I really wanted her to have a memorable Belle dress for her princess party. I wanted to MAKE her one. But I have 3 small kiddos and that reality pretty much flew out the window as soon as I thought of it.
Luckily, my mom (Granne) is game for such craziness and bought a pattern. She spent just shy of 47,000 hours on said dress, but the end result was EVERYTHING we hoped for.
Granne, who would shoot me if I posted the pictures, dressed up in fairy Granne-mother style and presented Ella with her dress on party morning.
Ella's response: "*gasp*...It's just like I always wanted."
47,000 hours = worth it
If you saw THIS, then you know that my attire was not entirely my own idea. Ella wished on a dandelion for me to dress up as a princess. And she didn't forget her wish. She asked me what I was going to wear over and over. I looked through the thrift stores, thought of borrowing old prom dresses, but when it came down to it, I knew we were making memories here and my party attire needed to be legit. Thanks eBay.
I came down the stairs before the party in my robe and asked Ella if she knew any magic words to help me have a dress for the party. She waved her little wand and softly said "Alla kazoo bibbity bobbity boo!" I turned around, shed my robe and.....she stared in disbelief and Miles fell over like he'd passed out.
Perfect. Moment.
Party goodies included: juice, blueberry muffins with cream cheese frosting, pancakes on a stick, yogurt with granola and blackberries, an assortment of fruit and donut hole kabobs.
Miles gave Ella his "4" sign. "I don't need it anymore", he said.
He glittered it himself.
He was never far from his princess. He declared himself her musketeer and personal protector.
I had a weak moment in the Walmarts and bought her one of those real, $15 wedding tiaras.
This is just about the only time she wore it.
The grass was a bit wet at the beginning of the party. She was wearing her white dress shoes. But she HATED the fact that they were getting grassy, so she put on her Keens (see below). She knows those are her outside shoes. Ha!
Also, you can run much faster than the other princesses in your Keens.
It was the most gorgeous and perfect day for an outside party.
Speaking of gorgeous....
But seriously, do I not have the best friends/family? My sister-in-law and sister, my nieces and friends all dressed in their best princess gowns. The little princesses LOVED the big princesses.
Aunt Rachel read a story while everyone ate their brunch.
Then all the girls got to create their own crowns using glitter glue, foam stickers and other bedazzled, sparkly stuff.
Then Ella had a fun little surprise...
We took adorable photos of all the little princesses but I hesitate to plaster their faces all over the inter-webs without signed waivers or something.
This is Ella's curtsey. She practiced all week.
Once we got all the little princesses corralled to the photo area we called for "all the rest of you who are too old to be dressed like princesses".
We're a fun little crew.
We sang, blew out the candle...
...ate cupcake/muffins...
Opened presents...
And when the last little princess had left, I found her holding all her new clothes like this...
It was a perfect, princess-y day. I'm so thankful to have shared it with my sweet girl.
***My friend Suzy is to thank for several of these photos.
