The Princess Diaries

Last Wednesday, Maeve spent the day in Hanson so I could get a few extra hours (which = extra cash) in at the office in preparation for my going out on (unpaid) maternity leave. Most trips to Hanson involve some sort of "treat" whether it be a trip to McDonald's or fishing down at Town Hall pond. Last week, the "treat" manifested itself as a princess costume, complete with tiara and magic wand. Wait, does that make it a fairy costume? In any event, Maeve was beside herself, running around in her new duds for the better part of the day, placing magical spells on anything her wand could reach. Bedtime that night involved a bit of negotiating and we finally convinced Maeve that it wouldn't be a good idea to sleep in the tutu. When I entered her bedroom the following morning to smother her with kisses and talk in my usual high-pitched voice, she shot a knowing look to the pile of pink tulle in the middle of her room and said, "I need to put that on right now!" After another series of negotiations to get her to do her "good morning tinkles" as we like to call them, the tutu was on These photos were taken around 6:30 that morning. What's the mother of a princess to do?