Friday, November 21, 2014

Charlotte's Butterfly 6th Birthday

6!
It was Charlotte's idea to cut some of them with craft scissors.  I was skeptical but I think it turned out well.  I liked the ombre look so much I left this up in the living room for a long time.
One reason I didn't blog is that I was swamped between summer and having all 4 kids birthdays between July 1st and Sept 11.  I decided to let them all have a party this year and I'm not sure I'll ever do that again, even with combining the twins' party it was a lot of work.  We'll go backwards and start with Charlotte who had to wait the longest for her party!
She really wanted an American Girl doll.  I always wanted one as a little girl too but they were expensive then and even more expensive now.  So I told her she could get the Target version and when she's old enough to read the books she could get an American Girl doll if she still wants one.  What's your take on popular expensive toys like this?  


Plain chocolate cake on her birthday- no frosting even!  

Jane and Abby
We really wished we could invite everyone to her party.  It was pretty crazy, I wasn't nearly as ready as I wanted to be.  Having a party at your house is twice as hard because you have to clean and get ready for the party!

Cute Miss Maya
This was the cocoon game.  We divided the kids into pairs and had them wrap each other in toilet paper like a cocoon.  It was cute.  It was harder than I thought for them to keep the toilet paper from breaking.

Pearl


Kalei (I'm pretty sure), Abby, Pearl and Maya







This boy LOVES blueberries.

Butterfly cupcakes- you can't see it as well from this angle.  I was so rushed to get them done.

I also didn't get a picture of the homemade butterfly pizza with a twisted breadstick in the middle and pepperoni "spots".  
And Charlotte finally talked me into a pinata.  I am very anti-pinata.  It got broken off before we even got started.  Everyone has to wait in line while some kid swings a large stick and then they get more sugar on top of the cake and ice cream.  I did put more prizes than candy, but no parent wants more candy or cheap toys.  Sorry I sound like a grinch, I just think there are games that are more fun with less danger and sugar!

I think it was a success despite feeling under-prepared.  She loved having some of her friends over and all the preparation!  Most of the ideas from my pinterest board here.

I loved reading the cards her friends wrote themselves.  I had to take some pictures of her LONG name in her friends' handwriting.

A make-over after a playing at a friends house.

Charlotte is such a social butterfly.  She's determined to have most of her class over to our house and go to their houses too.  She's very responsible, dramatic, (can be) helpful, smart, sweet, and funny.  We are so glad she's ours!

5 comments:

  1. She is a cute 6 year old. We love our Charlotte! Grandma

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  2. Did you get an American Girl doll? Madi & Lia both got the Target versions. They were old enough to see the price difference, and talk about what it meant in terms of Christmas budget. I don't think kids get 3 to 5 times the JOY out of the authentic item. ($22-$35 vs. $115-$130) If I had tons of money, and my kid really wanted something pricy, I'd consider it. But I wouldn't forgo all budget to do it. You know I just don't have the cashflow. But in general, spending hundreds on toys is over the top when people in this world don't have food or clean water.

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    1. I convinced her to get the Target version, and she has since saved up to buy herself another Target one. She still talks about when she can get a "real" American girl doll. The neighbor girls have a couple each. We'll see... I thought waiting until she can read the books and decide which one she likes best was a good idea. By then she might be over it. I know one family that gets them one for their 8th birthday. They are very pricey- Matt doesn't get it at all. It would definitely be her only present if we ever do it, or a joint venture with some of her own money.

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  3. I think knock offs are great...the kids don't care. I love the cupcakes shaped in a butterfly. Wish we could have been there...Savannah would have love it!

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  4. That make up picture is priceless. It kind of reminds me of how some older ladies do their make up too... too much eye shadow and the lipstick is a little off.

    I love the shot of her blowing out her candles! So pretty.

    Love my Charlotte girl so much!

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