Halloween Birthday Party Costume

I don't think you can have a truly awesome Halloween Birthday Party without a truly awesome costume. So when Cordelia asked to be a "blue and pink fairy" for her party I did my best to go all out.

We ordered these really awesome soft wings from Amazon (I think they might be the best thing I have ever bought Cordelia because we break wire wings in three days and she can wear them in the car which has saved us soo many tears) and based the rest of the costume around them. It was a challenging pink to match, but in the end (and with the help of my nephew who wanted to cry because I was soo indecisive at the fabric store) I am really happy with how it came out. The bodice is a calico cotton, and the skirt is a couple layers of metallic blue dress up fabric, teal fish scale organza, dark teal sparkle tulle, and pink shinny tulle. 

I was tickled to find flowers that matched soo well for the crown and the waist- and this is the first flower crown I have ever made! 

I did not make the wand because I ran out of time, so I was very happy when the pink glitter I used to recover an old worn out pair of shoes helped to tie the wand into the theme! 

The most fun I have sewing is when I can make Cordelia something that I know I would have loved to have as a kid. Sometimes Its hard not to feel that she is soo totally her father's child- but fairies, princesses, magic and fabulous dresses? That's totally our thing. 

Happy Halloween Birthday Party

I kinda love party planning- nothing gets me more excited than a good theme. So I was totally thrilled when Cordelia picked my absolute favorite thing as the theme for her 4th birthday party: Halloween. My my mind started racing with ideas- and thank goodness I have such loving siblings or it never would have gotten all done (since school was eating me a live up until 4 days before the party).

 I think that paper invitations are one of the coolest things- I really love a good invite, and even though everyone kept telling me to let this one thing go I just couldn't do it and I love how they turned out. I saw the idea on One Charming Party and we pretty much used her templates- but my nephew did the inside body a little different, and my sister  used her silhouette to cut everything out. 

Our apartment is a little too small to host all of our family friends and so each year we find someplace new to hold the birthday party- we have rented a community room at a friends place, held the party at my mom's, my brother and sister in law graciously let us use their yard, and this year we were able to use a room at Brendon's lodge. We were excited to use the lodge because with Cordelia gaining more neighborhood friends we really wanted to keep it super local and the lodge is in waking distance for most of them! Also no one had to clean their house- which is a total added perk. And we set up the night before which helped my sanity level immensely.  

We decked the place out with streamers, paper pumpkins Cordelia helped make, tons of balloons, and every Halloween decoration my mom and I own (which is actually kind of a lot). 

We ate pulled chicken sandwiches, mummy dogs, monster marshmallow pops, spider web decorated bean dip, cheese ball, pumpkin shaped rice crispy treats, monster cupcakes, and the coolest Maleficent barbie cake made by my sister. 

Each kid got to adopt their own monster- also made by my sister who loves me and likes to enable my crazy (if making 25 monsters for a birthday party isn't love I don't know what is)

Each monster came with a certificate for the kid to fill out- naming their monster and promising to take care of it. The kids really loved them- and it was especially fun to see what they picked for names. We had Boobo, Princess Patty, Kron Kron, Boo Boo Butt, Hydro, Gerbie, Lily, Octopus, Pickle, and a couple who hadn't been named yet. 

The kids got also got to decorate and take home a Halloween tote bag- donated from my boss and designed and printed by my brother. Hopefully the kids will use them for Trick or Treating come Halloween! They also got to color super cute coloring books (that I failed to photograph with my real camera) that had all sort of fun Halloween activities in them (made by my nephew and my sister Lori) 

Last, but not least was Monster Bowling! My brother and sister in law painted these bowling pins for the party and I cannot get over how  awesome they are. I keep trying to pick my favorite ones- but they are all soo cute!

As a prize for bowling the kids got bloody popcorn hands, and spider lollipops. 

 

Cordelia, Brendon, and I are soo grateful for everyone that helped us create, set up, and clean up for this party- you are all truly amazing. And thank you to all of our friends who came and helped us celebrate, we couldn't have picked more awesome people to help us celebrate another year in the life of Cordelia! 

Dear Cordelia

I can hardly believe its been four years since the first time I held your little 8 pound 10 ounce self. I can remember that first moment very clearly. I don't think I could ever forget just how tiny and perfect you were. 

Being a mom makes time do such strange things, some days can feel soo long and soo hard but then at the same time they speed fast and next thing you know it your kid is out of diapers. I wish I could go back and hold you while you slept and smell your baby sent. 

But time does not move backwards, only forwards. So many things have happened over the years, so many adventures, art projects, quiet moments, and crazy ones too. This year we went on our first family vacation, we spent many evenings on family nature walks, and we went to see your first movie (in theaters).

You got your first pair of glasses! and your first hair cut! 

You took ballet, taekwondo, and basketball. 

You humored me by sitting for tons of photo shoots, and we had so much fun and I am glad to have captured so many moments and so many smiles. 

Cordelia it's been a blessing to watch you grow. You always pick the funny looking strawberries, because you think they are the most special. You love superheros, princesses, Totoro, bugs, dirt and glitter- and you don't know that most people feel those things don't belong together, and I hope that when you do know it, that you never care.  Your favorite color is "all the colors, except for brown", and you love breakfast food.  This year you learned how to make friends, read some words, open pill bottles (which freaks me out and I don't know how you do  it) and every day you get more independent. You can reach all of the light switches by yourself- even if sometimes you pretend that you can't.

I love that when you open boxes of toys you describe the details to me (like the packaging, and the movements of the toy). You love watching "Treehouse builders" and "How it's made" as much as you enjoy Doc McStuffins. You tell me stories and draw me monsters and I love your creativity and curiosity, even if sometimes it means colored on and disassembled toys. Cordelia, I love you, and your Papa loves you. You are our adventure, you are our sunshine, and we are looking forward to watching you grow even more.