A Proper Super Princess Tea Party

Everytime I hear this song, I think of a beautiful little girl named Ava. A self-proclaimed 'super Princess' who left this world all too soon. I first found her mother's blog last January when she posted photos of her children playing on the beach. The images inspired me, a novice photographer, with a dreamy quality I had not seen before. I bookmarked the blog. Then I heard the unthinkable...an accident and Ava was gone. I joined in the univeral gasp of disbelief that spread throughout the photographer message boards. Too soon. Too beautiful.

What has followed in the year since Ava's passing has touched me in an indescribable way. Her mother, Sheye, opened her heart and shared her grief over Ava's passing and the beauty of Ava's life through her writing and her photographs on her blog. Such courage and grace she has shown. And, it has affected so many people around the world. One has only to read the comments on her blog and your faith in the good of humankind can be restored.

But, it's the lessons she has shared that have probably touched those who frequent her blog the most...yes, Ava's rule--as I posted below, but the rule I think will become known as Sheye's rule--The Seven Skirts Rule is the one that most resonates with me. Sheye, you have greatly affected how I am approaching this difficult task of parenting. Dishes call, but if my little ones ask me to sleep with them, I let the dishes sit and crawl into bed relishing the moment because I know that it does not necessarily lead to another one.

Today, we are all in different stages of illness. We had a proper super princess tea party. Well, as proper as I get--because I am not very proper. Not the way I had planned to have our tea party, but we had it anyways...runny noses, imperfect cupcakes, Grandma's china cups, and pretty pink balloons. Three of them for Ava. And, one read heart for Sheye, Crayton, Luca, Mason, and Ivy. And, we spoke of Ava:

Jack: Do you remember the first time you told me about Ava, Mom?
Me: Yes.
Jack: It was after I hid in the van with Elijah and you were sooo mad.
Me: Yes. (thinking--no it wasn't...that was the second time but that was obviously the first time you listened)

Jack crawled into a parked vehicle to hide when he didn't want to leave a playdate. It was spring in Canada...+21'C, the van was parked in the shade and the window was cracked a wee bit. 25 mintues later we found him and his friend...they were fine, but it got so hot in that van that the red sparkly silly putty he had in his hand had melted to goo and stuck to everything. People. Please...lock your parked cars. And, teach your children how to get out of one...go to Ava's rule.

Jack: If she is a super princess, we should wrap her present in pink sparkly paper with stars and hearts.
Me: The balloons are her present.
Jack: Then let's decorate them with stars and hearts.

So we did.

Jack with his chocolate cupcake moustache...

All things pink were on the menu...

And, Ava's balloons. We so wanted to release them, but the wind and our colds made me decide that Ava would be happy to share them with us to brighten up our day a bit longer.

Remembering Ava Rosemeyer...the original Super Princess...