Zoe's 3rd Birthday

Yes, it's true. Zoe is (almost) 3. Today we celebrated at her school, and at home (so she would have the toys to play with over Shabbat). Originally we planned to have a party outside of her school for her, but she wasn't interested. Being a poor grad student family, who are we to argue with that? So instead, the Z-girl had a party at school.

First, she got to be Shabbat Ima and collect tzeddekah (charity) from the class:
Then she got to light Shabbat candles:
Zoe's school ordered her a cake, for which we supplied the Disney "Beauty and the Beast" accessories:Then the entire class enjoyed cake and juice, Zoe most of all.
Fast forward a few hours, and while the Z-girl as napping, I got her gifts ready. There is, however, a caveat here. Yes, folks, we’re now even too cheap to buy wrapping paper. Yes, this is plain white paper, but even better, it’s paper that we…uh…liberated from the recycling box at school.For all of you who are appalled by my frugal rhetoric, however, rest assured. We set the elder 2 kids to the task of gift-ifying the paper:Once nap time was over, Zoe excitedly opened her gifts (with the help of her siblings, of course):She made out well this year, both in terms of things that she likes and in terms of items befitting our current frugality. Her Aunt in NY sent a beautiful dress and adorable socks, Bubbe and Zayde got her a 3-wheeler scooter (which she can't wait to try, but she'll have to wait until Sunday) and an adorable pair of PJs with Ariel on them (very, very girlie). Grandma B and Papa L got her a Dora the Explorer Princess/Castle playset. Maman and Abba got her another pair of PJs (tinkerbel) and a shirt (Dora), and Claire and JR, with financial sponsorship of the parents, got her (and themselves) sand toys (since all the parks here are sand-based).
All in all, Zoe did quite well. Happy Birthday!

(I am appalled to note that I never wrote up Zoe's birth story. I don't have time now, but I will do it, B"H quite soon and post it. Both Claire's and JR's are up here already.)