When you give a girl a birthday party....

....she'll ask you to have a sleepover. She'll invite her three best friends Katie, Alexis, and Maria.

She'll have to go pick up Katie with her Daddy, and while Maria and Alexis are already at her house waiting, and baking her a birthday cake, she'll almost forget that she needed to be home sooner.

They will finally be united, and ask you to play dress-up. After having dress-up clothes all over her room, they want to make a craft. The birthday girl will have prepared for that, having put together a kit for all her friends beforehand.

Once craft supplies just about cover up the dress-up clothes , they'll ask you to paint their fingernails. You'll refuse, until things are picked up again.

Instead of picking up, they'll chase the boys around the house and beat up the birthday girl's big brother. Running around in their lady- and princess garb reminds them of the playground. They'll want to go outside and play. You'll be thankful for that idea! They'll swing on the swings, play in the sandbox, and play chinese jump rope. They'll get all wet and muddy, and need to come shed their wet socks in the house.

This will remind them of all the things they left unfinished. They'll come back inside.

Coming inside will remind them of how hungry they are. They'll ask you to make dessert pizza for dinner. You'll agree, but you'll make a garlic and chicken pizza to be eaten first. You'll have dinner with 8 kids at the table, and you'll wonder how families with 8 kids do it. They'll love the garlic and chicken pizza, but DEVOUR the dessert pizza.

When their bellies are full, the birthday girl will remember that she has presents to open. She'll open them swiftly.

Opening presents will remind her of a game they could play. They disappear in her room. But since there is no room to play, they'll just talk. Just sitting around will remind them of the birthday cake. They'll ask you to light the candles. You'll let the birthday girl do it. You'll remind them to brush teeth and put on pajamas.

Putting on pajamas will remind them of their plans of soaking their feet and putting on nail polish. They'll ask you permission to do that. You'll decline - again - as it is too late now. The birthday girl will throw a fit and accuse you of all kinds of things that better not be repeated, and you'll try to reason with her. Then you'll ignore her and send her to bed.

Going to bed will remind them that they all want to sleep on a queen sized air mattress. You'll insist on at least 2 of them sleeping in the beds. They'll cuddle anyway once you'll leave the room. Going to bed will also remind them of saying their prayers, and you'll be so thankful for friends that love Jesus, too.

They'll find LOTS of things to talk about yet, and you'll have to remind them several times that it's time to sleep now. Once they are quiet, you'll sink into a chair and breathe a sigh of relief. You'll enjoy the quiet house, and you'll thank the Lord for the gift of children. Sleeping children, at this point.

There'll be a quiet night, at least for a few hours. At daybreak, however, the four princess arise and go soak their feet in the makeshift bathtub spa. They'll be all wet, not just their feet, and they'll ask you to let them dress up again. Actually, did they ask??? It'll all be a blur by then, and since dressing up is just fine with you, you'll let them. Being the 4 ladies again, they'll aks you to let them make pancakes for breakfast. You'll let them do that, too. You'll close your eyes and pretend not to see the trail of their labor of love. They'll make pancakes to their liking, with LOTS of chocolate chips in them. They'll devour those, too.

Eating breakfast will remind them that the party is almost over, and they'll pack up their things. They'll say goodbye, and saying goodbye will remind them of the reason for the party. And they'll leave, saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYA!