Tuesday, October 2, 2007

A Fairytale Birthday

The May Queen turns 5 tomorrow, and this weekend we were party central. I found a Cinderella themed party at FamilyFun.com, and thought "this would be fun!" And it was! We had 10 girls in the house - 3 of them were siblings of MQ's school friends, and the mothers said they would be just fine coloring in the corner, but of course we invited them to join the fun! (I knew they would be there before hand).

I kept everything moving with my magic wand in the role of fairy godmother. When the girls arrived I told them that we would be acting out the Cinderella story, and that each of them was now "Cinderella May Queen" and so forth. Of course they all remembered that as the story begins poor Cinderella is forced to clean the house by her stepmother. So I told them that I expected the place to shine, and handed them some rags. They went straight to work, zooming around the room and giggling.
Then the doorbell rang, and sitting on the doorstep was a scroll: an invitation to the ball. Since their chores were done they would be allowed to go, but the invitation said "proper dress required," and all they had were rags! Well, with the help of the fairy godmother and some mice who had worked hard the night before, they went to work making gowns fit for a ball.
Then they went to the ball, and danced about the living room. They had been told that they had to leave before midnight when their dress would turn back to rags, so when the clock (our grandfather clock in the dining room - my husband was behind the scenes!) struck midnight they all dashed into the kitchen, leaving a shoe behind. We took off the gowns and the Cinderellas were set back to cleaning.

But then! The doorbell rang again, and it was the duke (my husband, who was winning points not only with The May Queen and me but with all the jealous mothers in attendance) looking for the lovely ladies from the dance. He had to find the ladies who fit the shoes. He went around the room trying shoes on all the girls, to much more delight and giggling. Of course, eventually, all the shoes found their rightful owners.

To celebrate, we had cake and ice cream, and then opened presents. The girls all had a great time, as did the mommies (me included).

I really enjoy throwing these kinds of parties for The May Queen (Last year we had a Messy Art Party). As I was decorating the night before (11pm!) I was thinking about the time and love I was putting in to making this a fun event for my daughter, and really enjoyed it. It was a bit of work (but I saved a TON of money - I did the whole party for about $65). The May Queen was so excited about it, and she helped me put together the favors (plastic Cinderella cups filled with pencils, stickers, and coloring sheets printed off our computer - as she helped me pick which pictures to print she jumped up and down saying "Everyone is going to have so much fun at my party!"). She helped me bake the cake. She was so excited about what her Daddy was going to do that she sometimes told secrets ("Someone is picking up all our shoes!") I know that this is the sort of thing she will remember for years. Sure, she loves going to the parties the other kids have with the bounce houses or at the gymnastics center. But I get great joy out of planning a special party just for her - not breaking the bank or going overboard, but planning something especially for HER - and hope to do so for as long as she'll let me.

Tomorrow we'll have a quiet celebration at home - eating her favorite food (Macaroni and Cheese, of course!), opening a few gifts, and decoration cupcakes (her request).

33 comments:

Wayfarer Scientista said...

wow - that sounds like a wonderful and most imaginative party. I'm sure the May Queen will remember most how much her parents loved her that they both did all those things just for HER.

Beck said...

What an amazing party! It sounds EXACTLY PERFECT for a five year old.
What a sweetie your girl is - happy birthday to her.
(and yep, my mortgage is that. Which would be why we live in Little Town and how we can cheerfully live on one income, eh?)

niobe said...

Happy almost-birthday, MQ!

So creative. This is the kind of party that creates memories that MQ (and probably the other girls as well) will cherish forever.

Suz said...

What a great party and you got the house swept! I'm sure that MQ had a wonderful time - she looks so incredibly happy.

Rima said...

Yes, that sounds like exactly the kind of party she'll always remember. It's one thing to have a themed party, but another entirely to add the personal touches that you did. I can just imagine how happy MQ must have been. She is lucky to have such loving and creative parents!

Anonymous said...

Oh that sounds fun! Makes me wish my little girl was that age again! I just can't convince her that every girl turning eleven wants a dress up party!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Happy Birthday little May Queen! OH what a blast that looked like for her.

