this year, harper had a very specific plan for her birthday. i wanted to celebrate with a pool party. she didn't. she wanted to "paint pottery, go out for a 'fancy' dinner, and then go pick out a toy." it is hard to argue with a girl who knows exactly how she wants to celebrate!
i started the night before making ice cream cone cupcakes, her birthday shirt, buying balloons, and packaging her charm bracelet. i love trying to set up a mini party for them to wake up to and the funny thing is that they still have not caught on. harper was so excited about the cupcakes and her balloons. i think calvary was more excited about the cupcakes...they are perfect for my sensory sensitive boy! we spent the rest of the morning trying to get ready for the day. harper kept asking me what we were doing next, but between getting 4 kids dressed, getting myself dressed, feeding 4 kids, and feeding myself there is not much time for special activities! i left my hair dryer at the beach and it was not until i was leaving to go paint pottery that i realized that i had not brushed my hair. harper told me that i looked like carly (from icarly) when she got shocked. it would have been nice if she would have told me that BEFORE we had a house full of guests....sigh.
the anticipation was killing the kids and nick and jessica showed up just in time to heighten the excitement. they brought along some amazing cupcakes and gifts and even though oliver jack was slightly shy while they were here (he just woke up from a nap) he walked around saying "nick back", meaning nick will come back, for an hour after he had left. shortly after nick and jessica arrived, poppy and julie brought margo for a little friendly celebration. margo went straight for the cupcake and harper went straight for the present. she has been playing with the teacher set nonstop since. our little impromptu party was perfectly attended by some of our family and closest friends.
later, our friends surprised us with visit and the kids (and myself) could not have been more excited. ayden gave harper such a sweet, thoughtful gift that harper told me later that it made her "feel weird inside." she later figured that feeling was the feeling you get when you blush...happy yet bashful...christy and i talked about how ayden and harper have now been friends for a whole year...they were friends first and the rest of us ended up liking each other too. pretty cool. adam and alex also gave harper gifts that were perfectly matched to her wants...thus continuing the spoilage...it was her birthday, so its okay.
later we ventured out to paint pottery. we normally only take one at a time for such an event, but this time, everyone went. after i paid, i realized why we only take one at a time. sigh. i kept reminding myself that it was all for her birthday and that this was one of the only things she asked for. plus, it has become somewhat of a tradition and it has been fun to watch our collection of hand painted dishware has grown. eventually, all of our plates and cups will be hand painted by my children. at least they will be elements of conversation...
after kyle got home we took off for dinner. harper had only specified that she wanted to go to a 'fancy' dinner, a term that is relative to a person that considers mcdonald's an option when i want to go to a sit down dinner. i chose kobe because, once again, harper loves a gimmick and it was fun to watch everyone enjoy the show. harper's favorite part was the song and all the attention.we left dinner and went to pick out harper's present. while we waited in line she looked up at me and said, "you know, everything i said i wanted you didn't even say was too expensive!" the joys of a birthday and being 6 and wanting inexpensive gifts.
throughout the day i kept reminding harper what i had been doing at that time 6 years ago. she didn't seem nearly impressed enough. the only thing that evoked a response was when at 9:00pm i told her that 6 years ago i was sleeping because i was SO tired from giving birth to her. i finished the night praying that this sixth year will be a year where harper continues to grow into a person that finds joy in doing right, leads with gentleness, and loves with grace.
and i pray for myself that i can be a better example of all of these things.
~thank you Lord for this sweet girl and the gift that she is in spite of myself. i do not deserve the joy she has brought my life and i pray that i can let her know everyday what a gift she has been and continues to be~
2 comments:
Happy Birthday to Harper! What a beautiful post. :) It's hard to believe it's been six years already.
When you wrote that Harper said, "you know, everything i said i wanted you didn't even say was too expensive", I got choked up thinking that I've said this to God so many times. I ask him for things thinking in the back of my mind that it's too much to ask... but He is such a good Daddy - he blows my mind at the way he provides... he gives us such good gifts, doesn't he?!
Looks like it was a great celebration!! :)
i didn't think about it that way, but it did touch me profoundly when she looked up at me with such amazement. maybe that is why it seemed so significant.
i feel like i am always saying no or not right now and a moment like that, where she is genuinely grateful, makes all the times i have had to say no so worthwhile :)
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