Zoe's 5th Birthday Extravaganza

No birthday goes unnoticed in this house, and especially not a 5th birthday. The fifth birthday symbolizes so much. It seems as if Zoe has grown overnight, no longer my sweet, chubby little baby, Zoe's a full on kid now.

The morning began with tears, mine. I cried all through her "Happy Birthday" wake up song then reached in for my first five year old Zoe hug and kiss. After waking her up at the crack of dawn with singing, we had a birthday breakfast of "Yia Yia" cake and presents, as is our tradition.

Everyone loves birthday breakfasts, especially Jack! He thought it was a great way to start the day.

With her new purple swede boots, from fellow boot lover Auntie Mimi, and her birthday outfit, off she went to school!

For dinner, my birthday princess requested a "brinner" of eggs, toast and bacon and
then chocolate chocolate cake with scads of sprinkles.

The next day, Zoe's Daddy (who prefers to give experiences over "stuff") took her to Disney on Ice for her special birthday present from him. Just the two of them, a Daddy Date. As luck would have it, Disney on Ice this year was Toy Story 3!! Zoe's favorite movie series - she drank it in and got a Jessie hat as a momento.

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Then it was Saturday, the day of Zoe's birthday party! We've been planning her Sock Hop party for months. I can't even remember when we had the idea first. I think it was during one of the umpteenth times we watch Grease over the last year.

It made me feel a little bit old that Zoe asked "What is it?" when I showed her the prototype of her handmade birthday invitation. "It's a record, sweetie!" I answered. "What's a record?" she asked. It made me feel even older when I explained to Zoe's BFF's 27-year-old Mom that we were have a Sock Hop because Zoe loves the movie Grease. "What's Grease?" she asked me.

Yiayia and I made adorable poodles skirts and shirts for Zoe's Sock Hop 5th birthday party. That was the whole reason to have a Sock Hop, you know, poodle skirts. Yiayia cut and pinned and sewed, I traced appliques and glued ribbon and sparkles. It was a labor of love and I think they came out special and amazing and about ten times less than what we would have paid in a costume shop.

Seriously, how cute is this?

and The Dude was simply dreamy as a little Greaser.

So much of the success of the party goes to my fellow lunatics, especially the "Soda Jerks," who gamely played along and made my Sock Hop vision complete. Chris and Stu even got haircuts for the occasion.

Guest began to arrive, poses were struck, pictures were taken and the dancing begun. Many of our little friends came wearing their own bought or found or Momma-sewn poodle skirts.

We had a little "photo booth" in the nook of our great room so that pictures could be taken as our guests arrived, real 45 records hung from the ceiling, on the walls and made a
"Happy Birthday" sign on the fireplace, pink and black balloons and steamers were everywhere.

Zoe's Soda Shop was soon opened, with a customized menu (a la Jen) and pink and black flag sign. The soda jerks got to work making chocolate and vanilla shakes, root beer floats, sliders, pigs in a blanket and shoe string fries. My dream of little girls in poodle skirts belly up to our kitchen counter, drinking from vintage Coca Cola glasses with tons of whipped cream and a cherry on top was complete.

There was a moment of regret soon after the realization of this dream - thirteen five year olds pumped up on caffeine and sugar began to jump on my couches in the living room like a bunch of wild monkeys. So, time for some organized activities...

starting with the limbo...

and then musical chairs, hosted by those silly Soda Jerks...

and finally chocolate chocolate birthday cake and presents!

It was all worth it for this moment...when Zoe laughed and smiled, and actually blew out her candles, basking in the attention...which she has never, ever done before.

It was such a fantastic day, such a fun three days really, a great celebration with family as well as friends. Thank you to Mom, Mimi, Chris, Jen and Stuart for making it so much fun!

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When I asked my little five year old what her favorite part of her birthday was, she said "Disney on Ice!" When I asked her what her favorite birthday ever was, she said "When Daddy took me to Disneyland!" Oh, well, I guess her Daddy's always going to be first with this little Daddy's girl.

Next year, she says she wants a Haunted House...already thinking...