When we moved onto campus we knew that a major perk would be having 1,800 acres of woodland right outside our front door. We imagined that Kyle and Owen would love mountain biking with Braydon (which they have), and that we’d spend lots of time exploring the walking/hiking paths (which we have). What we had not anticipated was that Meera would instantly develop a love affair with the woods.
In our first weeks on campus, Meera (at age 4) found that her favorite thing to do was to go on walks in the woods. These woods are 100% natural, preserved woodland, filled with all sorts of deer, birds’ nests, wildflowers, and trees of many varieties. It is vast, and devoid of people, and loaded with nooks and crannies to discover and explore. Meera was convinced, right from the start, that these woods were an enchanted place where fairies lived. She’d see a hole in a tree, and exclaim it was a “fairy’s house!” She’d discover a small crevice in a rock filled with rain water, and announce it was a “fairy pool!” She’d collect acorn caps and explain that they were “fairies’ bowls!” Right away she began calling the woods behind Sayre the “Fairy Forest.” And the name stuck. Walks in the Fairy Forest became a regular thing for us, and it was always her choice of activity whenever it was her turn to choose. Soon enough, we all sort of started to believe that the woods behind our new home were enchanted with fairies and woodland creatures and all sorts of magical happenings.
So, as we approached Meera turning 5, it was an easy choice to plan her birthday party around the theme of the Fairy Forest. She was so excited at the idea of having her friends see her special place! And I was so excited at the idea of making the Fairy Forest come alive in a most magical way that even Meera could not have imagined!
We sent out the invitations to Meera’s classmates and a few close family friends. Meera doesn’t want huge blow-out parties like her brothers do, and the smaller size of her parties allow me to go into a great depth of detail that I couldn’t if they were larger. Meera also notices, and appreciates, everything. She is very detail-oriented. So going into great depth of detail is a joy to do for her.
And this time around — boy of boy — did I ever go into a great depth of detail!
Readers know that I go all out for my kids’ birthday parties. Meera’s past two birthday parties have been incredibly glorious (her 4th birthday party click here; her 3rd birthday party click here). I wanted this one to be too.
And on that note, here, before I go any further, I want to write a disclaimer.