This Month is Such a Special One {Callie's Birthday Party}

Callie informed me months before her birthday that she wanted to invite a bunch of friends to have a Nature Birthday Party.  She even made signs (which I set aside for possible decorations but, of course, couldn't find when it was time for the party, but then discovered in a pile of papers in Cal's room after the fact - womp, womp) and the invitation that I then texted out to the moms of the girls she invited.  I told her she could invite six girls because she's turning six.  But then we ended up adding another.  And of course Sam participated fully, as well.  And then a little sister of one girl stayed for a while.  So we had quite the crew: Callie, Sam, Abby, Braylin, Simone, Charlotte, Macy, McKena, Moriah, (and for a little while, Ava).

These just make me chuckle.

I knew things were going to be a bit crazy around her birthday, what with the birthday date, and then birthday bowling, and then actual birthday on a Sunday and then leaving on our South Dakota trip either early Tuesday or late Monday.  That left really only Monday morning that seemed at all possible.  I asked Gregg if I was crazy to try to host a party right before leaving on a trip and he said to go for it.  So I did.  In hindsight I think I was crazy.  But everything worked out in the end.  The girls seemed to have a fun time.  We had everything we needed for our trip (even if we did have to go back for pillows).  And most of all, Callie was delighted.

The party schedule went like this: girls arrive at 10:30 and play on the swing set till almost everyone is here; start painting birdhouse wind chimes (so they'll be dry by the time they go home); nature scavenger hunt in the backyard; build fairy houses with the gathered nature; make peanut butter pinecone birdseed feeders; eat lunch (sandwiches, fruit, veggies, cheetos, capri suns); open presents; decorate cupcakes with naturey candy; frantically think of ideas to fill the last half hour of time till parents come (spoiler alert: we played a lot of red rover); girls go home at 1:00.

Birdhouse painting - I dug into my pantry and
found enough aprons to cover them all!

Don't know why this turned out so psychedelic
but you get the idea.

Hunters.

Scavenging.

She may be small, but she can lead the pack when she wants to.

Building fairy houses on the big stump.

I love her outfit, chosen specifically for today's
nature party theme: butterflies on top and stars
on the bottom ("because they're naturey!").

Finished birdseed pinecones.

Lunchtime.  The cheetos were definitely a fave.

bonus video!

"giggles"

(this was the only time I got to sit down for a few minutes,

and it was entertaining to be a fly on the wall watching

these friends eat and be silly)

Present time!  Here's a beach/bath robe
from Braylin.

A little pony from Moriah.

Makeup kit (oh boy!) from Simone.

Darling cupcake pillow kit from Abby.

Candy and art supplies from Macy.

Everyone creeping in closer to get a better look
(cracks me up to watch the circle get
smaller and smaller!)

Camera from Charlotte (seriously!)

Can this circle get any smaller?!

Surfer doll from McKena.

Group shot!
Braylin, Abby, Simone, Macy, Charlotte, Callie, McKena, Moriah
and Sam

Some are school friends, some are church/neighborhood friends,
all are goofballs.  Also, my daughter is tiny!

Cupcake station of sugar love.

Macy is a ham.

Cal and Abby.  Besties.

Quiet McKena.

Charlotte the helper.

Simone.  Also a ham.

Sweet Moriah.

Sugar sweet.

Killin' time with plenty of Red Rover.  They loved it! 
Especially when they got all the kids on their side and
only me left on my side. Domination!

Post birthday weekend haul.  Holy moley this girl is spoiled!

And that's a wrap for birthday bonanza weekend!  Phew!  Are you as exhausted as I am?!  Fun times and fun memories, for sure.