DEAR CHARLOTTE ~
I just want to say Madalyn should've been in this picture because she was the BIGGEST help
preparing everything for your party, and the most excited to watch you enjoy it.
Honey did bring the amazing candied popcorn treatbags with "princess" bows and wands, however.
There was a jewelry store, sign courtesy of Madalyn.
Featuring only the finest gems.
And pipecleaners crowns, courtesy of Jack and Momma.
And a beauty parlor, sign courtesy of Madalyn.
Drinks fit for a princess
bracelet making materials
and so on and so forth....
The princess guests were, for some reason, shy of the makeup table at first. But no bother, the "big" girls were not... as you will see by the progression of their eye shadow over the course of these photos...
The pink playdough with gold glitter was, however, an instant hit among you and your friends.
As were the crayons because, how often are we allowed to color on the table, right?
Oh yes... they're still at it... so much for "helpers."
Siena was the first to brave the table, I think? A tasteful application they gave her. And Alaina... and then "tasteful" was out the window.
Arianna gave you a Doc McStuffins kit upon arrival and you spent the remainder of your party seeing patients.
(Real men play with pink playdough, right Evan?)
And then you decided you would have your makeup session. With all your medical equipment. (Lest someone else try to give a guest a checkup.)
(Hm... I think someone's done this before.)
Beautiful.
But enough of that...
Boy, I'm so glad you went with the blue eye shadow.
After all, it matches your bow.
Your sister hosted a storytime... she made the sign, once again. I thought it was adorable. Once again.
You all were SO well behaved. For about 5 seconds.
Then you had doctor appointments to keep. Checkups that couldn't wait.
So you proceeded to tend to patients while the front row guests decided they needed to be INSIDE of the storybook and approached Madalyn.
But she was sweet and patient and passed out her handmade stick puppets and kept things moving.
FINALLY! It was cake time.
You were so excited you began blowing before we had the first line of "happy birthday" out of our mouths.
Then realized your faux paus and got a little shy.
Then fully absorbed the gravity of the moment.
A Princess. A Princess CAKE. With FIRE!
And all these beloved people in your life singing... to YOU.
That moment was worth all the work.
I think. I THINK Madalyn would probably agree.
Though she did say "was that party all you thought it would be?" to me afterwards.
And I said "a whole lot of work for us but a joy for the little girls? Yes!"
And she said "do ALL the parties feel this way- even the ones you've had for me?"
"Yes."
But then I asked her...
"Doesn't the joy it brought Charlotte make it all worth it, though?"
And she said...
"yes."
After all, she was the one who said, while icing cakes at 10 o'clock at night....
"anything for my little sister!"
And after all, she was the one who asked God to write you into our family.
It's amazing to see that you have a larger family at our church already... even at your young age.
Alaina's (pictured) mom, and Arianna's mom, and Zoey's mom, and I all met in the nursing room at church.
Nursing our little infants.
Who are now nearly three and potty-training and drinking out of big girl cups and sleeping in big girl beds...
And giving patients checkups.
And I am the one just sitting here trying to soak it all in....
Every last drop. Because every drop of you brings me immeasurable joy. I love you so.
-Mommy
