¡Una Fiesta! {4th Birthday Dora Party}

How is it possible that Ellie has really turned 4?! For her birthday breakfast she chose crepes. I was so thankful that Jeremiah was happy to make them since I was up late working on party stuff!

After her delicious birthday breakfast it was time to get ready for preschool! She was excited to be able to take the snack on her birthday. She took handisnack breadsticks & cheese, and these ice cream cake cupcakes (love!).

Ellie hadn't ever had a friend party before. She was SO excited about the party planned for after preschool! Ellie's first choice for a bday party was a baby doll tea party. Can you imagine how adorable that would be?! But since one of her 2 bff's is a BOY I just couldn't do a baby doll tea party. Enter the Dora Party.

(I made the printed invitations from this digital/printable set from Shery K Designs. I made the Backpack & Map based off of other ideas I saw online. All of the other party printables are from Cuties Parties. It was so much easier printing & cutting than buying a million pieces of cardstock & piecing everything. And she even customized the colors for me!)

For lunch we had Tico's taquitos & Tico's tacos (mini tacos), Boots' bananas, Dora yogurt, Backpack juice boxes, & water. I was going to make cute little signs for the food, but since everyone was in preschool & not yet readers I crossed that one off my list!

After lunch we decorated mini maracas! They were so stinkin' cute! I got them from Oriental Trading and they were 5" tiny & so so cute! I didn't want to deal with paint so the kids colored them with dollar store markers & decorated them with small Dora stickers and some stick-on rhinestones & little bling flowers. They loved doing this craft/activity!

After the maracas I read them the beginning of Dora's Birthday Surprise. In the book Dora has to go on a scavenger hunt to look for clues that will lead her to a birthday surprise. I substituted Ellie's name & some other words to let them know they were going on a scavenger hunt to find clues for a surprise. They loved this! They all knew that we needed the Map's help so we'd know which way to go (I made the map with posterboard & chalk pastels). Their first stop was Troll Bridge- construction paper taped across the sidewalk in the backyard with the Grumpy Old Troll guarding the way. They had to solve a riddle about birthday cake (I took it straight out of Dora's Birthday Surprise), and then I let them cross the "bridge" and I gave them their first clue - a blindfold (scarf). Next was Musical Falls- we have a couple of rock fountains in our backyard. They had to look under river rocks until they found the one with the pink star on it. The clue for that stop was a bat. The third place they had to go was Star Mountain- our playset. They had to climb to the top of Star Mountain & bring down an Explorer Star for the final clue- a couple pieces of candy.

With all 3 clues they guessed that the surprise was a pinata. They were all very excited! It was hilarious watching some of the kids try to hit the pinata. Almost half of them only used one hand to hold the bat & swing! :) Everyone got a turn & then we let Ellie have a few extra whacks & that was it. I'd completely forgotten to bring out the Dora goody bags that I'd planned on having them collect their candy in so they were all trying to hold as many pieces in their hands & shirts as they could until I got them their bags. :)

Next we did presents, then cake & ice cream. Jeremiah was super proud of me because I ordered a cake (from Victoria at the hospital bakery)! I've always made my kids' cakes & it killed me just a little bit at first to order a cake, but I'm so glad I did!

Ellie was utterly spoiled with the presents her friends gave her! She loves every single thing she received & has spent lots of time playing & coloring this past week.

I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the goody bags I made! I tried & tried to find small lavender gift bags online & it was a total fail. Unless I wanted to buy them in bulk (and when I say bulk I mean by the hundreds & thousands!). Instead I used brown paper sacks, folded them down around halfway, and glued a purple piece of cardstock to the front & then added Backpack's face, just like on the juice boxes (which were my sister Tara's idea). Here's the goodies the bags were filled with:

Star Jelly Bracelets - Oriental Trading; Fiesta Donkey toys - Oriental Trading; Dora pin back buttons - Love Bug Buttons; Dora snack containers - Target Dollar Spot; (they were filled with Dora fruit snacks); Play-Doh; Bubbles; Dora dress-up stickers - eBay; Dora pencils - eBay

Ellie loved her Dora the Explorer party! We rounded off the day with her favorite dinner - pasta carbonara. Both sets of grandparents were here for bday dinner. We're very fortunate to have them here. It was awesome having my mom's help before & during the party!!! Anyway Ellie got more presents & we had more ice cream cake cupcakes for her family party dessert. I don't think a 4 year old could have asked for a more perfect birthday!

