Whew! What a day!

Wow. What a crazy day. What a crazy week!

I decided not to ever make the statement that I'm "keeping it low-key" ever again for a party. Seemed to be my downfall today. I had this mindset that we could just cut waaaaay back for Pumpkin's 3rd bday and keep things really simple. Must've been a really bad idea. I'm a perfectionist. And even though I have come to recognize that things can't always be perfect (okay, they are almost never perfect!), I still can't help but try to plan things to the last detail and go overboard. So apparently when I go against that effort, everything falls apart. I just felt like I didn't have enough time this morning to get everything ready. So our first guests arrived and I was still putting food out in the bowls and spreading out picnic places. Regardless after everything got started, Pumpkin had a wonderful time and her friends all seemed pleasantly content. But me being the way that I am...I couldn't relax...it just seemed to get me even more flustered because nothing felt "pulled together". And honestly, it wasn't just me. The cake lady we use (a good friend of ours) had difficult with decorating them...which she never struggles with, and Mom had trouble with the gift she got Pumpkin. What a mess! But at the end of the day, I had one very tired, very very happy little girl. She was so excited about seeing all her best friends and soaking up every minute of it. We haven't cleared up the misunderstanding about the thank-yous yet (more on that in a minute), but we'll get there. Nonetheless, she had a blast.

I explained to her this morning at home that even if she didn't like something someone bought her (she's very particular these days, especially with clothes) that she should be gracious and say thank-you anyway. On the way to my mom's she decided to review this with me. She said, "Mommy you remember? When you telled me that word earlier? You said if I don't like the stings people buyed me I say thank you I don't like this?" I said Ohhhh brother. I gently explained that she needed to leave out the second part and just say thank you...that she could tell me later she didn't like it and I'd do something with it or give it to someone else that might enjoy it. Well, that backfired!

Several times I tried to get her to thank people for their gifts. She's a really thankful child, honest! She is constantly showing me appreciation for even the smallest things. This morning (prior to that conversation) she thanked me for going shopping for pumpkins with her. She thanks me for helping her find clothes...fixing breakfast...things that someone her age should take for granted! But ...I guess I confused her. I'd try to prompt a thank you after she'd open a gift and she'd get quiet. I finally realized when her little friend Claire, was sitting by her what the problem was. I told her to tell Claire thank you for the little baby she gave her...she looked at me, looked back at Claire, and then hugged the doll to her chest...like I was gonna take it. I really think she thought that if she said "thank you" then I'd think that was code for her not wanting the gift! She proudly told me tonight that she didn't say thank you! Oh geez! Next time I'll leave things alone. But she loved all her wonderful gifts...and definitely will put all the clothes(that's what she got the most of) to really good use. She has outgrown everything so it's quite a blessing that her birthday rolled around and people went the clothes route! It's hard to buy a whole new wardrobe all at one time...how expensive these little girls can be!

Tomorrow we are finally going to do our family pictures. I am so excited. I will have those posted as soon as Grady gets them back to us. We should hopefully get to have a nice family day and decompress. I'm looking forward to Monday already...I told Hubby I'd like to hibernate and get some straightening up done around the house. That might be a good stress reliever after such a busy weekend! On that thought...I better go get some rest..still more to come!