A Birthday Party for Leo

Last week we awoke one morning to 3-4 inches of snow outside. The girls were so excited. Hailey quickly ate breakfast and the next thing I knew she came bounding down the stairs in her snow gear ready to play. I helped Keira get ready and then sent them both outside to play while I cleaned up breakfast. That play lasted a whole 10 minutes before they were inside asking for hot chocolate. What were we going to do with the rest of our day!? I had no desire to leave the house, nor did I have anywhere to be. A day at home it was, but doing what?

And then Hailey informed me that it was Leo's birthday. (Leo is Hailey's imaginary friend Dideh's cousin. Don't be mistaken, Leo is a girl, Dideh is a boy. Leo is also Hailey's friend and occasionally comes around without Dideh. We don't see as much of them as we used to, but she still brings them up now and again.) 

Hailey began straightening up, even washing the banister, getting ready for our "visitors" who were coming to help celebrate Leo's birthday. And then she said we needed to decorate. That girl is all about the decorations. So, decorate we must.

Now, to be honest, I REALLY was not in the mood for partying and decorating that morning. I was not in a fun-mom mood. But... she REALLY wanted to, and what the hey, maybe it would pull me out of my funk. So... to the basement we went to gather streamers, gift bags, a plastic tablecloth, and even a happy birthday banner. Hailey directed the decorating and I followed directions, adding my own input here and there. 

After the decorating was done, we needed cupcakes. What is a birthday party without cupcakes!? Lucky for those girls I had froze leftover cupcakes from Keira's birthday a few months before. We pulled out three cupcakes and quickly defrosted them in the microwave. We had cupcakes, but we didn't have frosting. What we did have was the next best thing: Nutella. I spread a nice layer of Nutella on top and added a little shower of sprinkles. 

Quickly this birthday party evolved from being for Leo, into being for both Hailey and Keira. Each of them wanting to blow out a candle. So, to avoid any sort of fight, plus who cares, we're already eating cupcakes at 10:30 am for no reason other than the 5 year old suggested it, I placed one candle in each of the girls' cupcakes. We lit them on fire, because why have a candle with no fire? We sang a jolly round of Happy Birthday to You, stopping halfway to relight Keira's candle which she prematurely blew out.

And then the presents. Of course there had to be presents. Hailey put some of the girls toys in bags and stuffed in streamers and blankets to act as tissue paper. There were four presents, two for each girl to open. It was funny how excited they were about it, even though it wasn't anything new. Maybe I'll have to try that at their next real birthday. ;)

After Hailey opened her presents she exclaimed, "Now I'm six!" and then Keira chimed in with "I six too!" Wait! Stop! Don't grow up so fast! At least give me this year to enjoy before you add another year!

It was nearing lunchtime and I decided it had suddenly become a very special day, which requires a special lunch. We made personal pizzas and picnicked in front of the projector for a movie. Making their own pizzas is always a hit at lunchtime. We do it a couple times a month. It never grows old, not even for me. 

So, what began as a "I-don't-want-to-deal-with-today" day for me, blossomed into a morning of fun and even spilled over a bit into the afternoon. Sometimes it pays to listen to the 5 year-old's suggestions. Thanks for the fun day Hailey!