Campbell’s Birthday Party

 

Today was Campbell’s 3rd Birthday and her first birthday party at home.  Traditionally we go to the lake and celebrate with close family & friends but this year called for a BIG celebration!  Its not every day that our little girl turns 3 years old and she now has her own little (big!) group of friends to play with, not to mention a backyard begging to be played in and a 9 month preggo mom that couldn’t travel to the lake.  Since I know her world is about to be turned upside down with the addition of a little sister in the house, I wanted her last days of being an only child to be so much fun for her!  As tiring as it was for me, it was definitely worth it to see our little girl so happy. Thanks to all who made her birthday so special!!

 

  It was a true backyard party!  Kids played in the pool, on the swingset, in the sandbox & with outdoor toys. We were thankful to have a bright sunny day in spite of stormy forecasts.

 Campbell & her party guests

 Matt grilled mini slider burgers & hot dogs. 

 

 

Papa, Clairee & Edie enjoying the shade underneath our new roof on the porch. 

 

Saying the blesssing… 

 

The drink stand—lemonade, mint & lime water, mini coke bottles & capri-suns. 

 

I put out spinach dip as a little appetizer for the adults (thinking they might appreciate something a bit more sophisticated than French Onion dip). Well, the kids pounced on it!! It was so funny seeing all those kids digging in. Adam actually had to take it away from them so they would eat lunch.  I guess you can’t complain much when kids are eating spinach though! 

 

The Cake! Tammy Brooks made the cake and it was delicious.  I wanted to make sure this years cake was super cute and made up for last year’s tragedy, which it did ten times over.  Thanks Tammy-it was perfect and just what I wanted for Campbell!! 

 

 Campbell’s favorite part—“Happy Birthday, Dear Campbell”

 The Wedding Dress!  just look at that face!  This was Campbell’s gift from mama & daddy and was the peak of her gift opening.  She is now officially a dress-up bride!

 

 

The party favors were beach towels. 

  Papa Q was our lifeguard (and pool play toy) for the day!

Campbell’s room after the party. It looked like Christmas!!

And our yard after the party-whew, I felt like those balloons!

*Note that Campbell is wearing her pj’s in some pics.  About an hour into the party, just as the food is coming off the grill, Campbell starts complaining that her back hurts and pointing to the small of her back. There isn’t anything obvious-a bite, scrape, bruise, etc.  But she is obviously in pain.  All she wants is for me to hold her and when we get inside she wants to get out of her bathing suit, into her pajamas and take a nap!  People come in her room to check on her but she wants nothing to do with anyone but me.  The only thing I can gather is she was in the pool when her back starting hurting her—maybe she scraped it on the side jumping in or on the steps?  Eventually we con her to open a gift which Clairey gives her gift and was a pink toaster from Pottery Barn. Just what she asked for (really!) so she is happy about that but now wants to play in her room with it.  Forget her friends, the cake, etc. all waiting for her outside!  You can imagine what I am thinking….all the work I’ve done at 9 months preggo for this party and you are going to go into seclusion.  Eventually Matt talks to her privately and 5 minutes later she comes out wearing her pink polka-dot pajamas ready to eat cake and open her presents, thank goodness!!

 

Thanks to ALL who celebrated with us. It was a great day!  I can’t believe my baby girl is really three years old now and not a baby anymore!

Now I have to go and get ready for another “Birth” Day!!