Sixteen in Quarantine

Despite the whole state shut down because of the COVID-19 virus, we did our best to celebrate Marina’s sixteenth birthday. We both slept in this morning. After we were both up and dressed, we went to drive up church. The pastor met us at the car and we all prayed the birthday prayer over Marina as well.

As we headed home, Marina asked for cinnamon rolls for breakfast. So we stopped at the grocery store. This was the first time she had seen a store since all the craziness began. When she saw the empty shelves, she said it looked like a zombie apocalypse.

At home, I made Coconut Shrimp for Marina’s birthday. Just as I was finishing it up, one of our friends came over to celebrate with us. We all had lunch together and Marina opened her presents from me. A little while late we sang Happy Birthday and ate cake.

Happy Birthday!

Marina was looking forward to a good day today. She picked out a sparkly blue dress to wear to school today and we bought cupcakes for her to hand out at school.

After school, I asked what she would like for her birthday dinner, but she was unsure. She wanted something with bacon – ultimately settling for grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon in them. She was even willing to wait for me to make them.

After dinner, we had a small chocolate cake. After she blew out the candles, she opened her presents. She seemed very pleased with all of them, especially the mermaid cuddle tail I gave her. After she ate her cake, she ran upstairs to try on her new mermaid swimwear as well.

When I asked her how her birthday was, she said, “Outstanding!”

Birthday Blessing

Our church has a tradition of saying a public birthday blessing for every member. Last week Marina wasn't there, so she got her blessing today. She was quite excited about it. She wore her birthday dress and since she had a matching American Girl dress, she brought Grace along as well.

Today was Palm Sunday. Marina enjoyed helping to hand out palm leaves to everyone. Then she joined he procession with our friend Miss Judy.

Near the end of the service, Marina beamed as she received her birthday blessing. She didn't have to be prompted at all to go to the alter for her blessing.

After church, we went out to lunch with Mr. Chuck and Miss Judy. When our server asked if we were there for an occasion, Miss Judy let him know we were celebrating Marina's birthday. She was quite pleased.

Marina ordered for herself and even had a salad to start with. We were all impressed with how much she ate. She was the only one who wanted dessert. She ordered chocolate cake and ice cream. When it arrived, our servers had added two birthday candles to it. They lit them and we all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She graciously shared her cake with all of us.

After we finished lunch, Mr. Chuck and Miss Judy took Marina shopping for a birthday present. Marina clearly enjoyed that. Once she picked out her gift, she and I went out shopping for a bit. We bought some of our favorite lotions and a Cinderella movie inspired dress for Marina. She'd had a good day!

Princess Party

We waited to have all our family in town before celebrating Marina's birthday with them. We decided on a princess theme - her cake had 10 princesses on and around it. Marina decided to dress up in her Anna costume since Anna was not represented on the cake (neither was Elsa or Merida, but that didn't seem to bother her).

Marina had fun with her cousin Cameron and her uncles all evening. We had Italian food since she had requested "pasta." Of course, Marina's favorite part was opening presents. She was thrilled with the gift cards she got because she she gets to go shopping.

I had to remind her to thank everyone and say goodbye, she was too busy playing with her new toys!

Family Birthday Fun

We invited our family over for Marina's birthday dinner. Marina was excited about it all week. Last night I made her a Merida birthday cake. She couldn't wait to have the figurines to play with. She even tried helping with the cake. She piped some of the grass on and helped me with the sprinkles.

Before everyone came over, Marina helped clean up the house. She vacuumed the whole house and picked up her toys. I was so proud of her!

Brian and Emily arrived first and they thrilled Marina by asking her to be the flower girl in their wedding. She's been asking them if they need a flower girl for a long time, so she was happy to accept.

As each member of our family showed up, Marina hugged them and told them how happy she was to see them.While everyone was finishing up dinner, Marina and Cameron went outside to play with bubbles. The came inside when it was time for cake.

After singing "Happy Birthday" and passing out the cake, Marina was anxious to open her presents.She received quite a few nice gifts.

Marina and Cameron went into the basement and played for a while. I was impressed that when they came up the basement wasn’t a mess! Marina hugged everyone as they left and thanked them for coming. She had a fun evening.

Birthday for an American Girl

Marina's birthday is five days away, but we got started celebrating early by having her party today. She is still crazy about her American Girl doll McKenna, who is a gymnast. So, we had a gymnastics party with an American Girl theme.The party was at the recreation center where Marina used to take ballet class. She had seen the gymnastics classes which are held there, so she was very excited to have her birthday party there.

