For at least the last 6 months or so, Kaitlynn has REALLY been into princesses. Every time she sees anything -- toys, movies, signs, etc. -- with a Disney princess on it, she has to perform a dramatic exclamation about the princess and how she "lubs it!" Her favorite song is an official Disney song called "Happy Birthday, Princess!" and she plays it over and over (and over and over) on her iTouch in the car and everywhere we go. She has been asking if she could have a princess party for months, so we promised her one when she turned 3.
I booked Kaitlynn's party at a local place called A Bunch of Fun. It's a cute venue for toddlers with various activity rooms like a kitchen, dress-up area, art room, moon sand, and a big open area for kids to run around in. The party invitations were designed by the venue and they labeled it as a "Princess Party." I didn't think anything of it, but then several people started asking me what princess outfit Kaitlynn would be wearing to her party. Jeff and I realized we were going to have to get our little princess an official party costume.
The day before Kaitlynn's party, we visited the Disney Store and told Kaitlynn she could pick out an outfit for her party. She was in HEAVEN!! I tell you, I don't know how these little girls develop such a taste for all-things-princess, but Kaitlynn has acquired that taste big time! After walking through the store ooh-ing and ah-ing at all the costumes, Kaitlynn insisted that she wanted the Tangled (Rapunzel) dress. I slipped it on over her clothes and walked her to the mirror to see how it looked. She stood there in AWE for several seconds admiring her reflection. And then, I kid not, she stepped back and launched into a full blown princess twirl to show off her gown. Who teaches them this stuff??
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| Admiring her reflection in her Tangled costume. |
Kaitlynn couldn't WAIT to wear her Tangled dress to her princess party. When the time finally came, she just couldn't contain her joy. She twirled and whirled around the party area with a huge smile while waiting for her friends to arrive.
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| Family pic at Kaitlynn's party. |
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| Kaitlynn in front of the birthday table. |
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| Kaitlynn and Daddy having a tea party. |
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| Kaitlynn with her best friend, Anais, at the party. |
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| They couldn't have been any cuter together. |
I was recently telling my friends that I just never expected to have such a girly-girl. I've been around my nieces for years with all that princess, Barbie, and dress-up stuff and it usually drove me crazy. Pink was always my least favorite color and princess decor would have never gotten my vote. So I still shake my head over the fact that I have a princess-crazed toddler who seems to inherently gravitate towards the girliest stuff out there.
Jeff was observing the girls at Kaitlynn's party and just couldn't get over how different they behave from boys. He saw Kaitlynn and her friends serving tea to one another and happily sharing various toys. We also watched as Kaitlynn's friend, Anais, ran up to Kaitlynn and reached up lovingly to straighten Kaitlynn's tiara for her. All Jeff could think of was how if they were boys, they'd be hitting each other with sticks and shoving each other to the ground, ha!
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| Jeff admiring how girls interact. |
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| Kaitlynn loved her princess cupcake! |
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| Kaitlynn's awestruck expression while everyone sang "Happy Birthday." I'm still kicking myself for not getting a video. |
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| Kevin and Jeff at the party. |
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| The boys table. |
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| The 5 boys had fun, too. |
Kaitlynn's long-awaited princess party was quite a success and she loved every second of it. She just radiated joy all day long.
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| Surrounded by gifts back at home. |
