Sweetheart's Birthday

Sweetheart is 7 today.

Sweetheart is Leah's most favorite lovey (stuffed animal).  It was given to her by her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Karr, last year.  Leah loves this little poodle, which is why Mrs. Karr let her take it home and keep it.  (It was a classroom "pet.")  Leah even has a special voice she uses when she pretends Sweetheart is talking.  I can't even describe it; I wish I could just post a sound file with this because it is hilarious. 

Leah received Sweetheart at the end of April 2012 and decided that her birthday was May 1 and that she was turning six.  I had decided to surprise Leah with a "party" when she came home.  That consisted of birthday hats and decorations and a special dessert.  Mrs. Karr did one better.  She had Leah's classmates each draw/write a birthday card for Sweetheart and even gave her some "presents."

Sweetheart and her cards & presents, May 1, 2012

While the rest of us forgot about Sweetheart's birthday, Leah remembered.  She's been reminding me for a couple of weeks.  She also informed me that Sweetheart loves brownies, wanted pancakes for dinner and wanted a dinosaur-themed birthday.  Funny, that sounds like someone else I know....

Aaron did not like the idea of Sweetheart having a birthday a week before his.  Every time Leah mentioned it he would protest.  Finally, as he started to realize he was going to get pancakes for dinner and brownies for dessert he started to warm up to the idea.  He even wanted me to give him some money so he could shop in the "Leah and Aaron Dollar Store Box" for a gift for Sweetheart.  (Leah's godmother, Becky, sent Leah and Aaron a box filled with dollar store treasures and Happy Meal toys so Leah and Aaron could buy something with their allowance.  Aaron could always find a Matchbox car for $1--their allowance is $3/week each--but Leah has a hard time finding a "girlie" toy within her budget.  The "Dollar Store Box" has helped Leah when she needs a little "retail therapy.")  Yesterday Aaron "purchased" a tiny Slinky and a tiny stuffed panda bear for Sweetheart and I helped him wrap it.  Today he and I made cards, decorated and baked brownies. 

 Leah was excited when she got home but was disappointed she didn't get to help so I suggested she draw dinosaurs with our window markers on the sliding glass doors to add to the decorations.  I even drew a few too.

After that hard work it was snack time.  Leah, Sweetheart and Aaron appropriately watched the Land Before Time while eating their snacks.

Finally, the celebration began!  We put on our party hats--of course Leah had me make a tiny one for Sweetheart--and Leah read the cards and opened the gifts.  Then she and Aaron opened their party favor boxes. (I had leftover stuff from Leah's dinosaur-themed birthday last year.)  They then took their stuff and Sweetheart's presents and played in Leah's room until dinner.

Sweetheart loves her Pretty Panda.

 

Woo hoo!  Goody boxes!

Dinner, as requested, was pancakes.  Since we were doing a dinosaur-themed party I used my pancake pen and made dinosaur-shaped pancakes.  I think I have made too many shaped pancakes because now the kids are becoming critical of my efforts.  Granted I think the batter was a little too thin today, which makes it difficult because the batter runs when you pour it, but I think the shapes were recognizable.  Leah told me her triceratops' horns looked like a bow.  Well, maybe we are just going to have circles for a while here.

"Soup is on, baby!"

OK, maybe it does look like a bow but still...

The most anticipated part of the day finally arrived:  the brownies!  We sang "Happy Birthday" to Sweetheart and then Leah "helped" Sweetheart blow out the candle. 

"Happy Birthday dear Sweetheart..."

 We each savored our Ghiradelli brownie and made sure to save plenty for Matt.  (I'm sure Matt was devastated (ha, ha) that he had duty tonight, which means he has to stay overnight on the ship.)  After that it was clean-up and jammies; teeth brushing, books and bed.  Did I need to go to this extent for a stuffed animal's birthday or even at all?  No, but it was fun, especially for Leah.  Am I going to do this for her other lovies?  No way!  I'm not planning on reminding Leah next year about Sweetheart's birthday.  I wonder if she'll remember?

Happy Birthday!