Princess Cutie Pops marks the fifth year of her reign!

On 24 December we pretend that it really isn't Chrismas eve and focus solely on our little red-head. A little after 10am five years ago, she entered our lives. And the whirlwind hasn't stopped since.

Having all four children's birthdays within six months (three within three months) we decided on birthday parties every other year, filling in the off-years would just be family and cake. Two kids on, two kids off. This year is Princess Cutie Pops' year for just the family/cake.

Her decision? Eggnog Cupcakes with Bourbon Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting. Considering the cupcakes call for bourbon and rum, the eggnog pastry cream calls for rum and the frosting calls for bourbon, I felt compelled to make a few adjustments. Using rum flavoring and vanilla, I turned these into a more kid-friendly dessert.

Princess Cutie Pops had this to say, "This means I like them: thumbs up. Thumbs up, Mom!"

What made five such a big year was that it was the official ungrounding of the Princess. About six months ago she and Tank laid waste with markers to a patch of carpet in the school room. In my fury, I forbade her and her cohort to touch markers until their fifth birthdays. Since then, she and her brother used each other as human canvases and I added another month.

On the evening of her birthday she asked if she could write with markers again. I reminded her of the second infraction and she hung her head and agreed, "Okay, Mommy." We told her she would have to wait for our decision until the next day. I had already relented, though, and in her stocking, unknown to her, was a package of washable markers.

Christmas morning. She pulled the markers out of her stocking and looked at us, confused and unsure how to feel. Daddy delivered the verdict, "You are old enough to use markers now, Princess."

You should have seen the look on her face. To borrow a line from I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, "What joy and what surprise!" She was so happy. Don't you wish you could always reprieve your children without it spoiling them?

Here are a few more pictures from the event: