Butterfly Birthday

I love parties, especially birthday parties. When I was young, I used to plan my own birthday parties and make my own cakes. On my 12th birthday, I had all my friends come dressed as old ladies and we had a tea party out on the lawn with a hat-shaped chocolate cake. So fun! However, it is even better planning a party for someone else - especially when that someone else happens to be my own precious little girl.

My beautiful butterfly

Needless to say, I had an absolute blast dreaming up ideas and creating this party - and it was so fun for me to put it all together and see Zoë and our family and friends have a delightful time!

Birthday girl with her special friend, Celicia

The dream for this party: to be filled with all the things that Zoë loves - the great outdoors, our neighborhood playground, lots of people, little friends to play with, yummy treats, and of course, butterflies. 

Butterfly shaped P.b.& J's for the little ones :)

The spread - waiting for everyone to arrive

Zoë's toddler buddy, Timothy with his butterfly straw

Cupcakes! 

Timothy really liked those "caterpillars"
(Good n' Plenty, used for the butterfly bodies on the cupcakes :)

Butterfly Craft Table: butterfly masks and coffee filter butterflies

Rachel and Aunt Heidi with the Birthday Girl

Celicia's lovely mask

Where is Zoë??

Peek-a-boo!

Cousin Adon's coffee filter butterfly in progress

Zoë enjoyed coloring with Margaret, Danae and Gail
(friends from church)

Toddler Butterfly Hunt!

It was adorable watching these three search for the butterfly goodie bags
 we hid around the trees with their butterfly nets :)

"I found the last butterfly!"

Playground fun 

Since moving to Portland nearly a year ago, the most difficult part has been finding playmates for Zoë, and we really haven't had any luck with that outside of nursery at church on Sunday mornings. So, we invited her nursery friends, and it brought so much joy to my heart to see my little social butterfly giggling with glee as she pulled Celicia around the playground and had so much fun with her other young friends that came to the party. We are definitely looking forward to creating more opportunities for these friendships to blossom!

 The butterfly wings I made for Zoë using fabric scraps from newborn outfits, quilts and diaper covers that had been ruined one way or another. She refused to wear it on her birthday on Tuesday, but today enjoyed running around "flying" and sharing her wings with Celicia.

Presents!

Enjoying her gifts with Margaret

Celebrating with us today were my family, the Farner clan (above), and a few families from church. Thank you all for coming to celebrate Zoë's life with us, and lovin' on her! She certainly is one special little girl!

We continued the festivities day with a delicious dinner at Outback to treat the moms (Didi, Lola, Oma and me!), and concluded with a dance party in our living room in which Zoë demanded EVERYONE to get up and dance with her! What a perfect way to end the day - Zoë style :) 

Precious butterfly, you have transformed overnight from my little baby to a big girl!
 You are so loved!