And how clever you are with preparing all of that! That was priceless!

Amy Y said...

You are brilliant! Just brilliant! What a fantastic party... Your daughter is one lucky lil lady! :)

Magpie said...

That sounds like an awesome party. Nice job.

Christine said...

you're wonderful! i love this idea.

especially the part where they clean the house!

soccer mom in denial said...

What I love is that you didn't succumb to lots and lots of Cinderella, um, stuff for the kids. We just went to a Harry Potter themed party in which the "goodie bags" were more expensive than the gifts we brought (each boy brought the birthday kid a paperback book and a small, inexpensive outdoor thing - e.g. a $4 compass). One mom told me that the wooden "magic wand" each kid got cost $15 a piece and over 20 kids were at the party!!!!!!

Thank you for making such an awesome and creative party.

Aliki2006 said...

It sounds perfect--lovely, and just so memorable. I love throwing birthday parties, too--I'll have to keep your wonderful ideas in mind!

Happy birthday to your girl!

Jennifer said...

A party where the kids sweep?! I love it!! Seriously, what a fun, fun party for your almost five-year-old girl. You rock, Mama!

Ms. Skywalker said...

Can you plan my next birthday party?

Pretty please?

Candygirlflies said...

That looks AWESOME!!! Wish we were closer-- my girlies and I would have LOVED to join in the fun...

Happy birthday to May Queen, and happy birthday to you, too, PM... How does it feel to have been a mum for half a decade??!! You did it!! Beautifully. Congratulations.

(wineglass raised ;) )

Emily said...

Most ingenuitive!
And your MQ is precious...she looks just like Cinderella.

Happy Happy Day, MQ!

Jen said...

What a magical birthday!

N. said...

Now THAT'S a party. Long on imagination and fun, short on cost! Fit for a May Queen, indeed. Good job.

Bayou Belle said...

I would expect nothing less from you! You know I am right with you on planning that party at home and making it a BIG PRODUCTION! More memorable and less expensive. Although, my girl told me today that she wanted her next birthday at Chuck E Cheese and I tried hard to sound excited and hide my disappointment. I have to think of something grand to sway her and plan it at home! Not that I don't want to give her what she wants, but there will be time for Chuck E later.

ewe are here said...

What a fantastic idea for a party! Sounds like a room full of vbery happy little girls.

Do you hire out?

Victoria said...

What a creative mom you are! And MQ is so lucky! My mom used to throw parties like this for me, and I carry on the tradition with my kids. I LOVE throwing kid parties - ones that aren't all pre-packaged. Yours was so clever and personal. Good job!

Chrissy said...

What a great party! I love the part your husband played with the shoes. So creative.

b*babbler said...

What an amazing, creative birthday party. Go you!

And the May Queen is just adorable!

Furrow said...

That is the most fantastic birthday party I've ever heard of! She'll surely remember it forever. And I may totally copy your idea you at some point in the future. Hey, you even got your house cleaned!

Happy Birthday, MQ!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday MQ!

I agree, creative at-home parties are the best and most memorable. It's something I'm glad I'm able to do for my kids, too.

Anonymous said...

And your comment at jen's was just perfect!

thirtysomething said...

How fun!

amanda said...

I am turning 34 on sunday and that party would make me very happy. Could you maybe arrange for a handsome single prince to find my shoe- I will break out the silver slippers just for the occasion....

Run ANC said...

Your party reminded me of the parties in the book "The Brightening Glance". Have you read it? I think you would REALLY like it.

Heidi Hyde said...

What a perfect day! I can't wait until my onion is old engough to enjoy birthday parties!

-HH

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

GREAT Idea. I may just steal it in a few years. Or any story that they like... brilliantly executed.

Jen said...

How wonderfully cool! What fun. When my German exchange daughter was living with us, she put on a "secret agent" party for my then turning-9-year-old son. He and his friends LOVED it! The girls look so happy!

carrie said...

Happy Birthday to your little princess! What a cool party you gave her, and you're right, she'll remember it forever.