It was a party celebrating Ellie's birthday.
On her birthday it was a fun day complete with me visiting her classroom to read one of her favorite books, Katie and the Spanish Princess, to her class. Then, we headed out to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants which was Ellie's choice for her birthday dinner. And then she asked us to tell them it was her birthday. Of course, once the big pink sombrero was put on her head, everyone started singing, and people in the restaurant turned to watch her, she regretted her decision. Fortunately the sombrero was huge and she was able to adequately hide from everything under it. Well, lesson learned.
We came home for cake and presents. She was so happy with all the gifts and after spending the rest of her birthday evening putting Playmobil together, she got up early and put her Lego Frozen castle together to play with it.
After music theory class and Calvin's nap, we headed out to get Ellie's big birthday present. Since she knew they existed (about age 2) she has been asking for an American Girl doll. We told her way back when she started asking that she had to be able to read the books by herself before she could get one. Well, starting just after Christmas she asked to go to the library to check out some American Girl books. And just like that she read 3 books, completely by herself. She did some research in store and in the catalogs and decided that she wanted the BeForever American Girl Doll, Julie. So she finally got her own American Girl doll, and thanks to some birthday cash from Aunt Susie, she also got Julie's pet rabbit.
Ellie's birthday party was scheduled for February 27 at Kidds Jewelry Heist, a jewelry making studio in South Pasadena. We had never visited the studio to make anything, but we had walked past and through it several times and everytime we always thought it was cute and looked like fun. And when I told Ellie that they host parties there, she was sold! So Saturday afternoon, Ellie and 7 of her friends gathered to make jewelry.
It was one of the best parties I have ever hosted, let alone attended. For two hours the staff had Ellie and her friends happily occupied. First they chose beads and charms for bracelets, then a necklace, then they picked out chains for their necklaces. And the beads and charms were all so unique and special. There were charms that were pretty, there were charms that represented extracurricular activities (soccer, gymnastics, music), all sorts of fun stuff. Every kid was excited and engaged as they went treasure hunting and put together their jewelry. It was fun to watch as each kid designed their jewelry; some were very designed, symmetric, and coordinated while others were a cacophony of color and various sized beads. I feel like I learned quite a bit about each and every kid who attended the party.
After cupcakes (and I will forever apologize to E that I didn't read the candle package and mistakenly purchased trick candles which made her frustrated) was the nicest part of the party. The jewelry studio staff asked each party guest to pick out a bead that they thought represented Ellie and then as they presented the bead to Ellie they told her why they picked it. I really wish I had written everything down as it was so sweet. One friend gave Ellie a big pink bead because they knew Ellie really liked the color pink; a heart was picked and the friend said Ellie was her best friend; a bead that was full of glitter and was sparkly was selected because it made her friend happy, just like Ellie always makes her. There were other comments such as Ellie was a good helper in the classroom. It was really sweet. Then, using the beads picked by friends and then a super special charm that Ellie picked, the staff made Ellie a super special necklace.
I think 7 is gonna be a good year!
