Brownie has a Party

Despite the fact that my little Brownie has been 5 for over a month now, we are just getting around to celebrating the big occasion with her friends.

Sweet girl wanted a ballerina dance party (and even wanted to invite all the boys in her class, but I didn't know how to make that work), but we were so busy with soccer games, Nutcracker rehearsals, other family birthdays, etc. that we had to wait about a month to get the party in. We're still trying to figure out how to handle the three big girls' birthdays that are so close together--this year we had a family dinner on their real birthday. Additionally, we allowed the older two a "friends" party.Since Bug was only four this year, we had a big extended family party for her on her actual birthday. Next year is still up in the air. I still like the idea of one huge bash where in invite all our friends and family. It'd be one hectic day, but it'd be worth it. Don't get me wrong, I love throwing my girls a party and celebrating another year with them... but it can get costly and very busy during what is already a very busy season!

But back to this party for my Brownie Boo. I don't think you can tell in this picture, but there is a little ballerina doll sitting in the center of the table. Homemade strawberry (egg free) cupcakes and homemade butter cream frosting topped with ballerinas were the birthday girl's request. The fresh strawberries were mama's!

Thank you to my friend Nichole who let me borrow several tutus! These looked cute over the light fixture in our kitchen (above the kitchen table).

And my friend Caroline let me borrow this awesome tablecloth. It matched all the pink going on!

Brownie picked out her own cupcake liners and cupcake toppers. Notice her cupcake has a BIG ballerina on it. She needed it to be distinguishable-- HA!

Honestly, we tried to keep it pretty simple. In addition to the jelly beans, the treat bags (the pink bags in the basket) contained a little ring with ballet slippers on it (actually they're cupcake toppers) and a bottle cap bracelet with a ballerina on it (ordered from Etsy). I took a picture of each party guest posed with Brownie--and I plan to print off a wallet size and stick it in the thank you note.

It's easy to decorate for a party when you already have so many items in your house related to that theme. 

And the dollar bins at Target had some little tutus and sashes--perfect for decorating--not really for wearing!

I set out a bag of wands and a bag of tiaras for the dress up portion of the party. This little mirror from Brownie and Peach's room fit perfectly on my recipe book holder--what girl doesn't want to look at her self all dressed up (we also had two full-length mirrors as well)?

And we had two hat/coat racks (made by my hubby) to display all of the tutus up for grabs!

At the last minute I heard one of my girls suggest Grandma stay to paint nails. And actually I had just decided I needed one more activity--so it worked out. She had just bought a ton of glittery nail polish, and she was kind enough to share it will all of us! Thanks, Grammy!

Once everybody had an outfit picked out and their nails painted, we headed to the "dance floor" to show off our best dance moves. Each girl took a turn showing the other girls a dance move, then we'd all copy.

Well, some of us copied, and some of us drank cherry cider and pink lemonade!

Like I said, we tried to keep it pretty simple. Once our dance-move show-off was complete, my neighbor and her friend came to the party as the "teachers." I asked Ashley if she'd be interested in teaching the girls a little dance routine. Well, she and her friend really did a great job. They went above and beyond what I was expecting--so awesome! They even asked what kind of music and princesses Brownie liked so that they could incorporate them into the routine.

So sure enough, we danced to Taylor Swift music. I loved watching the girls follow along and learn the steps to the routine. And I can tell the girls, and especially Brownie, loved dancing. It was precious! I love a homegrown party--thanks to my family/friends/neighbors for helping to make this day possible! You're all awesome!

After the dance was learned, the birthday girl blew out her candles and we ate our cupcakes and strawberries. And then Brownie opened her gifts--my what a blessed little girl to have such sweet friends to help her celebrate! 

And since I'm trying to make it a point to be in the photo more than behind the camera, I wanted a picture with daddy and the birthday girl! These are special memories that I feel so happy to be a part of. I think the day went very well and we all had so much fun! Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

PS: I hope you enjoy the Jayhawk shirts (notice Brownie makes us true fans by wearing her complimentary red) as much as we love wearing them!