Happy 5th Birthday to E!

Our little girl turned into a "handful" today! We had a fun day, made even better by the fact that M didn't have to go to school, since it was Memorial Day (which is the holiday that E was actually born on...this is the first time it's coincided with the holiday since her birth). Daddy had to go to work, but we 3 curly girls found plenty of ways to celebrate all day long.

We pretty much let E plan our day. The morning started with our favorite "Big, Puffy Pancake" followed by cartoons. Then we headed to the Super Mall, where the priority was anything but shopping! First, the girls rode the carousel. This was the first time that E was tall enough and brave enough to go on without me next to her!





We did poke into "Claire's" and find some fun stuff on big-time clearance (everybody needs a hair elastic with rainbow braids attached, right?!) and then they had to hit the candy machine with the quarters they brought from home. It was lunchtime, but we'd left our lunch in the car, so we decided to just tide ourselves over with a cool treat from Dairy Queen.





We then visited an overpriced but still fun toy store, then with minimal kicking and screaming, I pursuaded them to go into the Children's Place with me. I lured E in by saying, "Hey, look at those sunglasses!" I wanted to go in there b/c I had a 20% off the total purchase coupon that was good this month b/c of E's bday. They weren't thrilled to be in there, but perked up when we found the bright blue sequined tennis shoes (Mary Jane style) for $4.99!

We walked through the rest of the mall, right on past many stores with alluring Memorial Day sale posters displayed and kept going until we hit the remodeled play area. It is a great improvement over the last one, but it was really crowded. So crowded that I didn't even take a picture and we didn't stay very long. I must say, one thing I love about my kids is that when I say "Time to go" they rarely hassle me (when it's time to leave a park, etc. When I want them to turn off the tv and leave home, well, that's another matter. But at least in public, they play along with me!) about it.

They wanted to stop in this enormous Black Market Minerals store (rocks, etc) but we were running a little short on time.

We left the mall, and ate our lunch in the car on the way to the YMCA for E's next requested activity: swimming! Sorry, no pics of that, either! I wanted to take one of the girls in their goggles just 'cause they look so cute and funny. I got some for E today that have a pink strap and pink lenses and she loved being able to see underwater! It was great to be in the water with M and see what a good swimmer she is becoming. I get to watch her lessons from up above the pool, but she's even better up close! ;)

We swam for about an hour, then headed home. P got home about an hour later, and then E could finally open her presents! We went for quality this year, not quantity. M got her a snowglobe from Things Remembered that has a pink ballerina and plays "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" since she is having a "ballerina princess" themed party next Saturday. It's engraved to say, "E... May 26, 2008 Love, M..."



We got her a pink CTR (Choose The Right) ring. Her primary teachers make a big deal out of who is wearing their (cheap, adjustable, highly rust-able) CTR ring, and it's always a panic to find the thing. If she just leaves it on all the time, maybe we'll have better luck? (Besides, she makes me laugh...the other day, she did something good and said, "Mom! Guess what?! I just chose the right...and I didn't even have my ring on to remind me!)




The big deal present was the Barbie My Size Throne. (No, it's not a potty chair!) This thing's got it all...detachable jewelry, crown, skirt, mirror, a place for a tiny Barbie doll, and it plays a royal tune when she sits on it. It probably even has a wand somewhere that instantly cleans your room, too. The very best part was the original $65 price tag, and then the after-Christmas markdown tag of $10! I would have never considered buying it, but I couldn't resist the deal! Funny thing...she was with me when I bought it in January and she's known it was in the garage until her b'day! She's talked about it ever since, so I am glad that it lived up to her expectations. It will probably only fit her for a year, but she will get a lot of mileage out of it. I just wonder how long we'll have to refer to her as "Your Majesty?"






When I asked E what she wanted for dinner, she promptly responded "Applebee's!" She didn't have to ask me twice, esp b/c I was expecting her to say something homemade! We went early and avoided the crowd. She got a hot fudge sundae for her b'day treat from the restaurant.



E is having a bday party with her friends this coming Saturday, but she still wanted some sort of cake today. Her favorite food is strawberries, and she's fascinated with whipped cream out of a can, so I had suggested we make strawberry shortcake. She loved that idea, but when we were in the cake mix aisle, she spied the Funfetti mix and had to have it. So, we had Strawberry Funfetti Cake. Oh, and it had to be baked in my heart shaped pan. Isn't it lovely?!





How I love this girl. She is a gift and I'm so grateful for all I learn from her and all the joy I experience because of her. Happy Birthday, Curly Girl #3!