We're All Mad Here!

Emerson had an Alice in Wonderland party for her 4th birthday.  Sadly, I was too busy to capture photos of the day, but my wonderful father-in-law, affectionately referred to as PaPa took some.  We tried to keep the guest list to a minimum this year and I think it turned out to be just the right amount of people!  

Flamingo croquet & a photo backdrop set up in the backyard

All of the kids having a tea party 

 Just the girls

 The birthday girl - this was towards the end of the party, so excuse her messy hair!

 Emme's sweet friend, Ava!  She wore a "mad hat".

 Playing flamingo croquet.  I bought a bunch of plastic flamingos and then Aaron drilled holes into them so they fit down over the croquet mallet.  They turned out so cute!  I bought pokey, little plastic balls at Dollar Tree to serve as the "hedgehogs" and double as party favors.  The kids loved it!

The kids also decorated paper top hats to create Mad Hats!  I purchased the paper hats from Oriental Trading and then had stickers, jewels, feathers, markers, and foam cut-outs for them to use to decorate them.  They LOVED this.  In fact, they did it at the beginning of the party and then asked to decorate a second toward the end of the party.

 I love this boy!  He was a great sport with all the girls and girly stuff!

The little chairs were also party favors.  I bought them at Kroger for $2.79 each.  

It's hard to tell from the picture, but the balloons are actually clear balloons that I put paper confetti circles in before having them blown up - Pinterest idea that turned out SO cute!

The cake!  I am IN.LOVE with this cake!  Our friend, Gabriel made it and it was just perfect!  The hit of the party!

 Cookies in the shape of tea cups, playing cards and those talking flowers from Alice.  Super yum from our local bakery!

 No clue what Jackson is so giddy about?!?

 More photo prop time with Ava!

 Ah!  Raider Red representin'!  See in the bucket?  

The little Koolaid Burst say "drink me" a la Alice in Wonderland.

We had such a fun day with our friends and family!  Emme had a blast and raved about her Alice party!  Thanks to everyone that helped and came!

Our June

Wow!  It has been a LONG time since I have blogged!  Grad school will do that to a girl.  Now that I am officially done with all my coursework and lack only my internship, I will try to be better about keeping this up to date!  

So let's see, we have had a busy & fun summer.  I can't believe that in just 4 short days we will be back to school/work.  It's bittersweet!  Jackson will be starting Kindergarten - can you believe it?  Emerson will start Pre-K.  I'm both excited for them and sad that I have to go back to work and won't get to spend all day with them.  So to recap our June, I am photo dumping with little blurbs.  

June 1, 2013 - Emerson's first dance recital:

 Her whole class ready for the ballet number.  

They danced to a cute song called "Best Friends."

 My tiny dancer!

 Probably should have cropped my backside out of this one!  

 Denise & Abigail - D & I have been besties since like 6th grade.  

{LOVE} that our girls are friends too!

 Emme & her dance teacher, Ms. Cassie

We love her!

We had fun at the splash pad:

 My super hero!

The kids went to a fine arts camp June 17-21:

They LOVED fine arts camp & can't wait to go back next year!

My Princess turned 4 - June 16, 2013: 

 Birthday morning with presents from mom & dad

We always decorate the kids' doors with streamers & fill their rooms with balloons for a birthday morning surprise.  It's not a surprise anymore though - they have come to expect demand it!  

I just love the look on both of their faces here!  

The Boogies and the Chicken!

I will do a separate post of Miss Em's birthday party, which was a week after her real birthday.