Marion's 2nd Birthday Party

It's been almost a month, yet I still can't believe that my sweet baby is 2. She is her own little person now. She's spunky, really spunky. She's not a "pleaser," she definitely would rather do her own thing; but she is so loving, that she usually gets away with whatever it is.

For her birthday, I wanted her to have a nice party, and to me, that meant a party at our home. Kids these days (and parents too, it seems), expect lots of entertainment at little ones birthday parties. This stresses me out!! I watched the weather the whole week before, it went back and forth from pleasant and cool, to cold and rainy. I put off renting a jumpy until the last minute, when I rented one that would fit inside our garage. Whew, done stressing about the weather. I was having a jumpy INSIDE -kindy funky- but hey, the weather wouldn't matter.

I shopped and planned. I ordered a cute cake, cookie favors, bought and made many decorations, and ordered plenty of food. I decorated my tables, filled and hung a pinata inside, and cleaned like a mad woman! I even made chocolate covered, heavily sprinkled pretzels, and called them fairy wands :)

Here are some pictures from her party...
















Well, Marion had a wonderful time at her party. She had plenty of little friends to celebrate with her, and everything went well. I thought the party was a total success, until Sunday night. Yes, the party was Saturday morning, a house full of happy kids. Sunday night, half of those same sweet kids were puking with an awful stomach virus, including my Marion. It lasted a week for Marion. She had dirty issues in her diaper through the next Saturday. Ugh!!! So much effort and money into her party... and I cried the whole next week about it!!

On the bright side, at least Marion is young enough that she wasn't worried about the aftermath of her party, even if her mama was broken hearted!

Passing The Torch

After the party is over, it's thank you note time. I've written a lot of thank yous since my kiddos were born. I already wrote for Jeremy and myself (not sure if he's ever written one in his life!), but then I added two more little people that I must be gracious for!

This year, for her fifth birthday, Grace wrote her own thank you notes for the first time!! Ahh, my aching hand is less tired already ;) Even the little writing that she did wore her out. As we neared the twentieth card, her writing became sloppier and sloppier!

Aren't they cute?




P.S. Mandi made the cards!

Marion's Pre-Parties

Okay, nobody tell Grace, but Marion is having four birthday celebrations. Grace quickly realized that Marion was having one more than she had. She wasn't happy, and I told a small lie, "She's having 3, JUST LIKE YOU, and I'm not talking about it anymore!" Hmph!! She may think I can't count now, but she dropped it!!

First, we partied at Mom's Day Out. I came with the cake at the end of the day. Her teachers told me that they had been singing to her all day! After all of the celebrations of Grace's birthday last week, Marion is very into the birthday song and blowing out candles!

Blowing before the song is over!

She always has to go back for the 2nd candle!

Little school friends :)

It was YUM!!

Her sweet teachers even gave her a gift.

We celebrated again, with another cookie cake, on her real birthday with Nana and Paw Paw.

I'm glad that Nana and Paw Paw brought the energy to the birthday song, because the girls were tired! Marion had skipped her nap and played with them at home, while I took Grace to a friend's birthday party.

Another celebration, this time at her Mommy and Me class.

We had princess cupcakes this time!

Licking the candles, a special privilege of the birthday girl. She learned this from Grace!

Mommy and Me class

Happy Birthday Grace!!!

Grace's favorite thing to do... ART! She had her birthday party at Bristles this year. It is an art studio just for kids!

Birthday Girl in her art smock

Nana and Marion, doing their own art!

Let the chaos, ahem, painting begin!!

Back at home after a long day, I made the girls pose for a few pictures!

How cute is this?! A canvas stamped and signed by all her party guests!

Pink Kitty Masterpiece!

The Pre Parties

The day my baby turned 5!

The first celebration was on Thursday, January 13th, Grace's birthday. She had her normal day at school, well, with a birthday crown on! After school, I picked up Grace and Meredith from school and surprised them by taking them to Gatti Town. For those of you who don't know what Gatti Town is, imagine lots of super cool arcade games, a carousel, even bumper cars; oh, and a pizza buffet!

On Friday, we celebrated her birthday at school, even though every kid in her class was invited to her big party the coming Sunday! You only turn five once!

I can't believe my sweet baby is already five. I notice little things often lately, little things that remind me that she's growing up...

For instance, sometimes when hearing good news, what used to be a squeal, is now a subtle "YES!" Oh, and the eye rolls!

Really though, I love this age as much as I've loved any other, probably even more. I love my little friend that I can talk to all time; and she surprises me with how much she knows every day. She loves to talk, loves to shop, and loves arts and crafts... she's a mini me :)