Ivy's Party!

also known as "what I have been doing instead of blogging"
I love throwing parties. I especially love throwing themed parties!  For Ivy's first birthday we decided to have a Candyland Theme!  Kind of because we call Ivy 'Ivy Pie' and kind of because her wall says  'Sweet" but mostly because we just thought it would be super fun! Just for clarification. When I say 'we' I mean me and this lady:

 This is my friend Amber and she's amazing. 

 She gets half the credit for this party and it just simply would not have happened if not for her artistic talents and the fact that we both get a kick out of over doing it.  Shes the kind of friend that's family :)

Now-onto the party details!

In the backyard, we created a life sized candy land game!

We lined the kids up

where they drew a card and thus started their journey through Candy Land!!

 

 First they must travel through the peppermint forest

 where candy cane trees and peppermint flowers grow 

diligently tended by the giant Mr. Mint

 

 Ivy loves him! I do too actually...

Next the colorful path leads them past the gingerbread house,

 

 and through Princess Lolly's lollipop garden!

 Gwen is apparently totally into this...I don't know WHERE she gets her enthusiasm ...

Last, they must pass through Queen Frostine's icy wonderland 

where a few unfortunate ice cream cones met their demise...

 

Its Texas people. Not even the Queens magic could keep ice cream safe...

 Once safely through the children made their way up the back steps, through the Candy Arch 

 and onto the candy smorgasbord!

 

The kids each got to grab a plate, choose their candy and then head outside to decorate and consume 

their reward for making it safely through Candy Land! 

 

After the children were thoroughly sugared up we sang happy birthday,

            

opened presents,

 and spent the rest of the day hanging out with good friends!

 

 Before everyone headed home we made them take home a favor bag full of candy!

 (yes made-I do not need all this candy in my house!!)

So there you have the reason why things have been a little quiet around here!

I really cannot believe an entire year has already passed!

I need to start planning the next party...

Thanks for reading!!