Be frabjous.: Happy Birthday, Coriel!

Drum roll, please! Coriel, the brilliant, the gorgeous, the hilarious, the delightful, has lived through another fabulous year. She has been so many things this year—monkeys, babies, princesses, knights and pirates, Fancy Nancy, my mother, Addra’s mother, ponies, detectives, heroes and villains, a sister, a daughter, a friend. She has learned so much as well. Lots of writing, a bit of reading, scripture stories, far too many Dora and Diego stories, Articles of Faith, how to unload the dishes and sort laundry (sort of), how to make lemonade, how to say “spoon” instead of “foon.” The Coriel of a year ago would seem so much younger, smaller, and probably quieter than today’s Coriel. It is strange to think that five years ago she was small enough to fit inside my (admittedly ginormous) abdomen. How could she have ever been that tiny? (And yes, I know this is a terribly clichéd sort of thing to say, but too bad.)

This year during the summer, she decided she wanted a butterfly birthday party a la Fancy Nancy. Given her mercurial tendencies, I wasn’t convinced that it would stick. But it was summer, the time for buying all things butterfly-ish. So we went with it, and then from time to time we had to slightly reconvince her that this year was the butterfly year.

The party was sheer madness, let me just say. Fun, but madness. I don’t think my house was meant to hold 18 children and six to nine adults all at the same time. We sent out butterfly invitations that Coriel colored, and we hung butterflies from the ceiling (which we girls love so much I think we may never take them down). We had butterfly crafts and party favor bags. We played pin-the-stinger-on-the-bee (we extended the party outward to all insects just in case someone didn’t like butterflies—wouldn’t want to be discriminatory, you know). We played this great chrysalis game, which involved wrapping small children in streamers of toilet paper. Good times. We had hot dogs and butterfly cupcakes (thanks, Carlynne!), none of which got ground into the carpet (amazing). Coriel’s friends were all so much fun to have over—and so noisy! They were thoughtful, fun, and incredibly generous in their gift giving and their friendship. Coriel had a very hard time deciding what to play with first. Everyone left eventually with a set of antennas and some party favors (including treat bags shaped like butterflies, of course), and the house seemed so empty. But only for about five minutes, which is how long it took before the girls started pulling out every single thing that Coriel had just gotten and spreading them around the house. Ah, the fun.

For the actual day of her birthday, she got a pretty new dress to wear to church. She had toaster strudel for breakfast and pizza for dinner. She gave a talk in Primary at church, and it was awesome. She wrote the whole thing down on a piece of paper and then she sort of “read” it: “I love missionaries. I can do missionary work now by service and kindness.” Short, to the point. Then we went home and had turkey. Yes, turkey. Our neighbors gave us one, so Brice brined it overnight (inspiring me to start singing, “O briny turkey, o briny briny…” and such) and it cooked during church. Delicious.

Now back to the birthday girl. She also got some other clothes (lots), a couple of books (including the ubiquitous Fancy Nancy), and a set of ponies. She spent the rest of the afternoon talking to them and sending them around the house on various adventures.

Now she is finally in bed, resting and dreaming silly dreams about hippos eating various bizarre objects. Tomorrow she will be another day older, sweeter, and smarter. She will also be another day wilier, crazier, and more crazy-making. We will play with her new ponies and dolls and books and art supplies and such. We will laugh wildly and she will argue with me like only a young child can. (“Coriel, it will hurt if you fall off the bed like that.” “No it won’t.” “Coriel, that dress doesn’t fit you anymore.” “Yes it does.” “Coriel, you’re driving me crazy!” “No I’m not.” That sort of thing.) We will both learn something new, and at the end of the day she’ll go to bed again and I will too, and we will each be glad for another day.

And now some pictures for your enjoyment. Placed here with very little order, poor or random formatting, and much frustration, all courtesy of Blogger.