Doves birthday party

My sweet Amrita reminded me that I had not posted Dove's Birthday Party.

Dove helped with the cake and I frosted it as per her desire.
It was to be pink with vines and thorns all around it and little hearts on it.
Her name is on the top so I can not show that vantage, but the top layer is a heart.
The lettering is done in the brown frosting.
This is a confetti cake it is full of all colored sugar chips in a vanilla cake, the frosting is home made butter cream.

We have a tradition in our family. Birthday parties are about celebrating those that we love. Our party plans center around the guest instead of the birthday child. I believe that this balances the children and keeps them from greed and expectations. Expectations are one of the biggest temptation to disappointments that can set us up for bad attitudes and behaviors.
At this party Dove wanted to have free play for the children.
She asked me that if Dash is with a child outside playing that I not call them in. She asked that I let the children just play where and with whom they wanted.
I had one plan that was for the needs of a child who wanted to give a gift of action.

This young man gave Dove the gift of a song he had been practicng just for her
The song was "Stand by me"...
We opened presents.

After free play , we recieved and opened the many thoughtful and generous gifts. This is how Dove chose her party, she felt that the kids would enjoy it first, more than the food. Kids really enjoy watching their gifts being opened. They want to know if the recipient likes it. We as adults are the same way. You may not relize this but children stress out over this concern often spoiling the fun they could be having.

She was so happy to recieve her wishes.
This is a pen that is also a game.

The children all got very silly.

We adults then began the surgery required to extricate the gifts from the anti theft packageing. There were two other mothers with Daddy Man and I. We adults all enjoyed our time as the children simply were children without a time line or expectation. This really was nice. Dove was very pleased with her party planning.

Propper silly party hats were attired.

This is a bedtime lamp we gave her (unfortunatly she likes to sleep with a full 20watt bulb bright in her eyes it is the sensory thing.) for her room.

The boys rendition of a party hat.

This friend Then lead us in a round of Happy birthday. I was so proud of him for he practiced great courage. He had been practicing to play at her party for several weeks. It was his motivation. A gift of heart so graciously recieved.
We then blew out candles and had cake and ice cream or pop cycles.

This little sweetie is doning a very attractive hat.
She came to me for her photo op and approval.
She is the sweetest kid!

This attractive "carrot top" was thrilled when I made his day by tieing the tissue paper to his head. He just wore it all day! His joy so expressive.
Dove gave out goodies or gift bags. Gifting her friends with the things that bring her simple pleasure. This year it was an activity book, crayons, a healthy organic snack cracker,
a F.R.O.G. ( Fully Rely On God) wrist band, and a little plastic frog.

The next day was her real day of birth
We started the day working on the coop


by
Mid afternoon the Grandparents came over.

They gave gifts of sweet kindness, Grandmother gave Dove a hand made pillow she had designed and the puppy stuffed toy from the Littlest pet shoppe.

This puppy has a web sight for Dove to go to and play games. I am very careful about her going on line.

I wish I could show you this but I need to be discrete.
It is designed and hand made with a ton of thoughtfulness and love.

Daddy and I then gave her our gifts.

To her joy I was able to find some very cute outfits when I was out with my girlfriend last week.

She really appriciates all the wonderful gifts that were given to her.
We all had a spaghetti and marinara sauce supper followed by cake and ice cream.
Later after the folks left we all had a nice movie night and showers and story time.
She really enjoyed her weekend.