Cupcakes and play

What a day! After presents this morning, Molly's neighbor friend Rhys came over for a special play date. Playing with Rhys is always a big treat for Molly and I think both kids had a good time today. Rhys tends to be pretty quiet and Molly was so pumped up that she was practically dancing circles around him trying to get him to play. She's started telling him what to do -- "Rhys, sit at table. Rhys. Sit here. Rhys." -- and he just stares at her. He didn't want to leave, though, so I hope that's a good sign.

After nap, Molly helped me make cupcakes (while simultaneously baking pretend cookies in her own kitchen). We had noodles in tomato sauce for her special dinner. That's the closest we could get to fulfilling her birthday request, which was to have tomatoes for dinner. The cupcakes were her choice, too. She wanted vanilla cupcakes with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. I tried pretty hard on several occasions to talk her into putting chocolate frosting on but she wouldn't have it.

So here she is with her cupcake.

She's smiling here because she really got us. I walked over to the table very slowly with the candles lit, Jim with the camera, both of us singing.

We got through "Happy birthday dear Molly..." and POOF! She blew out the candles. We just stared at her, stunned, then cracked up. How did she even know that's what she was supposed to do?

Jim lit them again to give her a chance to make a wish and have a little more ceremony about it. He said "OK, I'm going to count to three ..." POOF! Molly grins. We laugh. Everybody gobbles down cupcakes.

This is a shot from earlier in the day, chillin' in the kitchen with yet another cup of tea and the new baby doll that she picked out. I've been trying to get her to pick a name, but the only one she comes up with is Harry. I tell that one's already taken, can she think of another? Yes, she says. Baby Doll. As if all her dolls aren't already named Baby Doll.