Birthday Party Day

We have pretty simple parties for our kids.  We don't rent a bounce house, or hire a caterer, or have pony rides.  But we DO celebrate!  Each child usually has two small parties as we've learned it just works better for us to have a buddy party separate from the extended family party.  And then, our favorite part of birthdays, is that we take off, just the 5 of us, and go camping for a weekend in honor of that child's birthday.  Our kids have come to associate birthdays with camping and I think they look forward to it maybe even more than the gifts......maybe.  :) 

So today was my sweet Lissy's friend party.  I have two amazing friends who are sent from God alone, I'm quite sure.  They have blessed my life in ways words would never explain.  We have walked this mothering road together nearly from day one.  We each have 3 kids and they're all quite the little gang.  I think they know nothing different than having each other around for important occasions.  I love celebrating with them because I know these friends of mine truly DO celebrate my child.   They love my kids deeply and love celebrating their life along side me.  What a blessing.  So here's some pics from our day celebrating with true friends.

We had lunch, opened some special gifts, the kids decorated their own cupcakes, and of course there was lots of playing...and yelling...and running....and chasing....and wrestling....and somersaulting...and squealing....and jumping....just as there should be.

I never decorate much for parties, but this time I decided to go through all the pictures that i have shoved in drawers, and pull out my favorites of Felicity.  I hung them by ribbon all over and it was so fun to SEE these pictures that I never seem to look back on.  And it was so neat to sit at the table with my two friends, looking up at all the pictures hanging from our light, recalling where we were and what was going on in each one.  And you know what?  A lot of the pictures were taken on outings with those two friends and their kids.  And I realized again how blessed I was to have friends who can look at pictures of my baby girl and smile and say, "remember when?!".

I don't want to focus on the gifts materialistically, but I CAN'T help but show you what my dear friends made for Lissy, just because of all the handmade love poured into them.  E, the only "in the flesh" Waldorf Mama friend I have, made her this rainbow basket!!!

Inside were rainbow number bean bags for school, all with a little matching fairy!

We've misplaced the pink one.

Lissy likes to turn the bean bags over and put all her little fairies down for naps.

Also in the basket were these two clothes pin dolls! 

And a sweet bed for them to share, just like Mary and Laura.

C, my bunting extraordinaire friend, made Lissy this sweet little pouch.

And what was in it?

Dress up jewelry!

  Oh, and there's misplaced pink fairy.  :)

My friends sure know my girl well!

And yes, Felicity DID wear her birthday jumper, and was excited about it, but as soon as that jewelry came out, a fancier dress was deemed needed to go along with the fancy "marry" jewelry.  :)

We had a great day celebrating Felicity!