Penelope LOVES birthdays! She talks about birthdays all the time. Let me rephrase...Penelope loves HER birthday. She tells me every time they sing Feliz Cupleanos at school. At night she sings Feliz Cupleanos a Penny and Happy Birthday Penny to put herself to sleep. Attending other kids birthday parties have been challenging. I think she feels when we get there will all say "Never mind, it isn't so and so's birthday party. It's Penny's birthday!" She doesn't seem to believe me that her birthday is right around the corner. A month and a half seems really long when you tell time by the length of a Dora episode.
So today we went to Libbi's birthday. If you need a reminder, Libbi and Penny are bffs (or that's what the mommys have decided). Here's a quick look at 3 years:
I've been getting Penny prepared for Libbi's party stressing that it is Libbi's birthday. We went to Target and I told her she could pick out a toy she thought Libbi would like. Penny was certain Libbi loved all the toys she loved too. Imagine that! Rather than pick something like the Dora guitar that Penelope wants so much, we went for the My Little Pony. Penny oohed and awwed over it, but I didn't fear she'd rip it out of Libbi's hands. Definite possibility if we got the Dora guitar.
In the end things went fine. It was a pool party with music entertainment and pizza and cake. Penelope was GLUED to Libbi the entire party. She knew the moment I said her name with a warning voice that she needed to be less "helpful" with the present opening. At one point Jackie Lee commented "penny is like the maid of honor. She should have a little notepad and pen." I said "yeah, she's the maid of honor that wants to try on wedding dresses with the bride!" See for yourself...
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| Dancing to music together |
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| Eating pizza. Penelope had to sit right next to Libbi. |
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| Singing happy birthday. I love that Penelope is so far away and yet she still is trying to "help" blow out the candle. |
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| Eating cake |
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| ahem...giving a helping hand |
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| Penny about to burst at seeing all of Libbi's toys |
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| Best friend hugs. Penny whispered "You better be ready for my birthday!" |
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| The four of us. One day we will all look at the camera at the same time. |
On a sort of opinion note: I do love taking Penny to birthday parties. I like selecting thoughtful presents and I think it is a good thing to teach her. Birthday parties also show her to let another kid be in the spotlight. I understand parents who don't want presents at a party and I respect those wishes. What I don't understand is this new trend of not opening presents at the party. I think opening presents is good for kids whether they are the birthday kid learning how to say thank you and be kind to their friends whether or not they love the present or the guest who chooses the present and is excited to see their friend open it. I'm interested to know the reasoning behind not opening presents if that's the way some of you are doing it. Is it just to stop arguments? Not make the birthday kid look greedy? I haven't heard a reason to sway me to that side, but it seems to becoming more and more popular.
6 comments:
I loved the 3 years of growing up together. Like you said in previous post, "I blinked" Penny will be 3. Wow!
Laura,
I love your hat. Penny will want that next! I agree with you,birthday present opening is the most fun part of the party. I hope this trend turns around soon.
Awe, such cute photos!
I've been working/running kids' parties at Life Time and I think the reason some of the parents choose not to open gifts there is because they are on a time limit and want the kids to be able to play the whole time. Once it was because not all the kids brought gifts and the mom didn't want them to feel bad.
I agree with you completely, on all fronts! And I think Penny did GREAT yesterday. She was very helpful and Libbi didn't seem to mind the extra "attention." Loved the montage of the 3 years, almost made me cry. Thanks for documenting! ♥
What a special friendship! That's wonderful that she's known her friend Libbi for so long.
We've occasionally decided not to open gifts at the party when there has already been a lot of activity and the kids seem a bit overstimulated. I wish I made that decision at my eldest's 7th birthday party -- all the guests shredded the tissue paper into little bits and stomped them into the juice-soaked floor. Thank God it wasn't at our house, but because of the mess we got to help the staff at KiddyWampus clean it up.
It is good practice for birthday girls and boys to learn how to be gracious and for the guests to learn patience.
I love it! Molly really wanted to be the "helper" at Avery's party last year, so maybe it's the best friend thing. They feel like they are supposed to be with them the whole time. I loved the growing up together pictures. And, no, I don't get the not opening presents thing. I think it's important for the birthday kid and the ones who brought the present to see it.
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