color me happy

warning...too many pictures.  i hate deciding which ones to pick and which to leave out.  this is the reason my iphoto holds thousands of photos and is clogging my hard drive.  time to go back and purge.

ok, sidetracked for a minute.  since this one is turning one tomorrow, we threw her a big birthday bash last weekend, on st. patrick's day to be exact.

i've always loved st. patrick's day.  green beer.  bagpipes.  rolling lush hills of ireland, although i've only heard about it from my parents and brother.  and now i have a new reason, because our wee one was born just days after this festive day.

and so we celebrated in true blarney fashion- rainbow style.



we started friday night by making homemade funfetti cupcakes and cake pops.  gosh, were those fun to make.
   

i had my little baking helper, who decided it was her job to add even more sprinkles to the cake mix after it was poured into the muffin tins...



and then sneak a few nibbles herself every once in a while.



the next day, we set up the decor...

rainbow balloon arches.


monthly photo timeline.

zig zag streamers.  found this idea on pinterest.  super easy.


subway art.


paper straws.


and the activities were placed.  a tattoo station.  coloring tables.  guessing game.  and a lucky charms sorting mat.



the guests began to arrive, and playtime warmed up.



eventually, it was time to sing and let them eat cake.  i am not exactly certain why crosby started crying, but as soon as the happy birthday tune began, she immediately stopped and smiled.  she's a music lover.
 

at first, she wanted nothing to do with the frosting on her hands.  she tried a little taste, wriggled her hands to shake it off with a yucky look on her face, but then went back for more. and then she devoured it.


as the cake pops slowly began to dwindle, the cupcakes started to disappear and the ice cream began to melt, we realized it was about that time to wrap it up.  the day had gone so fast, and it was so happy and fun and colorful.



and in the end, the day only solidified just how fortunate and lucky we are to have two very special, amazing little girls to love.  and to have amazing friends and family around us who love our girls, too.



happy birthday party, little one.



big day tomorrow.  more to come.