Birthday at the Arboretum

Last Sunday, on Ava's actual birthday, we went to the Arboretum to spend more time with Gigi and let Ava run around one of her favorite places. The weather was perfect and I have never seen the Arboretum look more beautiful with all the spring flowers that are now in bloom. No captions needed for the pics. I'll let them speak for themselves.

Want a Farm Party?

A friend of mine sold all of the decorations and things that she created for her daughter's party for a super reasonable price so that gave me the idea to do the same with Ava's Farm Party. I don't know if anyone would even be interested but since I spent a lot of time making everything I hate to just throw it away. My hope is that I can help someone who is interested in having a farm themed party but who doesn't want to go through all the work. Here are some pictures of the things that I have to include in the "farm party pack". haha

Birthday Banner

I don't know why I put this on there but I can recreate both of these things too.

Table Decorations (set of 4-animals are double sided)

Game Materials

(including tails for the horse and more pigs for finger painting)

Food Labels

Photo Stand In

(I cut out Ava's name on the cricut so that is removable and would just say Happy Birthday)

I also have 9 of these barns left

If you or anyone you know might be interested email me and let me know! kmseamans@gmail.com

2nd Birthday Party- Part 3 Family

Ava's party would not have been complete without some of the people that love and adore her most, her grandparents. Bpop and Nana were greatly missed, along with Aunt Alli, Greg and Mimi, but we were so excited to have the other 5 grandparents,1 great grandparent, and Aunt Bri there with us. Since all of them live out of town and don't get to see her often I know it must particularly hard on weekends like this when they are only here for a short time and they have to "share" her with each other and her other friends.

Gramielle and Papa Jim
Love this one of them two!

After the party the grandparents came back to the house with us and Ava opened up her presents

She has a new love for baby dolls and she got two new ones along with all kinds of baby accessories (which has forced me to get more organized with storing her toys)

Ava and her two crazy grandmothers, Kay Kay and Gigi.

Funny how Mikey and I have mothers who are so similar in personality yet neither one of us got their "outgoing" genes.

Ava got several cards with money in them and much to my surprise she knew exactly what it was and immediately snatched it up and took off. Aparently she didnt need to open any more gifts after that!

Showing Daddy all her money

Ava with her Papa Mike and Granny Jean

She had to show Papa how she jumps on the ottoman. Yes, I am a horrible mother and let my child jump on the furniture ! (just that really. It's like her own personal trampoline and we have to get all that energy of hers out somehow!)

Kay Kay, Bri, Gigi the Cow, Papa Jim, Gramielle, Papa Mike, and GJ....thanks for making Ava's birthday so special for her and for us. Love you guys!

2nd Birthday Party- Part 2 Friends

Ava is so blessed to have so many friends and family who love her so much. It was heartwarming to see all of our loved ones all together to celebrate our little girl's special day. Here are some pictures from the party with all of our friends.

Ava's Gigi is awesome! Since we couldn't have a petting zoo she decided she was going to dress up as a cow for Ava and all the kids. That's love!

Some kids were a little afraid of Gigi the Cow and others couldn't get enough of her!

We were so happy to see our sweet friends Stephanie and Derek who were in town visiting from Florida

We played Pin the tail on the horse.

(I had also planned for a craft where the kids get to finger paint some cut out pigs with chocolate pudding but we ended up not really having enough time for it)

Luke giving Ava a hug

She couldn't leave out her main man, Daddy.

There was a ball pit for the kids to play in.

The tables were too big for all the kids so most of them gathered around this little table to eat.

One of the things that I was most looking forward to was getting everyone's picture taken in this cute farm photo stand we bought. Only problem was when Mikey and I went to set up before the party we didnt have all the supplies we needed to set it up. At some point I remembered we hadn't set it up yet so these three got us fixed up!

Ava and Brinley

Proudly showing off her Gigi the Cow

The goofballs who set up our photo stand. Oh geez!

Could that face in the middle be any cuter??!!

Margaret, Ava, and Henry

Derek and Ava

Rebekah, Henry, and Luke

Sweet little Sally

Stephanie, Leanne, and Sara

Blowing out the first candle

And then she got a little help from Mommy and Daddy with the second

Did I mention how talented this woman is with her cake making?!

Digging in!

Excited to go play on the playground

Henry, Ava, and Brinley

What sweet friends!

(this was taken towards the end of the party so we don't have a picture of all of them)

I love my little family so much!

Gigi the Cow made another appearance!

And she was wiped out by the end!

After most of her friends had left Little Miss found the cake again.

What a fun day!