Finally Four

When a child's birthday rolls around, it seems like most mothers say something to the effect of "I can't believe she is ____ years old already!" Although I can relate to that sentiment, on Mika's fourth birthday I was actually thinking "This little girl has been acting 'four' for a couple of months, now!"

She has shown a sudden interest in writing letters and can write her own name with an adorable left-handed scrawl. I don't remember exactly teaching her how to do that, it seems like she just kind of figured it out on her own. She has really taken her big sister role to heart and teaches Paula all sorts of helpful things, like the colors in Trix cereal and how to dress dollies. Also, I hardly ever see her thumb in her mouth, anymore (true, she replaces it with her pinky a lot of the time, but the effort is admirable). Mika has just grown up so much in the past year.

For her birthday, she requested to go as a family to the "Castle Park" in Windsor. We went in the morning, while it was still cool outside.

Ramona and Mika pretended to be princesses and found a little boy who wanted to play along and be a knight.

 Paula was a baby princess . . .

 . . . and Forest was some kind of evil wizard.

Mika liked to spend time in her secret princess tower.

 After a phone call from Paca, it was about time to go home.

 Mika's next requested activity was fuse bead crafting. She loves these things.

 Lunch was topped off with cupcakes, topped with candles.

 Four candles for four awesome years with Mika!

Then it was time to do some party prep--Mika had a flip-flop-themed party with her little friends, so I practiced painting some little flip flops on Mika, Forest, and Ramona.

As guests arrived, we glued rhinestones and sequins onto flip flops and made bracelets for some craft time . . .

 . . . then played a flip flop matching game for tootsie roll prizes.

 Also, we played a round of flip flip flop (an adaptation of duck duck goose) . . .

 . . . we did a cupcake walk . . .

 . . . and enjoyed some mini soft serve ice cream cones.

 It was a party!

 Once the party was over, we got a picture of Mika with her flowers from Paca . . .

 . . . and let her open up her gifts.

 Here is the moment of excitement when she realized Grandma sent her a Monster High doll:

 Not one, but two! Thanks Grandma!

As if there were not enough dolls in the house already, mom and dad gave her an Ever After High doll.

During the rest of Mika's birthday, there was a lot of doll-playing . . . 

Some singing and dancing with a new Frozen microphone . . .

. . . and an episode of Monster High. 

 I think Ramona was pretty excited about her little sister turning four.

 Mika was such a sweet little birthday girl for her special day.

The next day, she wore a new dress to church (Paula eventually put on clothes, too).

And in the days that followed, she continued to enjoy her birthday gifts . . . 

And wrote lots of thank-you notes, too.

Here is a note for my Mika:

Dear Mika,
    I really do not know what I would do without you. You add so much to our family. Somehow your easy-going nature evens out the over-zealous, high strung personalities that tend to reside in this household. You remind us to try and go with the flow and find joy in the simple moments. You have such a kind heart. Whenever either of your sisters are sad, you are so eager to comfort and love them. Thank you for all of the times you ask me to play with you or read you a book--those times are truly precious to me. Love you so much.

-Mommy