The Harriman Family: Mary Ella's {Sofia the First} 4th Birthday Party

Meet Sofia, Mary Ella's favorite Disney character and the inspiration for her 4th birthday party

So, I was hoping we would be celebrating ME's 4th birthday in our own house, but that was wishful thinking. Thanks to Gigi and Papa for once again hosting one of my children's birthday parties at their house. Hopefully this will be the last one. If we're still homeless in November, well, I don't even want to think about it!

This one was a fun one to plan! This is the first time ME has chosen her party theme. At first it was Tiana, then Merida, but when I mentioned Sofia and we started searching for cake images on line I knew we had hit the jackpot! We picked a 3-tiered cake that was decorated like Sofia's dress. I sent it to Rick's Bakery, told them to cut the second layer, and WA-LA! Another amazing and very special birthday creation!

Sofia's amulet necklace is a big part of the show, in case you didn't know ;)

I made funfetti cake balls

And birthday popcorn too!

I loved the invite I found on etsy with Sofia's silhouette.

Pretty gumballs

More cake pictures...I won't even apologize because this is my blog and I want to remember it...and it got devoured very quickly! ;)

ME requested pink lemonade

Gigi made a beautiful pink and purple bouquet from her flower beds.

ME also requested uncrustables pb&j and Cheetos. I made open-faced tomato sandwiches, corn dip, and put together Stone Mill chicken salad sandwiches on cranberry and walnut bread for the adults.

I tied leftover fabric from the banner (see bollow) onto a wire wreath to go under the cake stand.

Found the tulle pom poms at Hobby Lobby and got the idea to cut up pink and purple fabric and tie between them

Here comes the birthday girl... Her party was Sunday, August 4th, after church. We gave her her big present the day before, a Sofia dress, amulet, and tiara. As soon as we got in from church, Daddy changed her into her dress and she said, "I want you to introduce me." This is fairly common around our house. Well, not so much in the hotel. But at home when she would get dressed up or even get out of the bath and put on fresh pjs she would say, "Mommy I want to go show Daddy. Will you introduce me?" So, she would stay in her bedroom and I would stand at the door and say, "Introducing...Princess Mary Ella!" (or whoever she wanted to be). Then she would come out and twirl and wait for her daddy to "ooh and ahh" over her. So, on her big day, why should we do anything but introduce her? I wish her face wasn't so blurry in these pictures, because this is true ME in all of her fairytale princess glory...

Oh, the amulet! On the show King Roland gives Sofia the amulet as a gift, and she promises to never take it off. Daddy, above, plays the part of King Roland. ;)

And then...when she realized how many people were standing out there, like the whole family, she got a little embarrassed ;)

Kid table

Reese and Eli were wondering if the amulet gave her the power to talk to animals. ;)

Love it

Cake ball

Presents

Big girl cousins

Brad and his uncrustabble ;)

Time for presents! Thanks everyone! Mommy especially enjoys the new clothes!

Lindsay made her a Sofia shirt.

This was Brad's reaction to her receiving her first pair of Seven jeans ;) Ha!

Cousins don't shake hands, cousins gotta hug!

Rhett's cheeeese

Gracie's cheeese

Sofia doll

And gown from Mia

Before you say "Aww, what a sweet family..."

This is keeping it real: Me saying, "Get your FEET OFF the table!"

Trying to get a good family pic is humorous...good luck to Jessica Ritchie in a few weeks!

Annual "how old are you" photo take by Super Uncle Cole

Time to sing!

She was a little intimidated by the sparkler candles, and they kept lighting back up. So, here's to lots of blowing out the candles pics courtesy of Aunt Jenn and Super Uncle Cole.

Fixing her hair

Love this one!

There are 4 candles, even though it looks like 2.

Satisfaction...

Until it came back

Finally got them out!

Eating her name

Guess who chose the amulet piece?

And guess who cut the 4th of 4 birthday cakes...Na Na!

Oh, boys and their technology!

Looking just like a princess ;)

FYI: Post-party is not a good time to take birthday pics of a 4-year-old, but I did get a few good ones. Special thanks to Mia for the assistance. And the balloons helped!