We'd had gymnastics parties before, but none like this! The kids were allowed to play of the bars and beam as well as a long trampoline. There were giant balls to sit on and a large ring that the kids could sit in while their friends rolled it along. As soon as the party started, the kids wasted no time having fun. There were so many different activities it was hard to keep track of where the kids were.


After a very quick 45 minutes, it was time for cupcakes and ice cream. Since it was an American Girl party, several girls brought their dolls. We had a table set up just for them. Their plates and cups were just like the ones the kids were using.

Marina enjoyed opening her presents as well. She read each card out loud and would wait for everyone to settle down so she could be heard. She received some very nice gifts and was gracious in receiving them.


By the end of the party it was clear the kids were getting tired. They'd had fun. We were glad they all came to celebrate with us.

Birthday Dinner

Marina’s birthday fell right before spring break and Easter, so I thought we’d wait a little before having her birthday dinner. A few days ago she reminded me we hadn’t had her birthday dinner yet, so I was aware she hadn’t forgotten.

We invited the whole family over this evening for dinner. Marina wanted spaghetti, so I made an Italian dinner. She was especially excited to see Cameron and her uncles. We ate dinner fairly early. Once she and Cameron were done, they went into the basement to play.

When everyone was ready for cake, I had to convince her to come out of the basement for it. I’d made her another Disney Fairies cake. We made sure everyone understood Marina was to take the first bite of cake. (She had not been so insistent about dinner.) As soon as she was finished eating, she dove into her presents. She received many nice gifts and wanted them deboxed right away.

She’d had a fun evening.

Birthday Girl

Marina has been counting down the days to her birthday. Last night, she wanted to wear curlers to bed so she'd have pretty hair today. When I dropped her off at school this morning, she announced excitedly, "I get to be on the announcements!" Apparently students get to lead the Pledge of Allegiance on their birthday.

Near the end of the school day, I came to her classroom with cupcakes. Naturally, her classmates were excited to get them. Marina got the take the ceremonial first bite. She waited until everyone in the class was quiet before she did.

After school, we went out for dinner. When we came home, Mr. Chuck and Miss Judy came over for cake and presents. I made her another Tinkerbell and friends cake. I think by this time, Marina was a bit tired of cake, she didn't eat much. She was much more interested in her presents.

Marina was so funny as she opened her presents. She carefully looked at each package and tried to figure out what it was before opening it. But she was pretty happy with what was in the packages.

After our celebration, we settled down and watched The Muppets on DVD, one of her presents. It had been a fun day.

A Fairy Birthday

Marina's birthday is five days away, so we got ready for the big day by having her party today. She wanted a Silvermist party at the pool. (Silvermist is Tinkerbell's water fairy friend. They don't make Silvermist party supplies, so we stayed with a Disney Fairies theme. Marina was very pleased with her cake which I made with six fairies playing in a waterfall. Naturally, Silvermist was at the top.

We arrived at the pool a bit early to set up our tables. Marina couldn't wait to get in the water. She was excited when each of her friends showed up. They were so excited to get into the water. We had to make an effort to get them out to eat lunch.

On a scheduled break we had cake. The kids requested whether they wanted a piece with "grass" or waterfall" frosting.

The party was technically over at 2:00, but many kids stayed longer to play. Two hours later, after everyone else had gone home, I persuaded Marina to get out of the pool by telling her we could open presents at home. She was happy to do that!

At home she opened her presents and immediately started playing with them. I'm surprised she has the energy. I'm exhausted!

Birthday Dinner

We invited members of the family over for a dinner in honor of Marina’s birthday. Marina wanted yet another Rapunzel cake. So I made her one with Rapunzel, Flynn Rider and Maximus on it. She loved it, probably because she knew she’d get the toys afterward. Marina was most excited to see Cameron. The two of them played in the basement and in the back yard. They were having so much fun I had to call her in for cake and presents.

Get Tangled in the Fun!

Marina's birthday party today continued the Rapunzel theme. We had a Rapunzel cake, plates and even the soundtrack playing during the party. We had the party at a hair salon where she and four of her friends got their hair and nails done. They all had fun with the princess theme. They were all so beautiful! The biggest surprise of the day was in the goody bags. Each girl was given a plastic frying pan - Rapunzel's tool for self defense. Within minutes, they were swatting at everyone with them. Well, that is what it was used for!

Birthday Princess

Marina has been excited about her upcoming birthday for quite some time. Today I brought cupcakes to her class. The whole class sang "Happy Birthday" to her and then took their cupcakes outside for a snack while they played.

