and meatballs and ice cream cones outside for dessert.

I was very proud of how grateful she was for everything she got to do that day and for all the gifts she received. She even did a great job sharing her new toys with her sisters.

They jumped right into their new books...I love that they love  to read!

SO excited about her Jasmine costume!

Jasmine testing out her new microphone.

Ava was our stand-up comic...she was too shy to sing.

Madeline wasn't afraid of anything...she belted out any songs we requested.

Ella just loved the flashing lights.

One happy birthday girl.

Now she is counting down the days until her Fancy Nancy party....

Hugs!