On September 15th we celebrated Anabelle's 3rd birthday with a Blues Clues themed bash. Anabelle had requested the theme a few months ago and after asking her several times I felt certain that it was what she really wanted. Finding Blues Clues (a children's cartoon popular about 10 years ago) items for the party proved to be rather difficult, it seems that it wasn't so popular any longer. So a lot of the party decor ended up being blue, paw print, dog related, and home made. We were blessed with fantastic weather and so the party was held outside. Thanks to my Mom and Dad who helped us prepare and get ready the day of the party. And also to my friend Kylee, who took pictures for me all day- she got some really great shots. We had a lot of fun seeing all the kids play together and getting to spend some time with friends and family while celebrating our little girls birthday. I know Anabelle had a really great time, and that's the most important thing!
After seeing some pictures I was looking at online, Anabelle asked to have a tu-tu for her party. I made her tee shirt and tu-tu for the big day, and think she looks very cute!
To welcome guests we put Anabelle's chalkboard out on the driveway.
Inside the house, we had her birthday banner, and the cake-yum! I bought the cake and cupcakes from Sams Club, and asked them to just ice them with flat white frosting. Then I bought pre-made fondant, rolled it out and used a cookie cutter to cut out shapes to decorate the cake and cupcakes. So easy and turned out pretty cute!
Each year I choose 1 photo from each month of the birthday girl, to display. It's fun to see how much she has changed in just one year.
We kept the decor outside simple with some balloons and table center pieces.
We tried to keep the menu full of foods that kids love; John grilled hot dogs.
Then we also had Mac & Cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, fruit salad, lots of chips and dip, and puppy chow.
We had a few activities set up for the kids. In the cartoon there is a character that is a purple mailbox, so we had a mailbox set out for the kids to paint.
Hard at work!
Heather, Kyle and their kids, Jacob and Danny.
The finished product!
I asked Aunt Becky if she would paint the kids faces and she was sweet enough to say yes. I am not surprised that she did a wonderful job, the kids really loved it.
Andrew checks out Anabelle's lady bug.
Even some of the grown ups got in on the fun!
Aunt Kari, I want a mustache too!
The bubble machine was also a lot of fun! Angela and James check it out.
Time for Pin the Tail on Blue.
Kylee and Heather; 2 ladies that I love to craft, sew, and chat with. Fortunately our kids get along great too!
Charlotte finally woke up from her nap and was ready to party.
Kylee, Tim, and their kids Kira, Lexington, and Jayden.
Kylee tries to steal Charlotte every chance she gets.
Wow! A thinking chair!
Uncle Mike, Grandpa, Aunt Becky, Grandma and Aunt Steph.
The Girls.
Aunt Kari and Uncle Joe
Sophia shows off her star.
Uncle Zac, Alex, Grandpa Mike, and Aunt Abby.
Yumm, it's cake time!
Hey Uncle Mike, what's going on over there?
Brian and his daughter Jolee
Time to open some presents
Pull me around please!
Grandma and Grandpa, thanks for all of your help!
Thanks for coming to the party, don't forget your favor. The kids each took home a pail and shovel, filled with a handy dandy notebook, stickers, a punch balloon, and some blue candy.
The grown-ups took home paw print and dog bone sugar cookies.
After resting up on Sunday, we were ready to celebrate Anabelle's actual birthday on Monday. When she woke up we decided to make chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. She is such a good helper in the kitchen and really like to cook. Grandma came over to spend the day with us too!
After breakfast we asked Anabelle what she'd like to do for her special day? Go to the zoo, the museum, the Arboretum... What did the birthday girl choose? A trip to the mall! She loves to ride the carousel and was so excited to go to the mall and get a chance to do what ever she wanted!
Here she is buying her tokens for the carousel.
In total she rode 4 times, and loved it!
Then it was off to play in the play area.
Check out the fountain.
We took a special trip to the Disney store, which Anabelle call the Mickey Mouse store. Here she was able to pick out one thing that was going to be her birthday present from John and I. She had a hard time choosing between a Kermit doll, she loves the Muppets, and a set of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse figurines.
The figurines won, and we headed to the food court for a lunch of chicken nuggets.
In the evening John, Charlotte, Anabelle and I went to Giordano's, something we have done every year on Anabelle's birthday. This was the first year she chose chicken nuggets over pizza! ( I know what a healthy and varied diet, but we don't eat this way everyday!)
Finally we ended the birthday celebration with an ice cream sundae.
Here is Anabelle's other birthday present, a Muppets tee shirt and Kermit skirt that I made for her. She looks adorable in them!
Of course every birthday is bittersweet. You love to see your child grow, develop, learn new things, and show you more of their personality and what they will be like when they are older. But sometimes you just want to hold on to your little girl as long as you can, because it goes by too fast. Happy 3rd Birthday Anabelle, your Mommy loves you so much!
