Princess party countdown

The big day is rapidly approaching: Niranjana's 5th birthday. It has started to feel like maybe, just maybe, I am going a bit overboard.

Then again, it's the first real birthday party she's ever had. Last year was a small group of family and friends in our home. It was fun and special, with Indian take-out and cupcakes. But this year, it's an actual party. We're going to a local gymnastics center for an hour of play followed by a light lunch and cake.

First, the theme. No white-girl princesses for us. Niranjana quite specifically said she wants Jasmine (from the movie Aladdin), not the popular party pack that features the group of Disney princesses. That's our girl!

This means I had to figure out Jasmine invitations (using the Disney Magic Artist web site and the Office Depot print shop). The tableware and goodie bags are turquoise (Oriental Trading, which also has a 4-foot Jasmine wall decoration!). The turquoise decor will have a splash of gold and, as it turns out, a splash of bright rainbow colors. Or maybe it'll be turquoise and bright rainbow colors with a splash of gold. Yikes! I better decide before the balloons are inflated Saturday morning.

The food has been another challenge. It turns out there is a stove and microwave available in the downstairs party room, but I found that out after I purchased 40 tortillas and a big tub of cream cheese at Cash & Carry (for homemade wraps) — instead of my original plan of dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. The rest of the foods represent Niranjana's favorites and will be relatively easy: hummus, chips, veggies, yogurt tubes, and canned mandarin oranges.

Thankfully Aunt V. offered to make the cake before my head exploded with one more party research project. All I had to do was order the Aladdin figurines from Disney's online store. And my laptop keeps crashing. So Andy did the ordering.

We've invited a lot of people. The RSVPs aren't done yet, but we're confirmed for more than 10 children (I'm planning for 20, just in case) and at least 24 adults. All the grandparents are coming plus Aunt Rain will be the official photographer.

This 5th birthday party is feeling like a small wedding. And it's been interesting to balance the details and shopping between daily life and Andy's chemo treatments. Instead of worrying about the bottom line, I'm game to call it my version of an economic stimulus package.

And next year's birthday party might just be four friends and cupcakes in our living room — but Niranjana will probably want to make that be a sleepover. Let's see, we'll need kid-friendly nail polish for the "pedicures" followed by fluffy socks to keep those feet warm in January, and pancakes for breakfast....