Our pretty, pretty princess, Kennah Maire, turned 4 today! As you might have guessed, the theme for the day was princesses—specifically Cinderella, who is (and always has been) her favorite. She received a personalized CD featuring songs sung by many of the Disney princesses (“How do they know my name?” she asked, and then added, “The princesses are so nice!”), and she even got a surprise post-dinner birthday phone call from Cinderella (“I wonder who told her it was my birthday!” she said). Her cake was a complete surprise, too—for me as much as for her! Even with a handy-dandy special baking pan I borrowed from my friend, this confection was a serious challenge requiring surgical skills (I had to temporarily amputate the doll’s legs to fit her into the top) and engineering feats (you’d never know it, but the doll’s torso is propped up and positioned by toothpicks from beneath and along the sides). I’m so grateful for the frosting, which covered the multitude of pins! As I was frosting the cake at 5 a.m. (on about five hours’ worth of sleep), I had the idea to possibly add royal icing pearl-like beading to the dress, but Shawn fortunately talked me down off the ledge with his own pearls of wisdom: “Don’t get too elaborate, or you’ll mess it up and be really upset.” So I’m grateful for husbands with common sense, too.

Tonight the doll (legs reattached, and gown and glass slippers back in place) is tucked into bed beside Kennah, a gift for whom I am also most grateful. As a princess in the midst of the many princes in our family, she’s certainly something—make that someone—to celebrate.