The Dart: Vidalia princess reigns over “Frozen” birthday celebration

Published 12:00 am Monday, November 18, 2019

VIDALIA — Chilly weather did not stop a pretend “Frozen” princess Anna from celebrating her birthday Saturday afternoon.

When the dart landed near Raileighana Thompson’s home on North Oak Street Saturday, her house was full of friends, family and neighbors there to celebrate with her at her “Frozen”-themed birthday party.

“How old are you?” Raileighana’s grandma Christie McGuire asked.

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Thompson proudly held up four little fingers in reply.

The crisp autumn air fit the occasion and Raileighana was dressed for the theme too — in a light blue “Frozen” shirt and a shiny hair bow that matched queen Elsa’s dress.

“She truly is a princess,” McGuire said. “She rules the house.”

As if to demonstrate her royalty, Raileighana’s 12-year-old cousin Avery Weadock hoisted the little princess up onto her shoulders and picked up Raileighana’s one-year-old sister Ayzza Thompson around her waist so she wouldn’t be left out.

The gesture worked out gracefully until Raileighana covered her cousin’s eyes with her hands while Avery’s younger sister Aubrea Weadock hugged her left leg — leaving Avery blinded and immobilized.

Though she didn’t look it, McGuire said by springtime she would be a grandmother of three. Raileighana was expecting a baby brother in March, McGuire said.

Though Saturday was a special day, McGuire said it’s never boring around the house.

“This is where all the kids in the neighborhood tend to congregate and play basketball,” she said.

McGuire’s 13-year-old son Landon McGuire was shooting hoops with his neighbor Bradford Prunty as she spoke.

McGuire said all of the children had their fill of Elsa cake and Olaf cupcakes, so they had the energy to burn. When it came time for Raileighana to open presents, everyone but the boys came back into the kitchen.

Raileighana climbed on top of the kitchen table to open up her first present, which was in a box big enough for her to fit inside.

“What could it be?” her family asked her, just before she tore away the paper and grinned at her new dollhouse.