++A Party for the Little One++

This year I decided to make Claire's party all about Claire's favorite things: music, the color purple, and lollipops.  It became a bit of a challenge to pull it all together but I managed.  I didn't intend to make the invitations (I found in a lot of cases it ends up costing more and being so much more work) but there really aren't a lot of purple lollipop invites to be had out there.  So here's a little recap of the partay. 


The spread.  Very simple on purpose.  Two-year-olds don't eat.  Especially if there is cake.

The lollipop cake.  For the record, Claire only ate the frosting.



Sprinkles are great.  Kids love them and they cover a multitude of sins.

Cora and Claire decorating their musical instruments.

Kerri and Sarah (Moms Club friends).

Amy and Lily (MOPs friends)

Here's Claire in her element.  Her music teacher came to her house for her party and she got to do all her favorite songs--and even got the purple ribbon wand!

James.  Our neighbor and Claire's future husband.

At least Mark and I got the memo to look at the camera for a photo.

We practiced blowing out the candles for a few weeks leading up to the party.  She took a HUGE breath in but just couldn't get the job done.  Even with Owen's help (busted!!)

She even tried going at it from another angle.

The big brothers were a little more interested in the gifts than the two-year-olds.

I tried to get a shot of the guests but just ended up with all the big brothers. 

Here's our pretty two-year-old!

And her brother who couldn't be left out of the fun.

And her cousin who we would happily adopt into our family (she spent the rest of the day with us while Susan went to see Larson ski--that's also why he's absent from the photos.) 

And just like that we have a two-year-old.  Crazy.