loot

Oh! To be 5 years old again.... *sigh*

This was the birthday of all birthdays. This was an extravaganza! A week of presents! Utter craziness! My husband and I thought we were doing the right thing by forgoing the big family party this year. We figure, The Babe is 5 now. She'll have a party with her little 5-year old friends, and she can celebrate with the grandparents at whichever time nearest to her b-day that she sees them. It seemed so reasonable... last year she had a party with her little friends, AND we had the family over for another party, and that seemed to be too much... so this plan seemed so reasonable. Perhaps not.

The result:

• Sunday, 29 Oct: Gramma J and Grampa J come over to sit for The Boy. While they are here, they give The Babe her b-day presents from them, as well as the present from Aunt J. It was their intent to have The Babe open these gifts on her b-day, but I thought she should open them while she was with her grandparents so they could see how much she liked them. So.... a butterfly mobile, a new stuffed cat, a cool cookbook and personalized apron, and a Tinkerbell gift set. Wow.
• Tuesday, 31 Oct: Gramma L and Grampa D come over as Grampa D actually got a day off from work. 4 new winter dresses, new tights, new socks, and a new outfit for her build-a-bear, Emily. Wow.
• Wednesday, 01 Nov: Actual birthday. The Babe got a fisher price digital camera from her parents. She loves it. Good.
• Saturday, 04 Nov: birthday party. Too much to mention, I may forget some... a new Cranium board game that is a huge hit, tinkertoys, coloring books, puzzles, more build-a-bear clothes, a Groovy Girl doll, a ceramic bead craft set, a play-doh gift set. The Babe loves all of it and doesn't know what to play with first. Wow.
• Sunday, 05 Nov: Brunch with the last set of grandparents; Grampa A and Gramma I. More clothes for the build-a-bear, and more clothes for The Babe. Wow.

Now, on Monday, 06 Nov, The Babe actually asked me what she was getting today. I was surprised. Ummm... well sweetie, the week of you has ended. It's not your birthday anymore. Nothing. None. You have so many new things. And then.... a package from a different Aunt J arrives with a new stuffed bear (now named Smudgy), wooden letters that spell The Babe's name, and rubber stamps. PLUS - - her good friend, Q, arrived back in town today and showed up at our door with a whole Polly Pockets gift set that has a car and everything!

So, ummm yeah. LOOT. I cannot believe the amount of stuff! And, if something arrives tomorrow, I may just have to hide it in the basement until Christmas, or else The Babe will think she gets a gift every day for the rest of her life!

sidenote: Polly Pockets would have been right up my alley as a kid. I'm surprised how much I love this toy. I'm such a girl.