Three Things Thursday, the letter "P" edition ...

1. Polite: Yesterday, Dizzle received an invitation to a friend's birthday party at Build-A-Bear. I opened the invite (yes, I screen her mail) and saw that the party was scheduled for next Saturday. The only Saturday this month that we already have plans for.

I considered not telling her about the party. I knew that she would be upset to miss it, but then I thought about it and realized that she'd be more upset if she thought she wasn't invited.

So, I told her and the conversation went like this:

Me: So Dizzle, you got invited to K's party.
Dizzle: I know! It's at Build-A-Bear!
Me: Yes, it is. But you can't go.
Dizzle: (instantly crying) But I want to go!
Me: Honey, stop crying. You can't go because it is the same day as Uncle J's wedding and you already made a commitment to be his flower girl. You can't miss that. I'm sorry that you have other obligations.
Dizzle: (whimpering) Fine. But can you write K a letter to let her know?
Me: Sure.
Dizzle: OK. I want it to say:

Dear K,
Thank you for inviting me to your party at Build-A-Bear, but I will be unable to attend because I have to go to my Uncle J's wedding in a different state.
Dizzle

And that's when I started laughing. Unable to attend? Seriously, Dizzle? What five-year-old declares that she is "unable to attend" rather than just saying, "I can't go"? Oh, wait. I know. The kind of five-year-old who has a mother who reminds her that she has "other obligations." Yup, we are prepping for the SATs over here.

2. Party - And while we are on the subject of parties, I need an idea for one. Dilly turns two in three weeks and I have no idea what to do for her party. G had two really good ideas, but both of them have one minor detail that could have them blowing up in my face. So I am looking for suggestions. Here's the scoop.

All of our family lives far away, so this fiesta is friends only. And since we don't have too many friends, it's going to be small. Also, I am looking for easy and cheap. Not a lot of clean up and it has to fit within our monthly budget. Oh, and it has to be suitable for a wide range of ages. The guest will include the following:

5-6 adults
1 two year old
1 three year old
1 four year old
2 five year olds
1 eight year old
1 11 year old

Any suggestions?

3. Posh - And sticking to the celebrating, did I ever tell you how we celebrated New Year's Eve? Well, my totally awesome little sister, who just happens to be the Hotel Manager of the Baltimore Tremont Plaza, put J, the girls and me up in the W.C. Smith Suite.

Talk about FANTASTIC. Here's the a description of the room:

A spacious two-bedroom Suite with over 1,400 square feet of superior comfort, including one king bedroom, one queen bedroom, two and a half full baths, and a spacious open living, dining, and entertaining area.

Yeah, it was pretty much amazing. The room included a sauna, exercise room, built in speakers and iPod docks, a television over the bathtub, and heated bathroom floors.

We were totally spoiled. Just take a guess at the per night rate ...

$1500.

Sheer lunacy. (Thank God I didn't have to pay it.)

run like a princess ...

Things have been busy around here celebrating Dilly's birthday and everything, so this will be short and sweet.

This morning we had Dilly's "Over the Rainbow" first birthday party. For two hours, my house was full of children ages five months to five years. It was loud to say the least. But, everyone seemed to have fun. And really, isn't that what birthdays are all about? Well, that and cake?

And speaking of birthdays, I got an early birthday present today from J. As of this morning, I am officially registered in the 2010 Disney Princess Half Marathon!! I am so excited! We are surprising the girls with a trip to Disney for their birthdays/this year's family vacation, and J happened to schedule it for the same weekend as the race. And since we were going to be there anyway, well you get the point. Sweet, right?

And since my dates with Mr. Wave Elixir 4 went so well on Wednesday and Thursday, we might just make our public debut at that race. Because, really, every princess needs her glass (or lightweight, running on clouds) slipper ...