Little A7 sometimes gets lost in the noise that is our family. With three older, similar aged siblings and one fairly demanding younger sibling, she sometimes fades into the back ground of all the strong personalities.
A is a quieter, placid and very eager to please child. She is full of love and so easy-going and eager to make her family happy that she rarely pushes for her own way.
Invited to a party a couple of weeks ago, she talked about nothing else all day and night long. Honestly, she was so excited, she took the invitation everywhere with her, even popped it under her pillow at night! She planned what she was going to wear and kept it neatly folded in her treasure box she keeps at the bottom of her bed.
She rarely gets any new clothes as she wears her sisters old hand-me-downs, which are usually secondhand to begin with! It never bothers her though and she is always excited to see what I come with when I go ‘shopping’ in our spare clothes wardrobe.
This time though I really wanted to get her something new. Not everything, but something so she could go to the party feeling like a princess. So, whilst the older girls were shopping for shoes for their birthday with Granny, I went looking for a top. A7 had already chosen a denim dress with red embroidered roses on it and a cardigan from our stores, but needed a plain top to go underneath. When Granny found out what I was planning to do, she asked if she could get her something also. In the end Granny bought her a new cream top, sparkly red tights and sparkly party shoes. I bought her a hair band and a sparkly party bag.
When we returned we gave them to her. She was soooo excited. I mean, really, really excited. She tried them all on and showed everyone. Her Daddy, brother and sisters all made appropriate noises, oooohing and aaaahhing, exclaiming how beautiful she looked.
Just four short hours later she was showered, hair washed, brushed and blow dried, dressed and ready to go. She looked so beautiful, so happy and when Gary went to pick her up after the party, she kept exclaiming it had been the best night of her life.
Just as I was going to bed, she stirred, held out her arms for a cuddle and told me she loved me. With a happy sigh, before drifting off to sleep, she murmured that she just had the best night of her life. Ever.