A Mexican Fiesta! Celebrating Allie.

After her friend party today Allie's family came to celebrate her turning three and the super sweet and spicy girl that she is.

I made chicken enchiladas and a taco bar, we had chips and salsa and guacamole and of course, margaritas. Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing, per Allie's request for dessert and since I ruined her cake, the best chocolate cake in the world, hours before her party, I had to come up with a cake in two hours. Which, is why I was in a hurry with the icing and I got it too watery and it ran all over the cake. (sigh) This is the second or third time I've ruined cakes this fall. 

Alas, despite another cake catastrophe, her birthday was a success. And that chocolate cake with white icing tasted great alongside gourmet ice cream and sprinkles.

These candles broke about four times. They were glued and held together by toothpicks just long enough for her to blow them out. 

Allison is very meticulous about making sure she gets every little piece of paper off the box.

her new doll cradle for Bitty. 

Allie wanted to sit at the island to eat her ice cream and cake, so we let her even though it's not designed for chairs.

Sarah

Allie's Dora the Explorer Party

Allie turns 3! This is her Dora the Explorer friend party. We had a Mexican Fiesta right afterward for family.  

I thought we were nuts having a birthday party on a Saturday night in December, but we lucked out and had a good turn out at both parties, despite the worst cold and flu season EVER. For the friend party we went on an adventure (like Dora does on her show) and we used "Map" and 'Backpack" to help us know where to go and for any tools we might need once we got there. We had cupcakes, opened presents and just had some time to play before the next party started. 

It was hard to do an explorer party inside--without turning my stairway into a mountain and without elaborate props and a lot of time. And when Allie found out it was inside she wasn't too happy--because Dora does all of her exploring outside. Well, Dora doesn't live where it gets cold in December either my dear. 

 We set up little areas in our house where the kids traveled using their maps. First we went to Puzzle Island where the kids had to use their backpacks to complete the missing pieces to the Dora puzzle. Then we went to Star Valley where we searched for chocolate stars. Upon completing that we went to Painters Place (I should really hire someone to make more creative names for these things...) where the girls painted a little treasure box. 1. Because Allie loves to paint. It's her thing. And it was her party so I wanted to incorporate something she really liked to do. 2. Dora is always finding treasure per sea so they painted a box they could put their treasure in. Since we've painted before at parties Next we had a Dora piñata that was supposed to be outside on the Pergola but instead got moved to the garage due to rainy weather. Inside the piñata was candy and little jeweled dress up rings--that the girls could also put in their treasure box. After the piñata it was time to open gifts, have cupcakes and sing to Allie. 

When the girls arrived they picked a spot at the table where a party hat and coloring packet were waiting for them. 

I don't sew.  I've talked about this before. And since I'd just overworked my MIL with aprons from Audrey's party, I had to make something that resembled Backpack, like what Dora wears in the show. I didn't like the foam pattern I found on the internet because although it was cute, you couldn't put anything in it, and I wanted to fill it with things they needed on their adventure. So I came up with purple gift bags, purple ribbon to put it on their backs, and got the pattern for eyes, mouth and eye brows from Nick Jr. It did the trick. I just wanted it to last for the duration of the party.

the birthday girl coloring with her party hat on

the coloring packets

the backpacks I made for the party

The map. Got the template from Nick Jr. and I added the "artwork" on the back,
with some clipart from the internet.

getting our backpacks on

the girls on their adventure

left to right: Lanie, Corinne, Lilah, Lana, Audrey, Allie, Macy and Hannah. 

showing off their backpacks

a before and after of the boxes. This painted one is Allie's. 

 opening gifts. this was Allie's 3rd year video going in the background... 

cupcake time!!

her birthday will always compete with the Christmas holiday....

Sarah

Allie's 3 Year Pictures

Can't believe this little girl who never slept is three. Love her spunky attitude, her three year old wisdom, her independence and her eyes. You've got to be quick to photography Allie. She doesn't hold a pose or a look longer than a milla-second. 

Sarah

People clapping at me

"Audrey do you want to do dance class this year and a recital?"

 and she said "No, I don't like people clapping at me."

And then I asked Allie.

 "Allie, do you want to do a dance class and dance in the recital?"

And she responded, "Yes! I like people clapping at me."

So, we signed Allie up for dance. Audrey said she'd be happy to go and watch Allie this year. This may work out with her bum ankle and all.








Sarah

Small Group Dessert

Today I brought dessert to small group for the kids. Gluten free and dairy free. I changed route on this dessert at least 5 times while putting it together. The base is brownie, put together in the shape of a tree. The top is decorator icing. 

I am no decorator and this picture was taken from my phone. But it tasted good, and that's all that matters. However, presentation helps. A lot. 

Sarah