We recently took a parenting class where one of the topics was family traditions and rituals. They talked about how making these traditions and rituals, no matter how small they are have a big impact on kids. They form positive memories and strong family bonds. One activity I always thought would be fun was to make a "Half Birthday Cake". I think I celebrated my half birthday at school a few times because my actual birthday fell during summer vacation, and I wouldn't have been able to have a school celebration otherwise. I always remember being aware of when I hit that halfway mark through the year. I'd thought about doing the half birthday cake earlier on with our girls, but Emeline has a very high sensitivity to sugar, so cake after dinner usually invokes the most terrible pre-bed tantrums, so we try to avoid it most of the time.
But today, was her half birthday, and I was feeling more generous. I thought it would be a fun activity, and a memorable one, to let the girls decorate a half birthday cake, and pick any theme Emeline wanted. No fuss, just a fun little cake to make during the day and eat after dinner. Emeline was super excited about the idea, and asked for a pink Hello Kitty cake. That was easy enough to pull off...I had a couple 6 inch rounds in the freezer, and I just make a quick buttercream transfer out of a Hello Kitty coloring page. That's the perfect kind of picture for a buttercream transfer.
The girls watched me make the frosting, and I frosted it up...
Then I let them go to town with sprinkles...
And finally, I plopped Hello Kitty on top, and voila! A half birthday cake.
It was yummy and easy and fun to let go and make some fun memories. Emeline is getting a little better at holding her sugar ;) and it was a good motivator to finish dinner.
I also took some pictures of Emeline while the other girls napped to capture all of her four and a half-ness.
Here's what comes to mind about Emeline at four and a half....
She LOVES dress up. She wants to change her clothes multiple times a day. We are working on doing less of that to create less laundry, but I try to say yes when I can.
She can be super mature and sweet when she wants to be. Her tantrums can be out of bounds, but they are much less often than in her toddler years. I'm really enjoying sitting and talking with Emeline. Now that she doesn't nap, she takes a quiet time, which usually ends before her sisters get up. She comes to get me from my "nap", and we snuggle, talk, and then go have a snack together. I really enjoy that special time with her.
She loves to help. She started to actually be quite helpful at smaller tasks of making dinner and cleaning up. I really need to give her more responsibility, because when I do, she meets it with ease. It's hard to keep her challenged when I try to keep a safe and easy to manage environment for the little ones.
She is so snuggly. Emeline was my baby who never wanted to cuddle, and once she could move, all she wanted to do was get down and explore. I love that now she likes to be close to us.
She is considerate of her friends. She is a social butterfly. In a class of any kind, she works the room, getting to know everyone and inviting people to playdates. She invites friends to join her play at school.
She loves her sisters. She and Kate play together all the time, never seeming to tire of each other. She loves Adele and wants to hold and play with her at any chance she gets. She loves babies and is often asking when we are having another one. LOL.
We love our sweet Emeline. Happy half birthday!
