Happy birthday Dorothy!

Unbelievably, my first child turned four today. She decided to have a gorilla birthday party about 10 months ago, right after I gave her a set of pictures from her third birthday party in a little album. She was looking at the albums from all her previous birthdays and thinking deep thoughts about the themes--kitty cats, monkeys, the beach. She really liked the pictures from the monkey party, especially the cake, so she decided her next birthday should be similar but different, and thus the gorilla theme was born. I can't believe the idea still enchanted her after all this time, but she did not change her mind once. So in addition to the amazing pink gorilla cake done by Nana (color request by Dorothy), I made a gorilla tablecloth she can now use on her own little table and made little party favor bags for Dorothy and her cousins. Of course I actually did this right after Christmas, since I knew I probably would not get it done with a new baby in the house (great foresight, that!). The favor bags are totes made from a green-trimmed thrift store sheet with an iron-on clipart gorilla, and are meant to be the girls' zoo bags this summer so they can schlep their own snacks and water bottles. Inside I tucked a simple stuffed gorilla toy with a baby on its back (printable fabric), a notepad I embellished with a photo and the girls' names, and a little drawstring bag containing a Scrabble-tile gorilla necklace. The bags were a hit, and Dorothy looked cute with her bag slung over her shoulder and her necklace on for the rest of the party.

She got some very cute gifts, including a little desk for the living room near my sewing table so she can keep her own crafts organized and handy. She'd outgrown the drawer we keep for her supplies long ago. The amazing Aunt Molly also made a hit with a handmade mail pouch made of felt, containing little felt envelopes with address labels and stamps that Velcro on, and charming little felt cards for all occasions. Fun!