The Simple Woman's Daybook (Party Edition) - September 28, 2009 **Picture Overload Warning!

For Saturday, September 26...

Outside my window...it was a gloomy and rainy day, but that wasn't going to stop the fun.

I was thinking...so much about the party that I couldn't sleep. Luckily I had some great help. Aunt Roni amd Mommy were there to help set up and play with the kids while I was getting everything ready. Aunt Roni even made me breakfast! My great friend Lyndsey (check out her blog here) came early to take pictures of the set-up and then took all of the amazing pictures that you'll see below.

I was thankful...that all of Jamison's friends were able to come.

Hannah

Caden

Annika (Hannah's little sister)

Drew

Reese

Quinn

From the kitchen...cupcakes. I saw the idea for rainbow cupcakes here and thought I would give them a try. I am very happy with the way they turned out.

By the looks of it I think the kids liked the way they turned out too. I also served ice cream cups instead of buying ice cream in the tubs and this was the best ever! We didn't have to hassel with scooping out ice cream for each child.

Jamison was reading...all of her cards. She was just so adorable as she read each one. You could just tell that she genuinely cared about the words. She even hugged one of the cards because she thought it was so nice.

I was praying...to relax during that party. I have a tendency to get all worked up during parties because I was then to go well. I prayed that morning to God to give me patience and not to worry about the little things. It's a good thing I put in that request because there was a little mishap.

See, I came across this post about a this mom giving her daughter a pizza party. In the post it showed putting something down on the baking sheet to write each child's name so that you'd know who each pizza belonged to. So we put down wax paper (how many of you know where I'm going with this). As we're waiting at the table for the pizza my mom and Rondell come in to inform me that each pizza has stuck to the wax paper. So, off to Little Caesar's Rondell went.

At least they had fun making the pizzas.

The great pizza mishap of 2009.

I created...so many things for the party.

I made a rainbow banner. I've seen this idea all over blogland, including here. I decided to go with these colors and for it to say Party Time so that we can use it over and over. I used by Cricut to cut out each letter and to cut out the balloons. Rondell then laminated each square for me.

You can see here that I tied it together with ribbon.

I made a sign for our door using my Cricut for the letters and then made the little pizza to coordinate with the invitations.

I made menus for each child to have. They were able to check off what they wanted on their pizzas, what drink and which ice cream they wanted.

I was SO excited about the tags for the goody bags. I got the idea here to make little aprons. I had to play around a lot to get them cut out just right. I cut out two sheets of cardstock, making one slightly bigger than the other. In order to made the apron shape I wanted to use an oval punch, but I didn't have one. So, I ended up using a circle punch and just had to cut where it was too round (I don't know if that makes sense). I ended up getting the perfect cut out on one of my practice sheets and just used that as a stencil to cut out all of the other aprons. Then I used brads and ribbon on the top. Finally, I stamped it with my Yum Yum stamp.

I bought aprons (super cheap at Hobby Lobby) and used paint to write each child's name in his/her favorite color. I added the balloon to Jamison's apron.

Around the house...

Here's the table set up. I had each child's apron on his/her chair and the pizza toppings in bowls for them to make their pizzas.

They played pin the pepperoni on the pizza.

The finished product.

A few of my favorite things...

Jamison...all smiles before the party. She was so excited.

My sweet girl getting ready to make her pizza.

Caleb being a complete gentleman when Mila got there.

A sweet picture of Marja and Mila.

There's nothing like friends...Reese and Jamison.

This is by far my favorite picture. She just looks so happy.

Blowing out her 6 candles.

Jamison when she opened her gift from Hannah. Hannah made her some paper dolls and Jamison just thought that was so great. She gave Hannah the biggest hug.

Just the joy on her face all day!

A few plans for the rest of the week...dinner at Iacono's pizza for the actual big day!