Dahlia Rae is Four!

Piloting a Pixieland Plane has been part of the birthday fantasy for months

Here they come!

Pixieland Crew taking a snack break

Dinner at Salvatores. Dinner out with kids is really not that fun/easy right now. But cucumber martinis were yum.

Happy Birthday, Dahlia! Daddy (and Dahlia) made 3 of these sheet cakes from scratch. Chocolate, chocolate, D's fave.

D's dress up clothes being enjoyed by some cute girls. This was before the princess dance party started.

Just swingin' and being fancy

Bouncy Castle fun

Grandpas bounce, yes they do!

Dahlia and Avi, friends since the womb, 5 days apart in age.

 

Fancy Family Foto. Oh the drama involved in getting D to take this picture at the end of the day.

Our little girl munchkin celebrated another birthday this past weekend. Birthdays for Dahlia are much anticipated events now and I can't remember the last time any birthday had so much build up ever in the history of birthdays. So it was good she had about 3 days of celebrating. Friday kicked it off with her school celebration with her class. Saturday was her actual birthday. We went out for bagels with the family (G & G, Tia, and Tio were all in town) and then headed to Pixieland (kid's amusement park) with her friend Marianne, followed by a pasta dinner out on the town with all the family. Sunday was her party with her friends, a "fancy" themed party where for one day I (among others) did not disappoint my fancy little girl with my usual un-fancy clothes--many of us went all-out with fancy dresses, frilly shoes, sparkly jewelry, and bow-ties. We know she had a blast, and so did we.

A bit about the 4 year old, little Dahlia Rae:
This girl likes to be fancy. Dresses everyday are essential. Accessories are important, but she feels very strongly about not overdoing them. One necklace usually, maybe 2 bracelets. If she changes outfits midday, the jewelry changes. Picking out her outfit is something she often talks about the night before. Sometimes she puts together things that look really great, other times they border on embarrassing. For the record, I really do not perpetuate this. It's a genuine interest that comes from a place I hardly understand. Apparently her Auntie understands, big time, but I was never like this. And from my own mama, I have learned how important it is for self image and confidence to go with an interest rather than try to squash it just because I don't necessarily share it. I do draw the line when she digs out bridesmaid dresses from my closet and wants me to wear them to the library. She genuinely doesn't understand how I could possibly not do this. But for dance parties at home, bridesmaid dresses are getting their money's worth around here.

Other than fanciness, a typical Dahlia day also involves the following things: dressing up, playing board games and card games, dancing, playing with her princess castle and mini princess figurines, being crafty (she decorated all her birthday invitations with very minimal help), helping cook something, watching a Diego or part of a movie (Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, and Tangled on heavy rotation), playing ball and wrestling with Milo, and reading.  Most days also involve at least one bout of serious attitude that may or may not ensue into a battle of wills with whoever is with her. These are days that I truly fear the preteens. Her favorite belonging is still her beloved Bunny Bear, aka Bun Buns or Boo.

We are so in love with our girl. Happy 4th Birthday, Little Munch. We love you past the moon, past the stars, past the universe, and back.