Happy Hula Birthday Sophie!

My sweet-as-sugar Sophie turned six this week. Here are the highlights of her day:
Breakfast. That's an "S" and a "6" - Gary's the master of French Toast Carving. And of Cake Decorating (but hey, I baked them, made the frosting, and stuck in the candles!):

The Luau birthday party: I decked out the studio with luau stuff and even enlisted the aid of my awesome blossom neighbor Dawn to help me create three six-foot palm trees out of duct tape and card board. (she's the best!) It was an atypical Martha Stewart touch for me, but they were really cool! Attendees were welcomed at the door by Maggie and her bud Rachel with leis and directed to the snack table or the coloring table where pictures of hula girls and parrots awaited

. Games: musical chairs, ring toss over the alligator's nose, the Limbo stick dance, grab the fish relay, Hula Hula Coconut (duck duck goose) and of course the traditional crazy dance party with the disco lights. I have to admit, having a dance studio really makes party-throwing a breeze! My house didn't even get trashed, although we had 18 kids there at one point, and the studio cleans up in a snap!

Opening presents with the friends. Over all a very successful, fairly easy festivity! Luckily 6 year-olds are quite easy to please!

Things I love about my Sophie:

*that her first instincts are good. When she lets herself, she helps before being asked, is naturally kind and loving, and is a happy child (as her constant singing to herself testifies!) I pray for her all the time that she will keep and nourish this trait!

*that she says the sweetest, sometimes nonsensical but always endearing things: "please bless that daddy will get home safely because I love him so very much." "Mother, watch me cuh-tsy!"

*That she's soft all the way around, from her little dimpled fingers to her "sophie slump" to her tender little feelings

*that she loves little things (dolls, littlest pet shops, tea sets, etc), just like I did when young

*her giggle!!!!!

*how she loves her daddy best. Really, I think this is so sweet! She's a daddy's girl. (It's okay, Maggie likes us both, depending on who's temporarily the most indulgent, but I get Spen! Of course, today Spen told me that he loves daddy best...and my mole. Well, at least he loves part of me!)