Daycare Dance Party: Celebrating LL’s 4th Birthday

Our Little Love turned FOUR on April 5th. We celebrated by having a Dance Party! Well I tried to have a dance party. We hosted the party at the kid’s daycare/preschool, i.e. play land for preschoolers. There was a bounce house, play house, dance “area”, karaoke, and a ball pit! We completely forgot about the bubble machine, but with all the rest no one missed it. I’m not even sure when I realized that we forgot about it, probably once all the guests went home!

I made Dancing Ribbons as a thank you for the kids to take home. More commonly referred to as Montessori Hand Kites. The idea was for the kids to use them for the Dance Party, but I’m not sure I conveyed that idea very well. Anyway, the kids loved them, and they were asking me to trade for different colors or if they could have 3 or 4 to take home.

It was such a fun party! We even had special guests come all the way from LA. It was pretty amazing to see all our friends, together, with all of our kids having such a great time. That’s a lot of what these party represent for me. I enjoy planning them and doing all of this for my kiddos, but really I love getting everyone together to enjoy one another’s company. We don’t have family near so we rely on friends for these special occasions and they always come through. Plus, I don’t get any other times to host our friends; so these are also, for us.

This time around I changed the food up a bit. Of course, we still had the staples: fruit skewers and chicken salad on croissants. In addition there were raw veggie wraps and a fiesta salad. They were both easily made ahead of time, which is key in a DIY party (I’m slowly learning the tricks!). Now that all the kids are into desserts I ended up making two cakes; one funfetti with pink (raspberry) marshmallow fluff frosting and one chocolate with cream cheese frosting. Along with gooey butter funfetti cookies. Lots of fun and the birthday girl was in heaven!

The most memorable part of the day was when we were getting ready to sing to her. The cakes and cookies were brought out and all the kids descended upon them, but they were all incredibly well behaved. There wasn’t a plan and I wanted to include some decorations I made in the background only we couldn’t figure out how to do it. You see mother nature was trying to bestow rain upon us. Even though, in the end, she decided it wasn’t meant for us. It still made for difficult decisions on what went inside and what stayed onside so we would be prepared for a ‘run for cover’ moment. With all that these 2ish to 5ish year olds were left to drool over 2 cakes and a platter of cookies for way to long; by some miracle they actually kept their paws to themselves. After that, we sang and I tried to keep the candles lit, it did not work, but that’s ok…I improvised! One by one I lit each one and L.L. blew them out with a huge smile and lots of giggles. That, my friends, is what memories are made of. It even produced my favorite picture of the day.

Speaking of, here are all the wonderful pictures. Taken by my lovely friend, Kim. She saved the day by jumping in as the photographer since I still haven’t gotten my dSLR fixed from a Christmas day brawl with Cecito. Doh!

Birthday Girl! She kept saying, you turned 4040 and I'm going to be 40. Ha! — Birthday Girl! She kept saying, you turned 4040 and I’m going to be 40. Ha!

School friends. So fun to see her blossom into such a little lady.

This poor dude didn't feel well that day. — This poor dude didn’t feel well that day.

I tried to make a wall of fringe for the dance area, it didn't work out so well. — I tried to make a wall of fringe for the dance area, it didn’t work out so well.

I was supposed to draw a milestone sign. Instead it was a drawing station. Notice the 'doctor mermaid'. LL's intended profession when she grows up. Handy work by the esteemed Sarah. — I was supposed to draw a milestone sign. Instead it was a drawing station. Notice the ‘doctor mermaid’. LL’s intended profession when she grows up. Handy work by the esteemed Sarah.

Dancing Ribbons! So many colors to choose from. I enjoyed making these.

A party isn't a party without a sphinx kitty cat! — A party isn’t a party without a sphinx kitty cat!

The oh-so-lovable Miss K. Daycare Preschool Owner.

Party hats were essential. LL let's us know whenever anything can look like a party hat. Like, a cheese wedge...every single morning I hear this fact with it dangling over her head in laughter. — Party hats were essential. LL let’s us know whenever anything can look like a party hat. Like, a cheese wedge…every single morning I hear this fact with it dangling over her head in laughter.

Daddy with Cecito's favorite friend. — Daddy with Cecito’s favorite friend.

SO FUN and lovely of my Momma friend and her son.

Daddy's in on the party fun. — Daddy’s in on the party fun.

Funfetti is done. Now let's do chocolate, Daddy! — Funfetti is done. Now let’s do chocolate, Daddy!

Cecito trying to get in on the karaoke fun.

What do you mean it's not MY birthday! — What do you mean it’s not MY birthday!

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I have to add in a very special thank you to this lady. She arrived at 9am to help me set everything up for the party. We would have been without balloons and probably much more if she was unable to lend a helping hand. She put out the food and helped me with many decisions. Honestly, I don’t know where the two hours went. She’s my mom friend and I’m so thankful to have met her.

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Lastly, here’s a video of the candle blowing! Another part to the extended wait time was that a family friend just arrived with a gift. LL had to get off her chair to get her present and it take to the gift table. I guess this is the year that they figure out presents and just how much fun they are? That’s what you see in the first still for the video; somehow I convinced her back into her chair and got the gift for her. Whew!

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