Emeline had a (belated) birthday!!

Emeline turned 11 in the midst of the kitchen remodel.  Sadly, she had to wait four whole days to celebrate.  It was hard on her, poor thing, but she managed to make it through.  I tried extra hard to make her birthday special since she'd had to wait.

While her actual birthday was on Monday, we celebrated on Thursday, which worked out beautifully.  We all went to our Commonwealth, which everyone loves, and so there were classmates to say happy birthday and add to the feeling of excitement.  I need post a post about the Commonwealth, but not here.  This post is about Emeline and how she finally had a birthday.

At noon we left Miriam and Cowen at school and I took the younger kids home.  Emeline had asked and was allowed to decorate her own cake!  She was thrilled!!  She spent about an hour practicing with the icing and doing the decorating.  The kids drove her nuts picking into the icing and wanting to try things, but overall everyone had fun.

After icing the cake, Emeline was able to watch her birthday movie--the live-action Jungle Book from way back when (not the new one).  You know, the one were the bad guy is Wesley from Princess Bride.  All the kids LOVED the movie and after its conclusion they changed into jungle clothes and ran around the house making extraordinarily loud monkey sounds.

Emeline wanted baked potato bar for her birthday meal.  I was thrilled as that is a favorite of mine but we don't have it often because it is not a favorite of Timothy's.  We had bacon AND ham, along with the rest of the usual toppings, as I was feeling guilty about the delayed birthday thing.  Yummy.  Following supper we waited while Timothy dashed to the store for candles (I couldn't find mine--weird, as they are kept in a drawer in my room, not in the kitchen).  When he returned we sang and Emeline blew out candles and everyone ate cake in the jolly and rollicking manner that usually accompanies birthday cake.

Afterwards came the best part.  I have been so excited to give Emeline her birthday present because I knew she would love it and she did and does!

 Emeline received a book about how to make forest fairies.  Some craft books for kids are lame because they require too much adult help.  Not this book!!!  Emeline and Miriam and Cowen and Eli and Harriet have been making fairies nonstop since Emeline's birthday and only Harriet has needed help (which Miriam and Emeline have provided--I've been painting).  The kids love their fairies almost as much as they like making them.  There have been little sister fairies (given to Clover), bumblebee fairies, Ranger fairies, ninja fairies, and flower fairies.  They are all awesome.

 A box of fairy making supplies.  I also bought a bunch of extra supplies for Emeline's Enchanted Woodland birthday party (that will be coming up shortly if I ever get invites made and delivered).  The main activity at the party will be fairy making.

I still can't believe Emeline Bea is 11.  She's not supposed to get so old!!  Emeline is a delight.  She always has her nose in a book curled up in a ball somewhere--usually the yellow chair.  She is very maternal and loves the babies and is my best helper with the younger kids.  Eli is her best friend, yellow is her favorite color, and potatoes and stuffed peppers are her favorite foods.  She loves to sing and has a lovely voice.  She also loves crafting and drawing and wants desperately to learn how to cook.  She's a sweetheart and I am so glad she's mine!!