I have fallen off the "31 for 21" wagon...so I am going to try and redeem myself this last day of Down Syndrome Awareness Month by posting a "two-fer". We had two wonderful birthday celebrations on Saturday. Completely different styles of parties as you will see...but both wonderful and beautiful celebrations of two very energetic, bright, amazingly unique lil' ladies. Our early morning shin-dig was for one of Ruby Doobs best buddies, Bailey...aka Bailey Boo. She is one month older than Doobers and I just cannot wait to watch their friendship grow throughout the years to come. One of the cool things about being in "the club" is getting to know families like Miss Boo's that you may have never crossed paths with had our kiddos not shared that one common extra special chromosome.
You meet lots of families along the way...but there are few you know will be around for the long haul...to watch our kiddos sprout into these independent individuals.... and Ella Mae has a thing for Bailey's older brother...so basically they aren't going anywhere...
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| Bailey and her mama!!!! |
There was some painting of the pumpkins....
Some painting of the face.....
Some sharing of Doob's favorite snack...popcorn..
I cannot believe it has almost been two years since Ruby came in and rocked our world. It seems like almost yesterday she was in my belly and I was listening to her heartbeat with the doppler and explaining to Ella Mae her sister was in there...a little life. An unexpected little life...one that I didn't know I was prepared for. Ruby and Bailey are these little scrappers who will duke it out with anyone that may say they can't do something, and part of my strength comes from seeing that determination. I love the fact that they stand out, not because of their "disability", but because they are hilarious and spunky...they hold their own in any room, lighting it up along the way.
Moving on to our afternoon birthday party for none other than our very own Ella "Spidey" Mae...It was quite a different scene. Our lil' lady is growing up too fast and this Princess party didn't seem to slow it down any....
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| Ella and Grandmother with her Barbie cake.. |
Grandmother's 'thing' is to make the girls b-day cakes every year. She does a pretty stellar job if you ask me. Although, as grandmother pointed out, Barbie may have picked the wrong shade of spray tan for this party...
Sooo...back to the party. We usually have a big shin-dig at the house for Ella's B-day with a Halloween theme of some sort. This year we decided to have a party at the place where Ella Mae get's her hair cut (well...the two times she has had it cut in her four years of life). Anywho...she had eight lil' lady friends come and they got to get dooted up in girlie things and strut their stuff on the red carpet. I must note this is our second red carpet event this year...just sayin.
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| The party room.. |
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| The dress up 'closet'.... |
To say that Ella Mae has been excited about this shin-dig would be quite the understatement. When her first buddy arrived (Sydney, aka Syd-bug) they just stood at the door and stared in amazement...soaking it all in. I can imagine in their lil heads they are saying to themselves...this is really happening. If you could see their faces...their jaws would be open and eyes wider than Texas.
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| Syd-bug and Ella Mae in amazement.... |
The frenzy that came once more girls showed up and the choices came of 'what dress shall I wear?' and 'what hair-do shall I get?'...it was pretty hysterical...I'm not sure, but I think there might have even been a little elbowing going on in the 'closet'...
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| Watch your back ladies!! |
Ella Mae picked out a very appropriate, very poofy, princess dress, and here she is picking out the "princess" hair-do...I am sensing a theme here...
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| Picking our her "do" from pics on the wall.... |
All the lil' ladies got their hair in up-do's, finger nails painted, and then they got their make-up done.
Oh the make-up...I think it gave just about every mom there a mild heart attack to see their lil' lady in make-up...it wasn't even like it was a
good make-up application either, if there
is such a thing for a four year old.
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| I don't know...only Ella can pull off bright orange eye shadow... |
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| Gettin her up-do... |
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| Princess Syd-bug and mama Kim.. |
Ruby Doobs was all over the place...checkin' out the scene...I love her mobility now as she can just cruise to do whatever she wants to do. She is definitely feeling the independence...
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| Watch out ladies...the Doobs is in the house! |
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| Lovely lil' princesses... |
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| The finished product of the "do" |
While the "princesses" were all getting their nails done they got interviewed...they asked them what their favorite movies were, things like that. Ella's current favorite movie (due to a box of 99 cent VHS's...thanks G-ma) is Barbie The Nutcracker. It is all that it sounds like...and more.
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| The oh so careful application of the make-up... |
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| Doobs doing crafts while she patiently waits... |
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| Our perfect lil' princess... |
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Slow down Ole!! You look like you could be headed to prom!!
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It wouldn't be a party without some dancing to the Black Eyed Peas....
Or Cinderella shoes....
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| Ella Mae showing off her stuff while cousin Miette gets her hair-do |
And then there was the finished "princesses"...
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| They kinda look like they should be on an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras... |
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| No hair do is complete without Fairy Dust... |
Last..but not least...they all got to walk the red carpet. Ella Mae seemed to do it a little too naturally being the ham that she is...
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| All the princesses!! |
Ruby Doobs, as always, is learning from her big sister and was strutting her stuff when she got home. She is really into dressing up...putting on shoes, hats, shirts...you name it. If she can't get it on herself she will bring it to you and ask for help...pretty darn cute.
WHEW!!! What a weekend! What a month! Peace out for a bit! And ...
Happy Halloween!!!!!
