It's not news that I struggle with birthdays. While I am so grateful to have healthy, thriving kids and I wouldn't want them to not be growing, birthdays have a way of really making it obvious exactly just how fast time defiantly marches on.
In particular, I've struggled with C4's and Renna's. When Renna turned one it was h-a-r-d. When she turned two I mourned leaving Babyhood behind, knowing I wouldn't be returning. Now this year- *4*- I struggled to leave Toddler Town in the rearview. I've been a mom to toddlers for 16 years and now that chapter has closed.
All of a sudden, Renna is tall and thin. She does everything on her own. Her vocab, wit, mannerisms all of sudden seem all grown up. The chub is gone from her face and hands and she is... a big girl. She'll always be my baby, but it's more and more painfully obvious that she isn't. The silver lining is that some of the more challenging, typical 3 year old antics are already waning.
She struggled with a cold the day of her birthday- a Sunday. Actually, she came into my room at 6:45, crawled up next to me, and slept for another hour. It was a nice treat to me from the birthday girl, who rarely slows down long enough for frivolous snuggling.
We started with scrambled eggs and a birthday donut as we flew out the door. The tiara and singing "Happy Birthday" made her grin from ear to ear.
We were out the door early for Rocco's hockey jamboree.
The Evolution of Her Party
To say that she anticipated her birthday would be an understatement. It was more like a 3 month launch. She could.not.wait. She would decide what she wanted to do for her birthday and then change her mind. And then change her mind again. The most often reoccurring choice was Chuck E. Cheese. About a month before I found out that Milo would be in town for the weekend. I thought, "Perfect! Milo and Sienna...Team 2012. They can play at CEC for an hour, have a cupcake...done! Renna will be thrilled.
I had a small window. Andrea was flying in from Florida around 1pm and Nick and Katie needed to head back to Boston at a reasonable time. Oh, but my kids had Passion rehearsal from 2-3:30pm. And I needed to be at rehearsal until 5 or 6. Hmmm... The plan: Colombo can handle this. I'll make cupcakes the night before. Colombo and the kids can meet up with cousins and do CEC for Renna.
Well, then I got to thinking that the Cour kids would also be at rehearsal, so why not have Colombo take them along as well while Shaun finished rehearsal. Well, if I invite the Cour kids I should definitely at least throw it out to the Bourquin's, even though it's far for them to come. So I sent out a very official *email* invitation to "Renna's not-really-a-party birthday party."
About 4 days prior, Karen emailed me to ask for the details for Renna's party. Well, if I'm going to throw it out to the grands, I should throw it out to ALL the grands.
Sure enough, even with short notice, no expectations, no handmade invitations, and nothing pinned on a Pinterest board, EVERYONE came to Renna's not-really-a-party birthday party!!!! Except for me!!! But actually rehearsal got out early so we could paint the stage and I made it over to CEC in time to say goodbye to everyone.
In the end, it
was perfect! (Except for the adults who were mildly traumatized by CEC!) Sometimes things just have a way of working out like that. I'm so thankful for every single family member who made it a priority and came to celebrate. Renna felt special and honored and it was nice to celebrate with extended family on her actual birthday. Thanks, FAM!!! Shout out to C4 for the party store run, Maddy for taking pictures, and Colombo tolerating and executing all of my control-freak (hard to throw a not-a-party when you're not there!) instructions and hosting everyone.
Had I 'planned' something, it would have looked very different, but this day- this evolution- it all worked out!
I LOVE this picture. Such a 'picture' of cousin love that my kids are privileged to be growing up with.
All the kids conspired to pool their tickets together and give the prizes to Renna. So sweet!
From CEC, the eight of us went to the Outback for dinner. Such a special time around that table.
Nicknames: Stinky, Rink, Rinky, Suzie (from C4), Marink, Ren-Ren
Renna, what's your favorite...
snack? yogurt- strawbeddy and bluebleddy
ice cream? banilla and sparkles rainbow
movie/show? Doggy ones, dats it.
favorite color? pink and purpo
song? tap, tap, tap- like in my competition
drink? chockit milk
favorite thing to eat? just dinner- pasta
candy? I fink lollipops.
What I want to remember:
~the way you sing the Fifty Nifty states song
~your obsession with Halloween and Santa this year
~how much you loved Maizy
~listening to you talk to telemarketers on the phone
~you sleeping in your castle on your big girl bed
~your obsession with all dogs and how you have to stop to pet every single one
~your great care for you dolls, especially Charlotte, Amelia, and Payson
~the way you squeal 'my girl!' when Maddy walks in the door
~"Just only the girls!"
~your mildly inappropriate phrases like "So long, suckers!!!" and "Don't you Scarlet me!"
~your phase of standing in a tree pose for every picture
~your 'fresh' edge: So long, suckers! - Relax, Mom! - Mommy, it sounds like you need a nap.
~the miles and miles you logged on your bike
~the hours you logged in your blue tube in the pool
~your special days with Mrs. Essick and friends at the nursing home like Chief
~the way you keep up; there is NOTHING you cannot do
~the special bond you have with each of your siblings
~your fearlessness, strength, and determination
~how much joy you bring to each one of us every single day
Are you scared of anything? Maybe a tiger.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Umm. Five.
What does Daddy do at work all day? Work.
What's your favorite toy to play with? With a baby.
Who is your best friend? My best friend is Sienna. She plays with my baby dolls with me. She plays sister and mom with me. She can sleepover next time.
