Isabelle is very into Harry Potter this year which excites me as a lover of HP but also as her mom. Reading Harry Potter as a kid was really fun but reading it WITH my kids is totally next level. We’ve read books 1-4 together and we are moving on to book 5 but is it weird that I want to space them out. Like, don’t rush this! You never get this again! Also, I had to wait two YEARS between books and it doesn’t seem fair she gets to reach on the shelf and grab another 700 pages of pure gold, but alas. Earwax.
She decided to be Hermoine for Halloween and asked if her birthday party could be Harry Potter themed. It was like I was waiting my whole life to be asked that question. YES. YES TO ALL THE MAGIC.
We sent out Hogwarts welcome letters as invitations, prepped the house for a Feast, set up some “classes” and even had a sorting ceremony.

















I really do think this was the most fun party we have ever done! Though I know I’ve said that before… maybe this was extra fun because Isabelle got to help plan it. She picked the activities (though we didn’t get to Pin the Scar on Harry like she wanted.) She helped me do the decorations and go to the party supply store and everything, she’s fun. Also, having this party around Halloween was VERY helpful-spooky stuff doubles as Harry Potter stuff pretty easily.
Isabelle is NINE years old. One more to double digits and I’m pretty sure I will have a heart attack. She is sensitive and kind, thoughtful and helpful. She is a collector of tiny junk, loves to hang on to everything and anything. She is patient with Lincoln when he is a huge turd most of the time and Thatcher idolizes her. Calls her “Bo-ah.” She excels at reading, math and is doing great with her piano studies. We call her the Queen of Accessories because she always has carefully coordinated her outfit with her jewelry, hair bow, purse socks belt shoes everything. She still loves art, she loves anything crafty. Her smile is contagious and when she gets really tired she gets silly and can’t stop laughing.
Isabelle’s favorite food is spaghetti and orange chicken, her favorite fast food is Burrito Bandito. She loves unicorns, sparkly things, and now anything relating to Harry Potter. She is in this sweet in-between stage where she is still so much a child but is learning grown up things and I’m nervous for what is to come- she is growing up before my eyes. She gains more and more independence, and I am so proud of her, but would I wouldn’t give to have an hour with her one year old, two year old, four year old self. I hope she will always tell me knock knock jokes and long, drawn out stories from school and show me all her papers one by one. She has the best ideas and the biggest heart. I’ve always said that she reminds me of my sister Sabrina, and we don’t deserve her goodness. We don’t, she’s so great and we are just over here thankful she joined our party. NINE years ago.
Happy Birthday to our girl.