A Royal Birthday Party

Earlier this month we celebrated yet another birthday with one of

our good friends.

It was a royal party with a very special guest!

It also posed somewhat of a dilemma for me as a parent which I will get to later.

The Birthday Girl

Cinderella arrived to much fan-fare and took some time for a few photo ops.

Cinderella led the party crowd in

few fun songs and dance routines.

Clara Rose was happy to join in- but Josie tended to hang off to the side as she often

does when presented with a new person who she does not know.

Soon it was time for cake!

While everyone enjoyed cake, Cinderella amzed the crowd with her

face/arm painting talents.

'Most' of the girls requested a princess to be painted on their arm.

I say most, because, two of the girls did not--

namely my two.

So what did Josie and Clara Rose request for their painting?

Josie, being very descriptive asked for

a monkey walking away from a castle.

Clara Rose was more than thrilled to have a

sparkling Penguin painted on her arm.

Next Cinderella showed off more of her

Princess skills by making balloon animals.

Still more-- a pinata filled with yummy treats!

Lastly, the girls were very happy to give the Birthday Girl her present from them.

My Dilemma-- my question . . .

Am I being negligent as a parent?

As most of my friends know, I am not all that 'into' the Princess thing. It isn't that I am anti-Princess (OK, maybe a little) I was a big fan of the Grimms version and was not too happy with the Disney interpretations.

I have been told by one co-worker that I am taking away their ability to

hope and dream by not doing more with the Princess thing.

I'm not quite buying into that either.

  As it has worked out-- Neither Josie or Clara Rose are all that into Princesses either.

Not that they aren't exposed to Princesses-- they go to Preschool and PreK.

They see the stuff that their friends at school have.

We've watched a couple Princess movies and Josie

tends to ask how much longer the movie will be.

So, at this party-- both of my girls had very little, if any, idea of who Cinderella is and why everyone was making such a fuss (at least until the fun stuff started).

I felt a little guilty that all of the other girls were sooo excited and mine were more like,

"Who? What?"

And, at this point with Clara Rose, I am kind of thinking that I would happily trade Dora for the Princesses!

Please Read This

Below is a link to a letter written by an Adoptee. It does a wonderful job of covering a lot of points, thoughts, feeling that our adopted children very well may have one day regarding being adopted.

 

I find this article to be quite insightful and I hope my friends and family who read my blog also find some value in the words written.

 

Below is just the preface, if you will, the link to the full article is at the end.

 

An open letter to APs, PAPs, 

and anyone who has even considered adoption

What you are about to read may shock you. It may challenge you. And, hopefully, it may inspire you to educate yourself further on the realities of adoption. Please read the following with an open mind, and try not to take anything said here personally. Because this is not meant to be an attack or a judgment; it is meant to be an honest and heartfelt expression of one adoptee's experience that would hopefully bring understanding and respect for the often ignored portion of the adoption equation.

http://iadoptee.blogspot.com/2011/12/please-read-this.html

Oh Christmas Tree

We are fast on track to welcome Santa and all the wonders of the

Chirstmas Season.

Gabrielle took charge of hanging the lights on the tree

and I think this was the least stressful light hanging

we have ever had!

Everyone was feeling the spirit!

Soon we began hanging ornaments on the tree.

The last touch--

Topping the tree with our Star-- by none other than  . . .

one of our little stars!

A few picutres in front of our

decorated masterpiece!

A quick appearance by the reclusive GeGe.

Some snacks and a little relaxation

enjoying the delights of

the season.

Christmas Season Kick-Off

The day after Thanksgiving is our Christmas kick-off Day and I'm talking

Black Friday sales either!

We get our tree and start in with all the festivities!

That night the girls and I went to a nearby

Shrine that decorates to the rim with Christmas lights.

It is unseasonably warm in our area so it

was a really pleasant night for walking.

There were so many different light displays!

Really hard to capture with my cheap little camers--

not to mention my photography skills (I don't really have any!).

The girls and their friends had a great time

walking around looking at all the pretty lights.

The following day I took the girls to a Christmas fundraiser at

a Horse Farm.

There was lots to do!

Face painting!

Josie is very descriptive.



I'll have a Christmas tree riding a rainbow shooting star.

I like Rudolph!

Oh Clara Rose-- she just quit singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reighndeer" about 2-months ago.

Now he is back!

The girls were able to visit with Santa.

Being silly with balloons while waiting in line to get . . .

Some super-duper fancy balloon animals.

I mean REALLY!!!???

Has anyone ever seen balloon animals like THESE?

Of course, a trip to a horse farm isn't complete without actually

riding on a pony!

Thrills galore!

ThanksGiving Party Dance

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family.

Most people complain about their in-laws-- not so in our family,

We spent the Holiday at my Sister-in-Law's-- In-Law's!

There is one for the books.

The younger set had a great time being silly together.

Miss Emily pretending she is a kitty.

Clara Rose showing off some of her gymnastics abilities.

Nate getting his groove on!

Several of the youngin's with Nate and Emily's Pa Pa.

It was a fun day with lots to eat

 and

Lots of time to play!

A Tangled Birthday Party

Life is busy busy in our family from just before Halloween through about mid-Februray.

Catching-up a bit, the girls had a wonderful time at their friend's

Tangled themed Birthday Party.

It was a super fun party complete with a magician!

Josie and Clara Rose were both tickled pink with this show!

Clara Rose was even asked to assist! 

It was a rip-roaring good time!

He even made balloon animals and figures-- which has become somewhat

of a theme all in itself this holiday season.  More to come on that in future posts.

The guests were ready for cake

and they were NOT disappointed! 

This was some cake!

Decorated like the tower from Tangled!

Very Impressive!

Back at home the girls let loose with a few more sillies

from their goodie bags . . .

Then settled in for some snuggles and

bedtime cartoons.