Princess Sunshine

We've just returned from what must be our 6th princess party this year.  It's sweet, watching 15 4-, 5-, and 6-year olds dress in their finest royal regalia, pronouncing each other Princess of the Fairies.  They run around the birthday girl's house, trailing wands, feather boas, tiaras, and plastic high heeled shoes.  It's amazing we haven't made more visits to the ER as a result of those silly high heeled shoes.  

Now that Sunshine has reached a certain age my presence is no longer required at these parties.  I walk her in, make sure she's found the birthday girl and the bathroom, and say my goodbyes.  I return, usually within two hours, to collect my (sugar-crazed) beautiful princess and make sure she says Goodbye, Thank you and Happy Birthday.  It is then that the wrestling match commences.  

Extricating this child, or any child for that matter, from a birthday party without incident is damn near close to impossible.  But, Mommy, I want to stay.  I'm having so much fun, she'll scream.  Please, Please, PLEASE don't make me leave.  They have balloons here, and juice, and candy, and cake.  And Mommy, can I PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE live here?  And if I'm really lucky, she's putting on this show while lying prostrate on the ground. 

I am getting close to perfecting the quiet "We Must Leave Now, and DO NOT Embarrass Me" speech that is meant to let my daughter know that I am in no joking mood and she had better come quietly.  I say this because today, my daughter left absolutely without incident.  She very politely asked if she could wait until the birthday girl opened her gift, and then we left.  It was completely magical.    

I couldn't help but notice that one of the girls at the party wasn't dressed in a princess costume.  She stood out amidst the sea of pink polyester and tulle, wearing a pair of black pants and a grey shirt that had a dog on it.  A dog with a rhinestone tiara.  I had to laugh.  That girl's got spunk.  I'm not sure I could ever convince Sunshine that a sparkly rhinestone tiara on a dog was princess worthy, but I've got to try.  She's coming over for a play date next week.    But for now, I give you Sunshine...

One of the two beautiful princesses of the Poole House.