Today was CJ's 7th birthday party with her friends (her birthday isn't till the 29th, but we always seem to have the party earlier in the month before everything gets too hectic with the holidays).    This year she will actually end up with 4 celebrations.  Today was friends, next week my family will come over, while we are visiting family in Northern California for Thanksgiving she will celebrate with family up there and then on her actual birthday we will be bringing snacks to Awana.  

This year we had a Best Loved Doll Party.  If you are not familiar with the book, it is a must read for all little girls.  My mom has handed down my copy (that had been handed down to my sister in between) and the book is showing signs of a lot of love.  Basically the book is about a little girl named Betsy who is invited to a party where the guests are to bring a doll.  Prizes will be awarded to the best dressed doll, the oldest doll and the doll who can do the most things.  While Betsy has dolls that would surely win the prizes, she chooses to take her favorite doll who is tattered and "loved".  Ultimately, Betsy's doll wins a special prize as the Best Loved Doll. 

So in our invitations, each girl was asked to bring her "best loved doll". It was fun to see the assortment of dolls they brought. 

First, we read the book together.  None of the girls had heard it before and they really enjoyed it.  Then, they introduced their doll and said why she was their favorite.  For a craft project, we made no-sew fleece baby blankets for their dolls.  I found fleece in the remnant section at Wal-Mart and JoAnn's for the past few weeks and the girls were able to pick the fabric they wanted for their doll, cut and then knot the edges. 

Then we had pink frosted cupcakes (like the book) and pink lemonade (like the book) and the dolls had their own table where they got their own little pink frosted cupcake (like the book).  CJ opened presents while the girls ate their cupcakes (and their dolls cupcakes).

Then we played the game Cranium Hullabaloo.  If you have kids in the 3-8 range, it is a great game that I highly recommend.  It's basically a cross between simon says and twister with fun music.  I love it because the kids can play it without adult assistance.  The party favors were little books of paper dolls. 

Everyone had a great time and I am so glad that I heeded my husband's advice to keep the guest list small this year.  It really made it easier in so many ways and the girls really got to spend time with one another and play together and talk to each other. 

This week my mission is to get rid of the extra cupcakes and the rest of the Halloween candy before we all go into some kind of sugar shock (and so that I'll stop breaking out like a teenager!).

Off to prepare for our Thanksgiving Unit Study for next week.  Have a great Sunday!

-J