Lucy’s birthday

We figured Lucy’s birthday came at a good time.

A perfect time to gather a bunch of kids together to help her get to know them better.

The only problem was that we were leaving on her very birthday for all that Wisconsin jazz (back here) so we had the party a little early.

I wish I had a picture of Grace and Claire talking through all different kinds of party ideas with her. 

They told her she must have a theme and helped her narrow down the options. 
We all made up the invitations together on Photoshop.  Lucy was a little bit worried at first because she really wanted Ariel on there, but Grace and Claire talked her out of it and she relented with the cutest “whatevs” I’ve heard.

We got busy on the “ocean” cake.
…and the decorating.
They all helped color the “pin the tail on the mermaid.”
…and we dolled the cake up.
…complete with some fishes swimming upside-down.
Grace typed up the party plan:
…and wrote up a little list of all the last minute things we needed to do:I think she needs to go into party planning business some day.

Grace’s friend Chloe came along to help as well. 
…and Claire was the main leader of the get-to-know-you game.

We made necklaces:

Pinned the tail on the mermaid:(They’re taking their jobs very seriously.)

Played “fish, fish, shark:”
All these sweet girls warmed my heart.
Did an “under-the-sea” dance on the trampoline complete with a bubble machine:

…and did a game where you got to jump in the pool and retrieve a balloon when your “swimsuit style” was called (stripes, flowers, pink, etc.):After they got their balloon they popped it open and found a treat inside.

That was the part of the party remembered and loved the most by Lucy.

Maybe it was because my brother Josh came up with and MC’d the game 🙂
I also sneakily left Josh to fend for himself in the cake-cutting process…which is no easy task when everyone wants a fish or some seaweed or some “rocks.”Of course he made everyone happy.

I loved watching Lu read all her birthday cards.Such kind, sweet girls brought her so many great things, many of which we got to use on our Wisconsin trip which was so perfect.  I feel like I want to write all the moms nice thank you notes right along with Lu’s notes to their daughters.

One of Lucy’s friends is Elle’s kindergarten teacher’s daughter.

I think Elle may have grown a bit since those days…
Nana and Papa came to help celebrate before we left.
…and the cousins all came over to help blow out some candles.
(Along with cousin Hunter who’s birthday was a few days earlier.)

Family birthday breakfast:
She wanted to be sure we did a “treasure hunt.”

After Max and Elle left the other girls and I made up her “treat” for school.
(Rainbow fruit kebobs…trying to bring healthy-option birthday treats into style 🙂

Those kids couldn’t get enough of those things (along with a tiny applesauce/pumpkin muffin).
Our sweet neighbors did this:
(Thanks Ashby and Emma and Brooklyn!)

And with that, we were off to Wisconsin.

Whew.  Now that’s a birthday I think was well celebrated!