Lupine is officially four. Four! I sometimes still think of her as my baby, but looking at the photos below she is transforming rapidly from little into girl. Her birthday was a magical and simple day: a card from Nanny and Bumpie (my folks), a couple of lovingly made or chosen gifts, a fresh batch of playdough, fancy dresses, and a noodle kugel picnic in the sunshine.

The "cake" she requested was ginger-plum cupcakes with colorful sprinkles. We keep some natural colored sugars on hand that I discovered on-line. (We also use their food coloring when we don't want to mess with making our own.) As we decorated the cupcakes in the afternoon Sage groaned, "Please don't tell me there are greens in my sprinkles." "Spinach," I replied, with barely disguised delight. There is some deep and perhaps slightly demented satisfaction in spinach sprinkles for me. I know. It's freaky. But if I'm going to feed my kids sugar, make it spinach-laced sugar. (I blame my 1970's health-food-maniac mother for this gene.)

One of Lulu's handmade gifts was from me: the dress I've been working on since the beach. The yarn is a handspun I picked up on Etsy and the pattern was quick and ridiculously easy. I added a little heart pocket to it (a modification of this one) that might just be the deal-maker for her. I think it is the first article of clothing I have made for Lupine that she unequivocally loves.

This weekend we'll gather with four of her favorite little girls to continue the merriment. A fairy tea party with costumes, glitter, and plenty more spinach – and beet, and turmeric – sprinkles to be had.