the summer-splashin-party.

introducing:
the summer-splish-splashin' party.

a few things i learned this year about throwing parties:
1. they are a lot of work.
2. no matter how hard you try, you'll stay up pretty darn late doing tons of last minute things the night before.
3. it is kind of a pain in the butt to have a party not at your house. because then you have to lug a billion things over somewhere else..and you inevitably forget things.
4. it is also kind of awesome to have a party not at your house-- you don't have to worry about every inch being clean-- you can take advantage of lots of space somewhere else (& everyone else's house looks ginormous compared to your own), & you have lots more hands to help you clean up when all is said and done.
5. all the work is worth it- especially when everyone has a good time, including your birthday girl.

so here's a peek into Ellie's 2nd Birthday Party- the summer splish-splashin' party.

the decor:

the food:

{ this was my favorite lil treat i made- in case you can't tell, these are "beach cupcakes"- half are frosted with crushed graham crackers poured over, to resemble sand, and the other half are frosted with the same frosting, dyed blue + blue sprinkles poured over, to resemble water. i thought they turned out pretty stinkin' cute}

{it was a summer bbq, in case you couldn't tell...unfortunately i didn't get pictures of the magnificent salad + watermelon + burgers + homemade salsa + cheeseball + all other goodie goodnesses that were present.}

the favors:

{i thought these were pretty fun too- they were these little sand-castle-buckets, stuffed with summer goodies, such as a squirt-gun, bubbles, play-dough, + yummy starburst/lollipop treats}

the guests:

{unfortunately, as you may have noticed, a couple of my pictures (including the only one i got taken of the three of us) are way over exposed....bummer-diddly ummer}

the fun:

{yes, there is proof that i was there, and did enjoy myself :) }

{Ellie really liked hugging Kate (of course, she's a BIG girl. Ellie LOVES big girls). Kate...didn't like that so much :) }

the gifts:

{Ellie was spoiled rotten with some of the cutest, funnest, most thoughtful toys ever! she looovved all of her gifts...and doesn't she just look A-DOR-ABLE in that Snow White dress? Gammy + Pops sent that for her from So Cal....with a special invite to wear that the next time she comes to Disneyland. she now asks to wear it at least 5x's a day (which goes along nicely with her requests to go to Disneyland at least 3 times a week).

the happiest lil 2 year old ever to live:

and the happiest mama that it was such a huge success: 

 {p.s. don't ask me how i jumped like that. i am bewildered by it myself.}

all in all, the party was so fun.
thank you to all who helped- to the Chapmans for lending us your home- and to all who came and helped Ellie (+ us) feel so loved (& to those who were there in heart/spirit).
can't wait to find another excuse to party soon!

xoxo