The Great EIGHT!

On May 18th... just eight days after her First Holy Communion

Abigail Mei turned eight!

I thought and thought and thought about this birthday since I knew that my focus in the spring would be this and this and this I didn't think I'd be able to 'pull off' a super birthday party.  But how could I not?  I live for children's parties.

So I did.

And this one was based on the classical children's book Eloise.



We went here back in April.



And just at this exact moment.  Her feet stopped, she turned her head around and she said to me, "mama (yes, they both call me mama... swoon)  can I have an Eloise themed birthday party." The shutter went click and the party started in my head.

I was up 4:00 am that morning starting on the party details.



And I think she came out "rawther nice" (as Elosie would say)

A friend of mine loaned me her Eloise poster that she has hanging in her classroom and I used it to create this for our game that would be later in the day.

And another teacher friend loaded me these lanterns that you see Scott hanging in the 'birthday tree'. (for any of you that are new, I call this tree the birthday tree because all of my daughters birthdays have been under and around that tree.)



As soon as we got back from church that morning we started on our set up.





Now, if you know the children's story Eloise you know that she lives in the Plaza Hotel in New York City.





And here in the plaza is a famous painting of Eloise.



But how to create a 'hotel' lobby and a hotel 'restaurant' called the "Palm Court" in your backyard?



So first we created the lobby.





Anna agreed (happily) to be the concierge.





And then the hotel enterance.





For guests to walk though.



Anna would sit at the desk and say, "welcome to the Plaza.  Do you have a reservation? Please sign in here."



And then under the tree the Palm Court Restaurant.

She is soooo Eloise in that photo!



Just a few more touches and we were New York City in our backyard!







Abigail dressed just like Eloise. (even though it was about 90 out that afternoon)



















In the story Eloise has a turtle named Skipperdee (who eats rasins)



Wishing I got a better shot of these... the favors.  They came out so cute but it sure is hard to be the event person, mama to the birthday girl, and the photographer!  Ha!





After the girls arrived and 'checked in' to the Plaza they headed over to make Champagne cork necklaces. (Eloise collects all of the champagne corks she finds in the Eloise In Paris book... and then she strings them into necklaces)







Scott ran this part of the party while I continued to welcome guest to The Plaza as they arrived.





And then my favorite part... story time. (love Abigail here)



In my best, my animated, first grade (used to be) teacher voice (love abigail's expression here too)



It's a FUN read aloud!



And then it was time for this. (the Eloise candles we got out our trip to NY in April)



I wait for that look for three hundred and sixty five days. I've got all eight birthdays of them!



It's the... "this is my moment... I'm thinking about my wish... oh this is soooo good... "









The Palm Court served pink lemmonade in real punch glasses. No paper here.





Yes, cupcakes and fruit salad, and fancy cookies, and heart sandwiches.





The cupcake toppers Anna helped me with. They are made out of copies of the book.





Oh, that's Weenie. Yes, Eloise has a pug dog in the story. And he sleeps in her doll's bed!







Frosting lickin good!





And they were gooood!







Time for an old classic... pin the (bow on Eloise)

















And then, after the little classmates checked out of The Plaza... the grandparents arrived. And Scott got to grillin.



And sweet Abigail opened up her presents. (and I love a photo that reminds me of when she was three)



Apparently that was a good present!



And then the grandparent cake.







And here we go... that look ... again. Except that this time the golden light is just right... ahh!





Only once a year... make it last! (okay, so we do it twice in one day)





And before we knew it.. the lanterns were coming down... Scott carefully putting them away.



And she stood there... just like that. Hair all a mess, shirt half out. Socks long ago abandonded. And I take a deep breath.



And thank God that she is my daughter. A gift from Him. And one that I adore.



Happy birthday sweet Abigail Mei. Mama loves you.



She turned seven here

She turned six here

She turned five here

She turned four here

And this just for cuteness.