"A full hand" celebrated a little at a time

Mary Alice turned 5 two weeks and two days ago. She woke up early on her birthday morning, ready to celebrate her very special and long awaited day. Mom and dad knew Thursday Evening was going to be way too busy to have a family party, so we had a super birthday breakfast and reassured our patiently cute little girl we would have a super family cake, party and friends on Saturday. Thankfully, there were cupcakes to share with our pre-school friends for lunch. Thursday evening Mary Alice went to somebody else's party for some birthday fun and looked forward eagerly to Saturday until . . . she got sick with the flu late Thursday night. By Saturday morning, she was mostly ok, but not well enough for a party. Instead of a party, we got to celebrate with the computer. Actually that would be Grammie and Grand-dad on skype. They got to watch her open a special gift from Adam. Later in the week, Mary Alice skyped the grands again so they could watch her open their gift that had arrived in the mail. Finally, today, we had 5 little friends come dressed in their pretty things for a party - Yea!!! We found jewels for necklaces in the sand, decorated purses with our names and other sparkly things, danced with scarves and fancy hats, found treasure, had cake & icecream and opened presents. These little girls were sooooo quiet and nice and well mannered. It almost wasn't a party . . . at least it didn't sound like one after two rowdy boy parties earlier this season. The girls were pretty and everything was just "girl". What a great little gathering.

Thanks for being my little girl Mary Alice. We love you just the way you are!

Mary Alice's special birthday breakfast with the ones who love her most!
I love her pretty, bushy bead-head hair.



Pre-school birthday crown decorated by the birthday girl.

A prince from Adam . . . who do you think likes it most?

Blowing out the table candles with daddy on Saturday night.

Finally . . . the long awaited birthday cake we celebrated with today.

(Sorry there aren't any party pictures to share . . . my helper (Daddy Dave) decided to abandon party plans when he realized the moms were staying with their little girls. I think he really missed out . . . I sure wish I could have taken picts and done everything else at the same time!)