Polka Dot Party

First and foremost, I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to my bestest buddy, G-bean! To think that it was 4 years ago that she came down the chute fist first to greet the world. That's my girl...arriving in her own style! I can't believe how fast it has gone. Looking back, I wish I could easily recall every moment of wonder, love, exhaustion, frustration, cluelessness, laughter, tears, etc...but I can't. Maybe that is why I take so many pictures. I do take comfort in knowing that I lived and felt all of those experiences with my girl and hopefully she will remember for both of us. Because as we all know, kids have long memories!

I must admit, I still have those Martha Stewart aspirations for a fabulous B-day party. This year, things went down a little differently. We started the day with an impromptu breakfast party with R's parents and an aunt & uncle. R was making french toast like it was going out of style in the frilly apron G-bean assigned him. We had syrup flowing, balloons floating, and wrapping paper flying. Birthday bliss! This is where the story takes an unexpected turn. In the wake of our breakfast bonanza, we discovered that our birthday girl had some party decorations of her own...red polka dots.

In my calmest voice, I quickly requested that R google chicken pox. One must prepare thyself for the pictures pox patients are willing to post. Unbelievable! What a gift! One that she wouldn't forget in the itchy 2 weeks to come. After consulting with several nurses, it was suggested that we quarantine the G-bean. Of all things, it's her birthday. She has been wearing her birthday crown from school for 2 days and prancing around the house in all of her 4 year old glory...chicken pox really? It was then that our nurse went rogue. Although it was strongly recommended that we avoid the general public (including the doctor's office), our dear nurse cooked up a plan to sneak us in the back door for an official diagnosis. "Operation Party Princess" was on.

What I love about G-bean is that she thought it was an exciting event, which of course required the assistance of her gold glitter shoes. The commute gave me just enough time to mentally reschedule the next few weeks of our lives, prepare to have 2 chicken pox patients, figure out a calling tree for the 16 kids in her school class, and wonder if we started an epidemic that would make the 10 o'clock news by attending Disney Princesses on Ice with 3,000 other children. Germs!!! You become so much more aware of them and what carrier monkeys kids are when you have monkeys of your own!

With our covert entrance a success, G-bean's mysterious polka dots were diagnosed. Are you ready for this? It was a rash from the hot tub she swam in in Mexico. Exotic, but not contagious! Thank goodness, I was prepared for R to seal our house with plastic wrap and spray paint a skull & bones on the sidewalk. I was ecstatic while G-bean was as cool as a cucumber. She just wanted to finish the Dr. Seuss book we were reading. So, we sat in the back of the clinic, long after we were dismissed, giggling and reading the Cat in the Hat. Then with crown held high, we made our grand exit out the front door!

The story does not end with G-bean evading the pox. On our way home, she casually mentioned that she hadn't eaten any cake yet. Bullocks! No cake! So, my homegirl and I went to pick out the most fabulous ghetto Barbie cake from the store. We then headed home for yet another impromptu eating event. This time, a tea party with a hot pink Barbie cake, little sister, large dog, and dear old dad. Followed by some serious fort building. She was delighted!

What a day! Looking back, I am so proud of my polka-doted girl! There was no "but I wanted a pony" moment or disappointment because she spent the afternoon in the doctor's office. She had a great day and a grand adventure. It was then that I realized that I didn't have to provide all of the smoke & mirrors to make the birthday magic happen. At the end of the day, she felt special and loved. Plus, some of her best buddies hooked her up with her first two Barbies ever! From dress ups to plastic divas, our little girl is growing up!