Claire's Ladybug Party

Saturday was the big day.....Claire's 2nd birthday party!
(Her actual birthday isn't until this Thursday)
I have been planning this party in my head for over a year.
In fact, I had the theme of her 2nd birthday party before I had the theme of her first birthday party! (I am crazy like that).

I had so much fun planning her party and I thought it turned out cute.
Get ready for a photo overload of Claire's Ladybug party!

Here is Claire on the front porch before her party started.

I wanted to get a few pictures of her before the party because I knew once the party began, her dress would be messy & her hair would be crazy!

I got her dress from Ashley at Lil Blue Boo. She makes upcycled tshirt dresses and the quality is amazing! She is the same girl who made Kate's frog dress .

The ladybug dress was a custom dress that I had her make to match the colors of Claire's party. I LOVE how it came out!

Kate wore a simple white & black polka dot dress to match the theme.

Here they are, ready to Party!
This is one of my favorite pictures of them....they are both smiling AND looking at the camera!

Here is the invitation I made:

{Now available in my Etsy shop!}

I made a lot of the stuff for the party at the end of summer because I knew once school started, things would be crazy busy!

Party Details:
Black & Red Candy Table

Birthday banner:

Licorice:

Ladybug Spots (aka: licorice bites)

Red Ants (aka: Hot Tamales)
That name was Kevin's idea!

Claire sneaking some candy...

We found out Claire loves black licorice :)

Appetizers:
Ants on a Log (aka: celery, peanut butter & raisins)

Hummingbird Hummus:
(aka: Hummus served with carrots & pita chips)

The drink station:

Ladybug Juice (Fruit Punch):

Bumblebee Juice (Lemonade):

It's not a ladybug party without polka dot balloons!
I got them from Polka Dot Market,

The dessert table:

Close up of the pom poms I made:
(I used THIS tutorial)
Cupcake tower:

I made 5 different cupcake toppers for the party:

I also made ladybug cupcakes:

They were red velvet cake, red icing & topped with a junior mint & chocolate chips:

The amazing ladybug cake my mother in law made:

Antennae (aka: Chocolate Dipped Pretzels)
Party Activities:
I printed out ladybug coloring sheets for kids to color:

I hired my next door neighbor (she is also one of my students!) to do face painting and balloon animals for the kids.

Lunch Menu:
Potato Bug Salad (aka: Potato Salad)

Butterfly Salad (aka: Bowtie Pasta Salad)

Grasshopper Salad (aka: Tortellini w/Pesto Salad)

Caterpillar Kabobs (aka: fruit kabobs)

Hot Dogs

Chicken Apple Sausage

And, of course Buns!

After lunch, Claire was about to have a melt down (nap time!) so we declared it cake time!
We actually got a family picture (thanks, Becky!)

Claire was a little overwhelmed with everyone singing to her:

To her defense, there were over 50 people at the party.

She wasn't quite sure what to do...

Good thing she had Maddie & Kate there to help her blow out her candles!

Happy Birthday, Claire!

Cake time = Happy Claire!

Favors:
I got magnified bug catchers for each kid & then made a name sticker for each one to personalize it. I tried to get a real ladybug for each kid and called about 5 different Garden Centers, but they only carry real ladybugs in the Spring. Sorry, kids :)

{I got the containers HERE}

And, I had chocolate ladybugs on a stick for each guest:

They turned out SO cute!
I got them from this etsy shop & then I added my own favor tag!

We got so busy at the party, we forgot about the ladybug pinata that was hanging in the yard!
I think it is so funny we forgot the pinata because the pinata was one of the main reasons I had a ladybug party. LAST summer I got this ladybug pinata on clearance and that is what gave me the idea to do a ladybug party!

So, after naps, we let the girls attack the pinata!

She wanted 3 lollipops, all at once!

Oh well, it was her birthday party, we let the rules slide a little :)

It was a great party and so fun having a house full of family & friends!
The party was 2 days ago & I think I have finally recovered!
All this party planning has been a good distraction for me because I am in denial that my baby is turning 2! (tears!)

Thank you to everyone who came and helped us celebrate Claire turning TWO!

Click HERE to see her 1st Birthday Party - Ice Cream Theme

Why?

I don't know how we escaped the "why?" stage with Kate.
She never went through it (thankfully!)
But, Claire?
She sure is making up for it.
Everything we ask her something or tell her something, we get a response of "Why?"

Claire, don't drink out of the dog's water bowl.
Why?
Because people drink out of cups.
Claire, don't climb on the dresser.
Why?
Because it could fall on you & you could get hurt. We climb at the playground, not on dressers.
Claire, we don't we draw on the walls.
Why?
Because we draw on paper & coloring books, not walls.
Claire, we don't stand in the bath tub.
Why?
Because we sit in the bath tub.
Claire, don't run around the house.
Why?
Because last time you ran around the house you fell & we had to call 911.
Claire, don't bite your sister.
Why?
Because we use our mouths to eat food, not bite.
We don't bite people. We need to be kind to others.
I'm telling you...this little girl is a firecracker & is already giving us a run for our money!

Sneak Peek: Summer Photo Shoots

I had a busy summer photographing some fun families!
Because it was such a cold summer, none of the photoshoots were in 100 degree weather!

(I am happy to say that all of these pictures are safe & backed up on not one, but two external hard drives!)

Here are some of my favorite pictures from my summer photo shoots!

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How cute are these siblings?
The girls were working the camera for me!
They loved getting their picture taken.
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Sweet Baby Girl Emerson turned 9 months old, so we did another photo shoot
(I also did her newborn pictures)
She is such a good baby & has amazing blue eyes!
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I took some sisters pictures in honor of these 2 girls turning 3 years old and 6 months old.
Baby Evie loved the camera & was so cooperative!
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One of my friends from church, Kim had me take pictures of their family!
Their daughter is full pf personality & is such a fun little girl!
And, how cute is their little boy?
He is one of the happiest babies ever!
Those eyes....he is going to be a heart breaker one day!
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I also had the privilege of photographing one of my favorite families in the entire world.
Their mom used to babysit my sisters and I.
I have known these kids since they were born & I love them like my own family!
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I also got to do a very special photo shoot for my friend Brooke's new son.
A child they have been waiting for and praying about for years.
Here he is at 3 days old:
He is just beautiful & a gift from God!
He can't keep his eyes off his Mama:
Congrats Brooke! I am beyond happy for you!
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How cute is the name Ivy? She also had the most gorgeous blue eyes.
Ivy was so happy & smiley for me during our photo shoot.
Even the photo shoot was mostly for Ivy, I was able to snap a few pictures of her brother.
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My friend Emily wanted me to do a photo shoot for her 2 kids.
Emily is Emerson's (shown above) aunt.
Here is her energetic son! He is a ball of energy!
And, her sweet daughter (also named Claire!)
Emerson was also there, so I also took some pictures of all 3 kids (cousins!)
And another one of Emerson, she has grown up so much in 2 months!
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My final photo shoot of the summer came the night before school started.
Literally, the night before school started. I got home from this special photo shoot at 11 pm!
As soon as my friend Heather told me she was pregnant, she asked if I would take pictures during the delivery.
I have done this once before for my friend Lesly & it was an amazing experience.
There is nothing like witnessing a baby being born. What an honor.
So glad I could be a part of Baby Cole's birth day.

Moments after he was born:
Welcome to the World Baby Cole!
Soaking in the newness of life...
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It was a fun & busy summer photographing lots of sweet families!
I am looking forward to some fun Fall photo shoots.
And, you know what Fall means....Holiday & Christmas card photo shoots!
Love this time of year!