I love you Ellie!!!
xoxoxoxo

Birthday Ballerina

Ellie's 3rd birthday was quite the event! Her birthday was on Saturday & we were blessing Adelyn on Sunday so we had lots of family in town. I wanted to make Ellie's birthday special for her because she's old enough to enjoy pretty things & plus we hadn't had a big party for her yet. We had everyone come over for a late lunch/early dinner since Callie had a dance recital later that evening. We had chicken salad on croissants, a fruit & a vegetable tray, and pink punch.



Jack made Ellie this birthday card completely by himself! I couldn't believe it! He's quite artistic! He used cupcake liners I'd cut, he punched the head out & came up with the body on his own, he used a tutu from the ballerina cupcake picks, and stole my glittered number 3 that I'd made for Ellie's birthday hat! I had to make a new one because I just couldn't take it from his amazing birthday card made with so much love. I think it's the sweetest thing ever!



The birthday ballerina enjoying her lunch.



Most of her party guests. My Grandpa & Grandma Watkins aren't pictured but they got there after lunch.





I feel really bad that I didn't remember to take any pictures of Callie in her recital costume! I'm glad I at least have her in these pictures. She looked so beautiful! (She also did a fantastic job at her recital!) Callie & Jack were very helpful to Ellie as she opened up presents.



Proof that I was there :) The only picture I'm in her birthday.



Ellie was exhausted though because of all the excitement + not having a nap. After opening the first presents she became very unenthusiastic/tired and showed very little excitement as she'd open a present, merely glance at it, set it aside, & move on to the next. I was sad that I hadn't made her take a nap. She got really thoughtful & fun gifts & I was looking forward to seeing her reaction/happiness at some of her gifts. Poor sleepy birthday girl!



The ballerina cupcakes! I saw the inspiration for the picks online & cut out the leotard with my cricut. My sweet friend Abby stayed up one night making & assembling most of the picks for me. Not only that but my first batch of icing was an epic fail. It's an exact recipe (which I hadn't made before) and it required a candy thermometer & mine was broken. After my icing didn't turn out Jeremiah & I had to leave to take Callie to her recital so Abby came to my rescue - again! She came over before going on a date with her husband & made a new batch while I wasn't even there! Yeah, she's amazing! Thanks again Abby!



The day didn't end as well as it began. Callie's recital went on forever & it was close to 9 when we finally got home. Our poor birthday girl who had already been exhausted had gone to sleep without us ever singing happy birthday & letting her blow out candles. :( The next night after we got home from our busy day from Adelyn's blessing & luncheon our little family (of SIX!) sang to her & let her blow out her candles. Again she hadn't had a nap & was exhausted! Too much excitement for a brand new 3-year old! She had a couple bites of her cupcake & was ready for bed. We love you so much Ellie-girl!

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I had a great birthday this year! Summer wanted to take me to lunch but she had to work on my actual birthday so she took me the day before. Abby joined us too & they totally spoiled me! Abby brought the cute cake platter & together they got me a custom return address stamp that Abby has that I love!

On my birthday (Jan 26 - TWO days before Addy was born!) Jeremiah made me french toast - my favorite - for breakfast. The kids had all made me sweet cards.

Callie took this picture of Jer & me :)

My friend Katie arranged a birthday lunch for me some other friends at pizza hut. I got some gifts & we had cupcakes & chatted while all our kids tore the place apart! :) That evening Jer's & my parents & Jonny, Ann & Whitley came over for chicken fettuccine alfredo & cupcakes. It was a great day!

Happy 5th Birthday Jack!

Yesterday was the official birthday day. I can't believe Jack's 5! We started the day with Jack's breakfast of choice - crepes.



Normally the kids can only play Wii on Saturdays, but of course we can make an exception on a birthday! :) This was Jack. All. Day. Long. He had a break for church, a break to get ready for church, and a break for dinner, presents & cake/ice cream. He was a total zombie by the end of the day. Jeremiah said he can't do that again. It's once a year - I think it's fine.



Jack got lots of great presents. Lots of Legos! Other favs were an Iron Man mask from Aunt TT (my sister Tara), a grabber from my mom & dad, & Martian Matter from his awesome mom & dad (he's begging me right now to finish up on the computer so I can make an alien with him).







He wanted chocolate cake for his birthday party but I told him if he wanted the Lego cake to be colored that it couldn't be chocolate. The compromise was white cake for the party & chocolate cupcakes on his birthday. Earlier in the day I'd asked if he wanted me to decorate them Halloween-ish. He said oh yeah. But while I was decorating he said he'd wanted a Lego guy on his cupcake. Okay birthday boy, whatever you want.

Happy Birthday, Buddy Bear!

{now off to make aliens}