ready to party

Annalie’s 6th birthday party ended up being a bit of a flashback. Her 3rd birthday happened to fall on a 10%-off-day at our local pottery-painting place, so I let a few friends know that we were planning to go paint that morning and then have lunch at a nearby Mexican place.

Unofficial birthday party
Photo taken May 9, 2007

As it turned out, a few of our friends decided to join us, so the whole thing ended up feeling like a party. It was much more fun for me than her actual 3rd-birthday party, because I was sick that day. I powered through the playgroup party and then crashed hard when everyone went home. I don’t even remember it very well, honestly. But I have good memories of the painting day.

Kara Cassie & Annalie

painting the cat's claws

We debated several options for Annalie’s birthday party this year. But since we’d just moved, the only friends we wanted to invite were our old friends from when we lived in Maryland. That means all the guests live an hour and a half away from us, and it would have been hard on them to make a 3-hour round-trip drive for a birthday party. So we decided to meet halfway…for pottery-painting and Mexican food.

Christa

Nicholas, Kara & Annalie

Most of the kids in this group are experienced pottery-painters, so they quickly chose their pieces and settled down to paint. Annalie finished so quickly that she was bored and begging to open her presents. I wanted her to hold off just a few more minutes, till most of the kids were done painting, so I handed her my camera and told her to take pictures.

my friend Kara party hat

that's me! balloons

Miss Bekah, Christa and Gramaw I like the fish at the pottery studio

self-portrait of me at my party self-portrait at birthday party

I especially like the last two. They’re self-portraits she took with the timer.

Finally, it was time to open presents!

opening presents

Annalie & Nicholas

unwrapping Christa

cupcake kit

Annalie even had a present from Gabby and Annie to open, despite the fact that they live in Indiana and weren’t at the party. They gave her a cupcake-making kit, proving that they know both Annalie and me well. We have the best friends!

history repeating

At the Mexican restaurant down the road, we all ate our fill of chips and salsa and cheese dip and whatever else we ordered, and then it was cupcake time! And history repeated itself just a little bit.

candle out

Kara Cassie

daisy cupcake

Originally we were going to have butterfly cupcakes, but Annalie decided at the last minute that she wanted daisy cupcakes instead. She even came up with the frosting design on her own, and it was much cuter than my idea. The ‘Feliz Cumpleaños’ plates were on clearance at Target for 58 cents, and Annalie thought it was cool to have birthday plates with Spanish on them. Works for me!

Happy Birthday, Annalie!

party kids

Old friends, painting, and good food were a great way to celebrate Annalie’s birthday. Thanks, everyone!

14 Responses to “Annalie’s 6th birthday party”

  1. Lauren H says:

    i love Annalie’s photos, but i especially love the first picture of the two of you – she looks so grown up! Happy Birthday Annalie!

  2. Ashley says:

    I love these :) Its nice to see kids having so much fun doing something that isnt watching tv, its something crafty they can do!

    P.s: where do you go to paint pottery? I would love to find a place like this somewhere in ohio or michigan!

  3. a chris says:

    You just sent me link wandering through Flickr into your Mother’s Day 2008 post. It was so neat seeing Annalie baby pictures. Since we had our own daughter, I’ve found it much more interesting and heartlifting (not a word, I guess, but it should be) to see what kind of children babies grow into (or in this case, what the baby that grew into the child looked like). It’s like it gives me a glass to see our future through.

    I shall conclude: your post-delivery picture is stunning! You and Annalie both look remarkably bright-eyed and lovely. (Reading the story, I’m so glad she didn’t have major complications from her early exit/entrance!)

  4. La Tempete says:

    Looks like fun!

  5. Cc says:

    I’m glad Annalies birthday was easier on you this year.

    I’m looking forward to Rapunzels party tomorrow, though it feels weird knowing all I have to do is make cupcakes!!

    Give Annalie a hug for me.

    We’ll miss you guys tomorrow.

  6. amanda says:

    I know I’m a bit late, but Happy Birthday Annalie!
    And, love the new haircut. I’ve seen the other pics but the one at the top seems to show it off best, and it looks great.
    Love the gifts…rock painting and cupcakes…seem just perfect!

  7. Sam says:

    Happy birthday to Annalie! That looks like super fun birthday party, with major low stress. I love that you gave her the camera and the resulting shots, too.

  8. DeeJay says:

    So awesome! You are such a good mommie to that Annalie!

  9. BeachMama says:

    What a fabulous birthday party Annalie! Looks like you had a wonderful day, Happy Belated Birthday!!

  10. Rhi says:

    Happy Birthday to Annalie!

    (I love the other little girl’s face in the cupcake picture!)

  11. It’s so heart warming looking at these photos! Happy birthday Annalie.

  12. Ashley says:

    Happy Birthday Annalie!

    Looks like you had a wonderful and well deserved day!

  13. Looks like it was a great day! The cupcakes are adorable and I LOVE that your plates say Feliz Cumpleanos.

    Happy birthday Annalie!!

  14. mike says:

    Happy birthday, Annalie!