It's a Cowgirl Party!

I think of where I was two years ago and I was nearly ready to have a baby.  Now that baby is a mini-adult, functioning independently (as much as a toddler can).  She's singing to "Do You Want to be a Snowman" in the car on the way to and from work.  As I desperately hope for sunshine, warmth and spring to arrive, she's requesting winter songs (my kind of girl!).

Since the weather has been nicer, I've started to run again and that means Lucy gets the chance to experience the runs with me.  She calls our runs, "walks".  that's what she knows how to say.  She looks forward to our "walks" because she gets to see doggies, people and busses.  And gets a free ride in the sunshine.

The Inspiration (and also beer&soda labels)

As I was scouring the web for 2nd birthday party ideas for the past handful of months, I was trying to find something easy and fun, maybe even something we could use later for another party. Realistically she won't remember much, if not anything, about this party.  I know that.

The inspiration this year came from the professional photos we had taken this fall which highlighted a beautiful young toddler with a pension for blank stares.  Thus, a cowboy theme was born.

Inspiration: Lucy "Stoneface" Wilson, a sweetheart who will kill you with her stare.


But I haven't really taken the time since she has been born (other than her birthdays) to let my creative juices flow and actually make things.  So I made things.  I made banners and banners.  I made hand stamped sporks.  I made juice box covers and soda & beer labels.  I found mini cowboy hats (probably for a Barbie) for the cupcake toppers.  I made homemade chocolate cupcakes.  I had my dad make her a wooden pony & a lasso as a game. And, I made horse tails for Pin the Tail on the Horse game.

Lacking time to saw a "2", the chalkboard worked just as well. 

So many banners......

My favorite homemade chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting.

Cowboys & Sheriffs

In case you needed a spork to tell you what to do.

Customized Juice Box Covers 

   

Birthday Girl's Chair!

Gift Boxes for the Friends! 

Our little cowgirl waiting for her friends to arrive!

The Birthday Girl on Grandpa's Horse! 

It started with a chilly, blanket of snow on the ground.  By the end of the day, it included an accidental wet bed from an overloaded evening diaper, a broken wine bottle in the driveway, a backed up standing pipe in the basement, a shattered wine glass in a lap, a spilled beer over carpet, and a mattress dribbled with cat pee and a carpet with puke.

Despite this insane list of unexpected surprises, that party was awesome!  We had a lot of our closest friends and immediate family here.  It was a sun-filled, beautiful day.  Lucy loved spending time with all of her friends that could come!  

Plus, she completely got to dig into her very own HUGE cupcake (something she definitely didn't do last year!).