Akin Bits: Lailey Turns 3!

After much anticipation and dreaming and planning, the Ladybug Girl Birthday Party finally came. Lailey actually turned 3 on April 7th, but we started Easter weekend with a birthday party Friday morning, the 6th. A couple months ago I gave Lailey the choice of what kind of birthday party she wanted, based on either of her favorite books. Given the choice between "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and "Ladybug Girl," she chose the latter.

The entire week prior to the party, the weather had been warm, sunny, and beautiful. Checking the weather daily, we knew that there was a chance of rain for Friday, but the percentage decreased as it got closer. Well, Friday came and there was only a sprinkle or two; but it was COLD! Colder than it had been all week. As the kids arrived, I began searching through Lailey's closet for every coat that she owned, thankful that we had plenty.

I decorated with mostly homemade things, like the paper plate birthday banner and red lanterns turned "ladybug" with black construction paper dots. Fairly cheap and simple. Note to self: find the hole punch next time so you don't put two holes in your THUMB outsourcing a hole puncher's job to the scissors. Yikes!

Our present to Lailey (besides the party) was ladybug rain boots which she got to wear for the party. It completed the outfit. We asked everyone on the invitation to wear either red or black to coordinate with the theme.

I had originally asked a friend who is fantastic at cake-making to create ladybug cake pops for me. She then found out she'd be out of town when I needed them, but she'd gladly tell me how to do it. Big breath. Was I up to this? Well, it took several hours but after much patience the ladybugs were created. And they tasted good too! The beautiful thing about the plastic wrap was that it covered the unintentional lumpiness quite nicely.

The kids played on the swingset, rode on the tricycle and scooter, and just got to have some unorganized fun, perfect for 3-year-olds. After the birthday song and cake pops we finally chose to move indoors for presents. We figured everyone had been cold long enough.