Princess Party!

I can't believe it is March and I am just now posting Gracie's birthday pictures!   I'm dividing them into two posts...these are of her princess party, and I'll post pictures of her actual birthday in the next post.  

This was Ammah Grace's first "friend party", and I'm not sure who was more excited...Gracie or her siblings!   Peter, Bayley, and Emlyn really got into helping plan the party, and I was *so* proud of them.   Of course, Dad did a huge amount of "behind the scenes" work.  The girls (and the big kids) seemed to have a great time, and Ammah Grace announced at the end, "Mommy, I LOVED my princess party!!"  :)

(You may notice these are not in chronological order...I didn't feel like fighting Blogger this morning to achieve that. :))

The little princesses...

Blowing out her candles...with a little help from "Bubby" :)
Dad lighting the candles.  
Silly girls! (And Prissy, Mamoe's party-crashing pomeranian. :))
Balloon Dancing to "princess music"...
Ring Relay...
Ready to hunt for "jewels"...
Peter crowning the princess.  Peter had come up with the idea that he would "crown" Gracie during the party.  He and Emlyn came in with the crown (on a red satin pillow he made himself!), as he played "trumpet music" on his harmonica.  (He practiced and practiced to get it just right. :))  They were all so excited about her "coronation"!   Peter is such a good big brother...I am so proud of the way he is never "too big" or "too macho" to do something fun for his little sisters. (Btw...notice the princess is barefoot. ;-)  She discovered that her "princess slippers" hurt her feet! :))


Big sisters dancing while we were waiting on our guests.   Can you tell they've watched "Pride and Prejudice" a few times?? :)
Daddy-daughter dance...
Gracie's favorite place to be!
Daddy dancing with the little princess...
Birthday girl!

Rice Krispy Treat princess scepters....
The cake...(A side note on the colors...Mrs. Jodie had found the cutest red sequined purses we decided to use as party favors for the girls.  The whole party theme actually evolved from those purses!  Then we found some pink princess things Gracie wanted to use.  So...we ended up doing the party in red *and* pink. :))
The serving table and birthday banner...
Chalk art by big brother...