Clare turned three! Hooray for three! We were sooooo excited about this birthday. Seriously, this has been the most anticipated birthday in McPherson family history. We have been talking about Clare’s birthday for months and months now. Really ever since Maddy’s birthday every single day at the dinner table we’ve practiced singing Happy Birthday, we’ve talked about the party, and Clare has been very specific about what she wants.
This has been a big birthday for me because I realized that this is the first one that Clare will remember. She gets it now, has been looking forward to it, and will remember this day. So I really wanted it to be special for her. I put quite a bit of thought into how to make it a special, memorable, out-of-the-ordinary day on an appropriate scale for a three-year-old so it wouldn’t overwhelm her.
Fortunately for me, Clare was very specific about what she wanted. Clare wanted a party with presents and friends. She wanted everyone to sign happy birthday to her. She wanted decorations. And she wanted cake, pie and ice cream. Yes, all three. Chocolate please. Chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting, chocolate pie and chocolate ice cream. OK then Birthday Girl, if you say so.
So we started off the Birthday with ice cream before breakfast – what a treat. When I told Clare that today was her birthday she looked at me with bright eyes and said “Really? Is today really, really my birthday?” When I assured her that it was actually, really her birthday she started singing Happy Birthday to herself (the first of about 25 times it was sung that day) and dancing around.
I put a lot of thought of what to do at Clare’s birthday to make it a special experience tailored to our girl. Her favorite things are animals and music, so I considered having pony rides for the kids. I ultimately decided to book a local children’s music act to play to showcase Clare’s love of music. The Alphabeticians didn’t disappoint and everyone loved them.
A funny story about that though – Clare and I went to see them at a local library about a month ago. She didn’t especially like the show. I asked her if she wanted them to to come and play at her birthday. She told me No, she didn’t want them at her birthday. But, after some consideration, she did want two ladies to come and play music at her party. Yeah… I had already put the deposit down, so we spent the next few weeks getting her used to the two guys by listening to their music and going to other shows.
And then came the part Clare was waiting for – the dessert! When I asked her a few days ago what her favorite part of the party was – “The chocolate cake and pie.”
While Clare’s favorite part may have been the cake and pie, she did get a present or two (or more). J and I got her a mini-piano, which she loves. Papa and Oma got her a plethora of books (the key to her heart) including the most precious scrapbook lovingly made by Oma. Teresa got her a bag filled with every moose item imaginable, and Clare told me later that was her favorite gift.
Well, maybe her other favorite was the Helicopter from Grandma and Grampa! Of course, with all the best gifts it involved several hours of assembly. It took two engineers and a nurse to put it together, with some supervision from Great-Grandma and Sammy.
The finished product – and a happy girl. Lots of playtime spent on this already.
Phew – one little girl sufficiently celebrated and spoiled. (Two very tired parents.)