Ain't no party like a 4-year-old party...

Sunday was Anna's friend birthday party. Though we'd combined family and friends in previous years, we knew that the tight quarters might prove a bit more difficult this time around and opted to separate the groups. Our party was small, but any number of kids running around can be chaotic! Anna invited a couple of neighborhood kids and a couple of preschool friends, along with Georgia and June. We jazzed the place up a bit with our birthday decorations and set out some snacks.

I used the Oh Happy Day party hat template and cut out some posterboard hats for the kids to decorate. This proved to be a fun activity and I would totally recommend it for this age. The kids did a great job with feathers and stickers and some little cute download images we placed in a bowl for gluing. The pretty ribbons came from Jo-Ann's.

Of course, we gave Pin the Tail on the Donkey another go. This time my blindfold was less successful. I underestimated the size difference between adult and child ears, which held the blindfold in place last week. The blindfold kept sliding off the kids. So getting dizzy really turned out to be the best part.

Though the weather was chilly that day, it was very bright and sunny and we were able to do a pinata outside in the backyard. Let me just say that the kids really whacked at that thing. (Except Anna who barely tapped it and then said she was tired :-) But Mike ultimately had to step in and give it the beat down. I passed out cute little bags for collecting up the various fun items. Rather than loading it entirely with candy, I placed individual packets of goldfish and fruit snacks inside and then added plastic whistles, bracelets, lizards, and other random stuff. We still had a good offering of Tootsie Rolls to round it all out though.

Then it was time for cake (cupcakes, that is) and singing. Rather than another strawberry cake, we opted for a strawberry cupcakes (a box mix, I couldn't handle another from scratch) and made some cream cheese icing. We added princess toppers and cute flowery liners and we were done.

Is that pirates, I see?

Yes, we did some pirate toppers, too. Given the number of boys attending the party I thought it might be nice to have a non-princess option. They were a big hit also.

And that, my friends, concludes the celebration of Anna's birth. She really loved the party and was so glad that all her friends came. There is something wonderful about seeing your kid have a good time, running around laughing and completely at ease. Both Mike and I know that the year ahead is going to be full of new adventures as we watch Anna blossom more into her own person. We're counting ourselves lucky that we can witness her growth and curiosity as she explores the world. We love you, sweetie. You are the world to us.