Kaylee's Enchanted Totoro's 10th party

 This has got to be my favorite theme of all time. The whimsy and fantasy in this theme was palpable. And it didn't take much to make it look this enchanting. 

The backdrop is courtesy of someone teaching me how to print a pdf in poster mode to print on several pages. I feel silly admitting I didn't know how to do that till this party. C'est la vie!

How whimsical is Kaylee here dressed like Mei from the movie?

One of my top ten cakes of all time. It was so easy to make. I really can't believe I got it to look like that. 

Easiest cookies ever, yet they were so hard to make because it was so hard to find black food coloring. Seriously!

That little flower well with the Totoro plushie was too adorable. 

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful?

Isn't she precious? Made from love!

How cute and contrasting are those sprites? So easy to make too!

Thank you, God, for my daughter's amazing friends!

(pictured are Lucia, Valentina, Kaylee, and Becky)

Of course mom went for the easiest piñata design!

This is what they should look like.

Ta da! (Of course my eldest doesn't have short hair, but you get the gyst)

How serendipitous was that red bridge for this birthday theme!!!!

The rain scene has to be one of my favorites. I forgot to pose them with Kaylee sleeping on Emmalee's back!

My colleague Tati lent me ALL the beautiful plastic flowers you see. They were EVERYTHING to make this theme look this magical!

Dear Kaylee, 

How is it possible that you are headed to 5th grade? When did this happen? How did it happen? No! These are lies. You are still my baby. I will remain in denial forever. Honestly, though, time has slipped through my fingers. You have grown so much. You are still my little jumping shrimp, giggly munchkin, stuffed-animals lover, rainbows and unicorns little girl. You love Bluey but you also love Gumball. You are walking the line between innocent childhood and curious tween life. You are a hopeless romantic. I have written about this before, but now I can add you are a very loyal romantic. This year I did see you fall more in love with your Saviour and your Christian walk. It wasn't a path with no resistance. For a moment, I thought you would ask to give up Crosswalk. In the end, you not only finished but requested to continue for the next year. Watching you do hard things made me proud. We can all "serve" Christ when it's fun and when it's with our friends. You have enjoyed serving Him in choirs, chapel club, and dance club. And I love seeing how every time you do it you give it your all. You dance with your entire body and all your energy. I can't take my eyes off of you. You sing with intention, loudly from the bottom of your heart. My eyes fill with tears every time I hear you sing. But the Lord wants true worshipers. The Lord wants us to do hard things for our love for Him. Watching you go through Crosswalk while grinding to find the will to go, and then go and do it with joy, discipline, and love was magical. Watching you serve in your first mission trip with the heart of a servant is all I've ever prayed for your life. What does it matter if you are smart, beautiful, popular, friendly, social, or successful if you do not use your life to serve God? Nothing, my darling daughter. Nothing at all! He is why we are on this earth. To do His will is why we breathe and walk. It is a personal journey. One you must take alone. One that at this age becomes more and more a reality. After the hard mission trip, your determined "I'm coming back next year" was the proudest I've ever felt about being your mom. But you make me proud every day. There is no hug more lasting and hearfelt than yours. Every kiss you give me feels charged with gratitude and care. Your humor is still my favorite; if I am ever feeling down, I just need to look at you and your silly smile will make me smile. You have learned how to smile for pictures better. Oh, buggaboo, it has been a struggle to get you to smile on pictures, yet you are always so willing to please and give it your best even when it makes you uncomfortable. I love the fierce and loyal friend you are. I love that you don't make exceptions on who you love, and you love everyone with the same intensity. I can't wait to see the wonderful things the Lord will do in you and through you. You have already taught me more than you can imagine. I love you infinitely, 

Mom.