A ‘friend party’ birthday or a ‘family party’ birthday. Those were the options we presented to Ariana as we prepared for her big day. After very little consideration (and much to our surprise) she opted for ‘family.’

The planning and anticipation was almost as much fun as the actual festivities.

Dinner at The Magic Time Machine in Addison

Ariana invited Maggie Johnson to accompany her. For those unfamiliar with The Magic Time Machine, servers are dressed up like various movie stars. Young guests can meander through the restaurant and gather autographs of these ‘famous’ figures. The girls were disappointed that Jack Sparrow the Pirate couldn’t seem to make the time to sign their autograph book. So, even though we were en route home, Dad turned the truck around, got the girls’ books, marched back into the restaurant, and beat the pesky pirate in a sword fight. Fearing for his life, Jack Sparrow signed the girls’ books, and we were on our way again . . . this time with two very happy girls.

A Fun-Filled Day of Theatrical Entertainment

The Saturday before Ariana’s birthday, we went to the $1 movies in Lewisville and watched Over the Hedge, had lunch/dinner at Saltgrass Steak House, ate snow cones, and attended a production of Once Upon a Mattress at the Irving Community Theater. We had made Ariana a CD of the play’s songs a few weeks prior to the event, so she had no problem singing right along.

The Big Day

Of course, on the actual day of her birthday, Ariana selected her favorite foods for dinner (smoked, grilled pork chops w/ pineapple rings; fruit salad; cream corn; peas). She wanted white cake so that Dad could eat some too . . . he doesn’t like chocolate! That’s the type of girl our Ariana is . . . kind to the core.