OKC Visit: Autumn's 3rd Birthday Party

ARRIVAL
Frank and I arrived in Oklahoma on Thursday, October 15th, checked in at the Hampton Inn and Suites, and rolled on over to Robin and Jeremy's house to see Autumn and Isaiah and Jeremy's visiting parents, John and Anna. Robin opened a few gifts we had for her – her birthday had been the day before. Robin and I visited Party Galaxy for some supplies and we called it an early night. Friday, October 16th would be a busy day hugging Autumn and holding Isaiah and prepping for Autumn's party on Saturday, October 17th. Since we had a rental car, Frank and I were assigned run-around type tasks – picking up the cupcakes, re-visiting the party store for additional items, and getting the balloons inflated and delivered.

DRESSING for the OCCASION
Autumn's party had a My Little Pony theme, or rather immersion. As is her tradition as a mom, Robin sewed Autumn a top for her birthday party. It had a My Little Pony print as the feature fabric and Autumn loved it. Robin asked me to french braid Autumn's hair across the crown of her head like a headband but to leave it hanging long and free down to her waist in the back. After I'd done as best I could on the little wiggle worm, I lifted her up to see herself in the mirror. Her hairdo was not as tidy as I would have wanted, but Autumn took one look at herself and exclaimed with a huge smile, "Grandma, I look like Elsa!" It melted my heart.

Elsa is one of the two main characters from the Disney movie Frozen. There is a resemblance.

Grandpa Frank dressed accordingly for the occasion, too.

Dad Jeremy also found the perfect shirt for the party.

"What is a Brony?" you ask. The definition follows, taken from the Urban Dictionary, and there is an interesting background to the term available at
http://whatisabrony.com/

EVENT PLANNING
For those unfamiliar with the cast of pony characters, a pictorial overview is supplied below. For those desirous of an in-depth study, a self-paced online tutorial is available at
http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Characters

Indoors in the sun porch there were many event stations. Pinkie Pie's Party Station was festooned with festive hats and unfurling, but judiciously noiseless, party blowers.

Rarity's Carousel Boutique was supplied with a variety of dress up items such as jewelry and stylish shades.

Twilight Sparkle's Magical Coloring School was replete with crayons and xeroxed pages from a My Little Ponies coloring book.

Apple Jack's Apple Acres was stocked with apples, squeezable applesauce tubes, and of course, Applejacks Cereal. Robin's giant homemade chocolate chip cookies were added to the mix later. False advertising on that sign was not allowed. Cookies were promised and cookies were delivered! Jeremy's sister August was the talented and diligent artist who created each of the signs for the various event stations.

These two party guests appeared to enjoy indulging in the event stations.

Outdoors, Fluttershy's Breezy Bubbles was a popular drop in activity.

There was Rainbow Dash's area for physical activities that might be associated with the Wonderbolts Academy. In the My Little Pony world, the Wonderbolts are a squad of Pegasus ponies who perform aerial acrobatics and demonstrations.



Many participants delighted in wagon rides around the arena, the "horsepower" supplied mainly by Jeremy and Frank.

And who can pass up a good game of Pin the Tail on the Pony, especially when you are good at it!

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
There was quite a spread. Not shown in the picture was also a veggie tray, a meat and cheese platter, and Grandma O's famous seven layer dip with chips.

Those cupcakes adorned with the My Little Pony toppers that Robin had ordered online from Etsy really called out to be eaten.

All ages alike enjoyed the tasty cupcakes. Grandma O, Dad Jeremy, and Mom Robin posed as proof.

 Grandpa Frank would rather start eating than pause for a photo.

TRADITIONS
I do not think anyone took a final head count. It is difficult to count a cluster of children undergoing Brownian motion. This photo had the most kids in it, nine, so I offer it as my best attempt at a group shot.

The youngest guests are featured separately from left to right:
     Mister IamNotSleepyAtAll, brother of the birthday girl being held by his aunt,
     Miss PreciousPrincessInPeaPod, and
     Senorita LookOutCarmenMiranda&ChiquitaBanana.

After singing  ♬ Happy Birthday ♬, Autumn blew out her candle.

The final quasi-formal activity was the gift opening. Three year olds are not as interested in opening gifts as they are in playing with them. In a large crowd, if one does not want multi-component gifts to be scattered to the four winds prior to the birthday recipient being able to enjoy them, then this communal playing must be forestalled. It was my assigned role, as a grandmotherly helper, to quietly and discreetly remove said gifts to be savored later in a calmer setting. This is mainly accomplished by distracting the guests and redirecting their attention to the next gift being revealed. See the highly coveted tea set being held by Autumn in the next photo?

I was surreptitiously in the process of squirreling it away when the high-pitched, indignant voice of my granddaughter rings out, heard clearly over the din of the party,

"Grandma! You're stealing my tea set!"

I'd been caught in the act. The crowd cracked up laughing. Ya can't plan this stuff with kids, folks. It just happens. Shame on me.

The party was a success. No one dissolved in tears and the party guests went home happy. No one pressed charges on the theft episode. Whew!