last week lily turned five and this past weekend we threw a little party to celebrate. i tried to keep things small, homemade and simple, while still giving her 5th birthday the hoopla it was due.
she only invited four friends so i was able to hand-make the invitations (they were inspired by these invitations from the angry chicken).

i also put together these little personalized notebooks as part of the party favors.

here's a couple shots of the decorations - a birthday banner and the birthday table. (and yes we were watching olympic curling while decorating for the party, what else would you expect me to be doing?)


the kids decorated their own party hats and we played a few party games - pin the candle on the cupcake, charades, mad libs, etc...

i also had the kids decorate their own cupcakes.

which of course devolved into frosting eating madness...


the party was a success by all accounts, but i was especially glad to see lily have such a wonderful time celebrating her first five years.
-melissa
Is she still dyed blue?!
Happy Birthday to a fabulous girl, and happy birthing day to her equally fabulous mom.
Posted by: kate | February 25, 2010 at 04:10 PM
You rock, mom! Looks like it was a lot of fun! I love the homemade cards.. a creative mom, you are.
Posted by: sonia | February 25, 2010 at 05:27 PM
you have to be the most creative mom ever! and when mom-turns-party planner? incredible! what a lucky daughter you have- she is going to have such wonderful memories of such a delightful birthday! (and the curling in the background is the best photo sneak-in ever!)
Posted by: cmv | February 25, 2010 at 05:54 PM
oh, and i forgot to gush about FIVE!
as a person surrounded by fives every day, can i just sing from the hilltops how incredible they are? watching children go from four to five is truly bearing witness to a bursting transformation like no other! the excitement and zest for life and learning which explodes as soon as lightbulbs start firing left and right-- oh you're in for an incredible year with that wonderful lily of yours!
Posted by: cmv | February 25, 2010 at 07:06 PM
What a grown-up party table... Oh, but then there's that *ahem* blue tongue! That's the best thing about being five... you can be grown-up or childish and each is quite appropriate. Many happy returns of the day!
Posted by: Mary de B | February 25, 2010 at 07:12 PM
What incredible handmade decorations, invitations, and games. I love them! And how I adore blue icing! It looks like lily had a wonderful birthday party.
Posted by: Lindsey | February 25, 2010 at 09:23 PM
Happy Birthday Lily! I love all the handmade decorations and I don't blame the kids for digging into the frosting. I would have too lol.
Posted by: Dawn | February 25, 2010 at 11:51 PM
look at those eyes sparkling! how fun! cute ideas!
Posted by: yvonne | February 26, 2010 at 09:05 AM
Hey ! Happy 5 too! Looks like we had a very similar time :) Love all of the crafting you incorporated into the party.
Posted by: asti | February 26, 2010 at 11:56 AM
happy birthday lily - thats a whole hand!!!
Posted by: louise | February 27, 2010 at 05:44 AM
ps i spy a lovely fairy on the birthday table - we were very excited to see her there!!
Posted by: louise | February 27, 2010 at 05:46 AM
Thanks for letting us share in Lily's party too. I love the cake pics! Has her tongue gone back to normal now?!
Posted by: josiekitten | February 28, 2010 at 09:47 AM
Happy Birthday again, Lily! I hope that her face and fingers have recovered from all of that blue food coloring :)
Posted by: Rebekah | March 02, 2010 at 02:26 PM
Soooo late to the party but a huge Happy Birthday to Lily! The party looks like so much fun...a fine mix of 'maturity' (like the table set-up) and just plain fun. Now I want blue icing at my next birthday! And great job Mom...you are most creative and wonderful!
Posted by: Rachel | March 11, 2010 at 12:54 PM