Avery's Birthday Party

  ...was a lot of work. A lot of food. A lot of candy, cake pops, fondant, and banners. If you ever want to drive yourself crazy, look up all the birthday set-ups on Pinterest. Then try to reproduce everything you see.

 It was a lot of paper and fabric cutting, Jo-Ann's runs, Target runs, Pinterest obsessing. My lovely baby-sitter, Natalia, who is in culinary school, made all the baked goods by herself!

 Food chopping, list writing, hot-gluing, people-cajoling. I was so lucky my family came to visit--they surprised us the day before the party.

Who needs catering when you have a kitchen full of Asians wielding knives?

I focused on making the banners, which I'll have to show you later. I was seeing flags in my sleep. I had made Avery's crown a week before and we had practiced wearing it all week, so she wouldn't fling it off, like all her other accessories/food/various toys. 

The day of the party was warm and beautiful--80 degrees and breezy. Thank God, since there is no earthly way we could have fit 80 people comfortably in our house.

And the bubble machines, baby guitars, toddler drums, and cake.

 We did thankfully get to see spend time with some of our friends and family from near and far. Chris had told Gerry and Amber earlier that they were going to be the "whitest" people there. And boy did they dress the part.

 

Gerry even made that tee-shirt for the occasion. Amber always looks like Cat Deeley--on Cat's best day.  

Avery had a great time--'course, she had no idea what was going on. Chris and I are relieved and happy it's over. We probably won't be doing anything like this until Avery gets married. 

Til then, it's all about McDonald's for birthdays. Especially her sweet 16th--she and her teeny-bopper, Bieber-loving friends are gonna LOVE it.