Pink and Purple Picnic Party

V turned four this week. I enjoy the fourth year so much more than the second and the third! Here's to hoping it's a great year!

V wanted a pink and purple picnic party, so we invited several little girls over to make it happen :)

We got everything we needed at the dollar store and Walmart!

*Four pieces of fabric, which I hemmed, for the picnic cloths (what are they called?)

*A little heart-shaped basket for each gal, with a heart-shaped PB&J sandwich, cheesestring, dried fruit, and a disposable straw/sippy cup with pink lemonade (of course!)

*Craft: purple and pink chenille stems (aka pipe cleaners), tiny flowers, and ribbon = flower "garland"...the girls loved them!

*My mom is in town and made beautiful roses on the chocolate cupcakes. (V wanted "brown" cupcakes for her cake!)

As you can see, there was concern that H might blow out the birthday girl's candles before the song was done...

All in all, a great pink and purple picnic party :)

V is Three

This was the first kid birthday we didn't celebrate with a huge party with five thousand of our best friends. I had a baby shower to help coordinate and attend 4 days after getting back from NY. V's birthday was 2 days later. So, no party. But it was a precious family time, for sure.

V was tickled pink by her birthday cupcakes with sprinkles!!! She also enjoyed the strawberries we bought at the commissary earlier that evening.

The whole evening was relaxed and fun. Is there any kind of evening that can't be bettered by family, chocolate cupcakes, and a video camera?

V received a Peter Rabbit book, which I got on clearance; a Disney princess camera that had those little movie still frames (or whatever you call them) when you looked in it, which I got for free from a friend having a yard sale; and an aquarium purse, with wee sea creatures inside, which we bought at the aquarium in South Carolina.

She was pleased as punch with her three little gifts and carried them everywhere for the next week. It's amazing how happy children are, even (especially?) in the absence of excess.

V, my firstborn girl, my drama queen...articulate, surprisingly gentle and kind (at unexpected times), a beautiful little girl.

I'm so thankful for her!