5th Birthday Start to Finish

Molly’s first birthday was spent in the orphanage in China. There were no pictures. There wasn’t a cake. No celebration. I can’t even tell you if someone whispered happy birthday into her ear or even noticed that it was her birthday.

This isn’t a slam on the orphanage. Seriously. They took very good care of Molly while she was there. But they were caring for over 400 kids. Hardly time to get the essentials done each day. I would think that birthdays came and went without much fanfare.

On Molly’s second birthday, I decided to document the entire day with pictures from start to finish. We weren’t going to have a birthday slip by unnoticed ever again. Somehow it became a tradition.

Today was no exception. I had my camera handy all day long and snapped away.

Molly’s big party was on Saturday and Daddy left to go out of town very, very early this morning, so it was just me and Molly on her special day. But that’s okay, we still had fun.

Here’s is this year’s installment of Molly’s Birthday, Start to Finish:

The day started with Mommy waking Molly up at o’dark thirty. Molly is sooo not a morning person.

She got dressed for preschool and enjoyed her favorite breakfast: Pumpkin muffins with sprinkles, scrambled eggs and a yogurt smoothie.

After getting her hair done, she watched Four Golden Princess sing Happy Birthday to her in Chinese.

Then it was in the van and off to preschool.

At preschool the kids all sang Happy Birthday to Molly and they enjoyed white chocolate covered Rice Krispy treats. She even got to be a special helper in the classroom.

I told Molly that I would take her anywhere she wanted to go for lunch and she chose Panera (she’s a cheap date!). She likes their chicken noodle soup because it is so salty and deliciously yummy!

Once home, I had the DVD player all cued up with Molly’s Favorite: Snow White. She’s only watched it twice in her life so this was a mighty big treat for her…look at her beam!…and of course I had to rewind so that she could watch the part that she missed while posing for  this picture.

Then it was time for some random silliness like playing balloon toss…

doing gymnastics…

and some interpretive dancing. Nice!

The afternoon was spent with a two hour gymnastics practice which culminated in a big jump into the foam pit.

Back at home Molly requested fried rice in the shape of bears, turkey rolls, broccoli, cantaloupe and yogurt smoothie left over from breakfast. I guess that is considered fine dining when your five. Personally I would have ordered the prime rib.

Molly already had a cake at her party, but golly gee, how can you have a birthday without cake. I found this one at the local Walmat and it was absolutely disgusting delicious with close to an inch of lard based frosting. But ooooooh! It had Cinderella on it!I would say that Molly was sugar heaven. Love those blue lips!

Molly opened a few birthday cards…

…and talked to several people who called to wish her Happy Birthday.

By this time it was well past her bedtime, but hey, it was her birthday. She took an extra long bath, splashing and playing in the bubbles.

Then it was time for a bedtime story. Aunt Shel gave Molly this book when she came home from China. And since the title is Every Year On Your Birthday, that’s when we read it!

Finally, time for bed. Molly came to us with two fingers in her mouth. For about two years they never came out. Now they usually only go in when she is sleepy. She still kind of looks like my sweet little baby…Just a little more grown up!

Molly, you bring so much joy to our lives. Everyday you giggles and smiles make our hearts sparkle. You have grown from a helpless baby into an independent and feisty five year old!

We love everything about you, from the kind, compassionate, silly parts to the not-so-pretty parts that come out from time to time, because they all combine to  make you the special girl that you are.

Happy Birthday, baby. Five years old, four years a family. We can’t wait to see what your future holds.

Just don’t grow up too fast, okay?