March 1, 2009

Today we threw a party so that Grace's friends could come celebrate her birthday with her. We were so glad to find a local used book store that was just perfect -- free, beautiful, and closed to customers during our party. It was snowing and that was a nice end-of-winter treat, we felt like we were in some cozy snow globe with the plate glass windows at the front of the shop overlooking the lake.

Anna, Charlie, Abby, Ally, Ashlyn, Scout, Suki, Anu and Grace work on making bookmarks while the other guests arrive.

Cynthia holds on to Kate.

Anna, Zoe, Abby, Anu, Briar, Suki and Mia at the craft table.

When everyone had arrived, we read some of our favorite books -- The Gruffalo, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, and Who Stole the Cookie. I was very relieved when Shannon offered to do the reading -- she's a former school teacher and awesome at pulling a group of excited four year olds together.

There are no photos at all of the book sharing game we played -- it was very fun but very busy. We made little tickets with a child's name on each one along with a vintage illustration from a children's story. I could have scrawled the names on old newsprint with a ballpoint pen for all that turned out to matter, though. They loved choosing names from a bowl and coming up to choose a book from the basket to take home.

Grace was excited about the cupcakes but did not want to hear everyone sing the birthday song. She blew out her candle and made a wish and then I went to get cupcakes for everyone else.

We put a different tiny book cover on each cupcake -- surprisingly, there were three separate requests for the Clifford cupcake and it had to go to the first bidder.

I just love how Suki peeps over her sister's shoulder to see the cupcake.

Anu, Joseph and Zoe milling about.

Beth reads a story to Owen and Mia.

Ashlyn and Grace by the table -- and Suki may have learned to use a straw for the first time today! It was kind of hard to tell if she was using it properly or just squeezing the juice out of the box and up the straw.

A sweet shot of Scout reading.

Grace gives Anu a favor booklet. We made book plates and stickers for each child and then put in some candy buttons and a packet of flower seeds.

Anu and Grace.

Oh, the look on Grace's face here. This was toward the end of the party and there were a lot of requests from other parents and me for specific shots. Here, Scout, Grace and Ally do their best.

Miss chocolate face gets a hug from her friend Ashlyn.

Grace gives Joseph his favor booklet.

Sam reminds me so much of David as a boy -- here, he and Grace take a quick picture together.

Kate looks so, so tired. All of the excitement was a bit much for her. Luckily, there was another room in the bookstore filled with stacks of books for parents to look at when their children needed a wee break from party time.

A cross looking Suki but not bad for Grace and me.

She was so happy with her party. We've noticed that if there is a big build up to an event Grace develops a fair amount of social anxiety. Today we told her that we were playing a game of hide and seek. I was going to go to a fun place and it was up to the four I left at home to come and find me. Grace came along to the book store and said "Hi Mom! This looks like a fun party." We told her it was to celebrate her birthday and there was a seamless transition. She had a blast and we didn't have to deal with the unpleasantness of the anxiety. It feels like a tricky solution but when you know she'll have a great time -at- the event but not so much looking -toward- the event, it makes sense.

Sean and Zoe couldn't wait for Grace to open her presents from them. All of the other guests had departed and so we opened those two.

She loved her new gardening set and her animal craft kit!

Our friends helped load the car with David while I stayed at the book store with the girls.

Then we all headed back to the car. Zoe came along for part of the walk.

The best shot from an ill-advised attempt to get one picture of all five of us.