After school, Marina and I had dinner, then came home. She opened her presents from me. She seemed to like them, her favorite was a Rapunzel wig.

We had some friends and neighbors come over for cake and some of them brought presents as well. It was a fun evening although Marina got a bit grumpy as it got later.

The Queen's Birthday

Today was my birthday. My age has, ahem, a zero on the end. So my sister planned a party with my whole family at a local Italian restaurant. Marina wanted to wear her Mardi Gras mask, I'm not sure what the significance of that was. We had a fun night. Marina and Cameron ran around the table taking pictures. Too bad none of them were really usable. Still we had a fun night with everyone.

Dinner for a Princess

We wrapped up Marina's birthday with a special dinner with our family. She had requested "basketti," so I cooked up an Italian dinner with lasagne, spaghetti and chicken parmesan. Our house was full, but we had good conversation and good food. Marina was having so much fun, she didn't even think about birthday cake or presents.

Marina had requested a chocolate cake with layers and horses on it. So that is what she got.


Once she got around to it, she opened some very nice presents.

It's been a fun week, but an tiring one.

Party Under the Sea

Marina said she wanted a pool party. In March that's not so easy to do. A recreation center was recommended to me and it turned out to be great. We had two lifeguards. Katie and Tyler, who did a great job playing with the kids and helping them in the deeper parts. Marina had so much fun, I had a hard time keeping track of her during the party.


After a long hour of swimming, we went into the party room for cake and presents. It took s awhile to cut into the ice cream cake. During that time, we passed out leis and other accessories. Once the cake was passed out, the kids were very quiet as they ate it. Of course, Marina had plenty of help opening her presents.

Overall, I think it was a good party.

Happy Birthday Princess!

Marina turned six today. I took cupcakes to her school this morning. She and I put one cupcake at each place. How happy were her classmates to come in from recess to see cupcakes on the tables. Marina loved it when the class sang "Happy Birthday" to her. The she happily ate her pink cupcake at a table with her friends Hannah and Bailey.

This evening, she got to pick what we had for dinner. She chose McDonalds. Our friends Chuck and Judy joined us. Then we all came back to our home for cake and presents. I made her a Tinkerbell chocolate cake. Marina was so excited by the presents that she hardly touched her cake. She had a good day today. This kicks off her birthday week. The celebrating will last until Sunday.

The End of Marina's Birthday - Finally!

The way Marina's birthday is celebrated is so different than what I grew up with. I would usually get to pick what I wanted for dinner, have a cake made by my mother, open a few presents and call it a day. The fact that my sister's birthday was the day after mine meant we'd do it all again the very next day - and often even the presents were the same! I used to think it was unfair because she already knew what she was getting. Now I realize, it was unfair to her, not me.

How I wish I were Marina.

Her actual birthday was three weeks ago. It feels like we've been celebrating her birthday the whole time. Not that I mind. Her birth was the greatest thing to ever happen to me.

Today, I had my family over for lunch to celebrate. First of all, you have to understand I have a small townhouse and a large family. The two don't go well together. I'm sure they all groan when they have to crowd into my house for Marina's birthday. At least I only make them do it once a year.

The highlight for the party for me was the cake. I made an Ariel one at Marina's request. I thought it turned out pretty good.

The Birthday Ball

So, I'd been planning Marina's birthday party for about nine month. Yes, I have no life. Last year I saw a birthday party where a teacher taught ballet to a group of girls. That morphed in my mind into a Ball. So, this year, we had a Birthday Ball for Marina.

Last year I bought Marina a Giselle dress from Enchanted. Then this year I saw the Disney store had a sale on the Giselle dress for adults. I couldn't resist. Marina was thrilled to learn we'd be matching Giselle's for the party. Of course, her dress was glamorous and beautiful. Mine made me look like a house.

Since I had so much time to plan it, I had time to fuss over the details. I planned everything down to the napkins. So there was plenty of room for something to go wrong. Plenty did, but no one seemed to notice. I had wanted each prince and princess to be formally introduced. That didn't happen. Everything went so much faster than I planned. My friend Joe acted as MC (He was dressed as Hagrid - it was awesome!). He really kept the pace up. So we served dinner way earlier than I planned.

I made the cake myself - a wedding-like tiered cake which was followed by presents. Marina got a ton of them! I must have done a good job with the pinata because it took the kids more than 20 minutes to scoop up all the goodies.

The party was over 2 1/2 hours after it started. That was good considering I was worried it would be over three hours. But clean up took two hours. As we got everything together, Marina said, "I want another birthday." Yikes!