Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Bella's Party

Okay, I feel like I can finally post about Bella's party, having a few days buffer behind the er, incident. I guess it went well. It was stressful, chaotic and messy, but from other's accounts, it was still a success. Here is a group of friends eating picnic-style. Immediately afterwards I couldn't tell if it was worth it, and thought it might have been a total failure, but I think that was just the perspective of a frenzied mother who doesn't deal well with stress, chaos, or lots of kids- all of which there was a lot of.
It was a bug theme, since at least half of her friends are boys. Here she is embarking on the bug hunt I set up with plastic bugs I ordered from Oriental Trading Company. She looks so long and lean to me in this picture! New clothes and shoes courtesy of grandma, of course.
Here she is proudly showing her found bugs to grandpa. Isn't our back yard green? Not really landscaped, a lot of work to do, and the yard is about 75% weeds, but is sure is green.
3 of Bella's cute friends, Sophie, Naomi, and Sebastian.
Linda, me and mom. New maternity shirt also courtesy of mom. Here is a more accurate representation of my current fat/pregnant state.
Probably her favorite new toy, the cutest play stroller that Linda gave her. It is an inside-only toy, and she pushes it constantly.
Here are some of the supplies before being set put for the party. In the foreground you can see the bug catcher favors I personalized and gave to her guests. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of them.
I made super-cute (if I do say so myself) flower straws so they could sip their 'nectar' like bees. So easy with some scrap paper and a couple of punches.
The kids ate ants on a log, hotdogs (worms) and fresh fruit with dip. For the adults we added black bean, corn, and avocado salad, Sheepherder's bread, cheeses, and fruit and dip. Mom (grandma) was the main preparer of food.
These are the bug cupcakes we made from a Martha Stewart idea. They turned out pretty cute, albeit nothing like Martha's examples, of course. (If anyone is ever interested in making these- make sure you freeze the cupcakes before you cut the tops for the wings and again before you frost them!) Michelle and I tried making these about 8 years ago, and they were a hideous and humorous complete and utter failure.
My cute friend Molly volunteered to be my photographer for the party, and I was delightfully surprised when I saw this posed picture on my camera. So cute!
Timm forcing Bella to try on one of the cute belts that Linda got Bella.
Later that night, Bella giving her 'aren't I pretty?' face as she 'tries on' one of the many dresses that grandma brought.
More to post on Bella's actual birthday (yesterday). Let's just say that she had fun, she got to have all her friends over, so I guess it was a 'success', but I won't enter lightly into that obligation again.

16 comments:

Diana said...

I'm making the cutest present for Bella that goes right along with your theme. I only have half of the pattern for some reason so I'm just waiting for Miriam(Lou's sister) to send me the second half. Hopefully I'll mail it off soon.
Happy Birthday Bella, we love you and wished so much we could've gone to your cute party.

denise @ little ant design said...

I read your blog often but am rather shy at leaving comments - I feel like a stalker. I had to comment on the party though...you did an amazing job, everything looks just perfect. Thanks for sharing it.

RoRo2 said...

Happy Birthday Bella!!!! Wow what an amazing party! She is such a cutie, love the bug theme. And really love your hair:)

michelle said...

It looks like a totally fun party. But I completely understand your doubts about it being worth it! As long as she had fun and you enjoyed the preparations, it was worth it. And at least now you know what you'll be getting yourself into next time!

Cecilia said...

Cute party! Good job on everything!
BTW- I love your hair!

charlotte said...

Happy birthday Bella!! How I miss you!!

rmt said...

Oh my goodness, you put on an amazing party for Bella! She will always look back at the pictures of the party and know that you went all out for her birthday, and she will love you for it! The bug theme is SO cute!

Jill said...

Wow, you really went to town on this party. Everything looks so beautiful. I hope the other parents there enjoyed the feast of tastiness you and your mom provided for them.

Bond Girl 007 said...

Oh the straws are sooo cute you were very right! i love Bella's faces and her cute cute dresses.

rmt said...

PS-I forgot to say that you look beautiful and I love the new shirt. Such a pretty color.

Anonymous said...

So you went crazy- so cute! Seeing all the stuff you have been talking about is such a treat. I always wonder if the work is really worth it. Love all the pictures- especially the last one!

Autumn said...

Hi-I came here from Kim's blog. I hope you don't mind blog hoppers. What a DARLING party. SOOO cute. And your haircut is absolutely darling!!

Anonymous said...

Great account of the party and Molly did a great job with the photo log!

All in all, I think it was a great success, but I'm glad we have another year to rest up before the next one!!

I wish I had one of your cupcakes right now! It's 12:16 am and my stomach is growling. Time for bed I guess!

Nice depiction of the celebration-thanks!! It was fun, but too short.

Amy E said...

Cute, cute party. I loved the straws...clever idea. I love your haircut also. Bella is so cute! Eloise still talks about her once in a while.

Denise said...

I used to love orchestrating elaborate birthday parties for Charlotte and Emily. The younger kids, however, kind of get the bum end of the deal, as now I find myself too busy and poor to throw the same sort of parties for them.

Bella's party looks like it was fun--wish I could have been there, too. I love the flower straws! And I love the look on Bella's face while trying on the dress--Petersen primping genes for sure!

Natasha said...

The cupcake posed on the log is the cutest thing I've seen all day! How nice to have a freind take pics!!

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