Olivia Pearl's Birth Movie

August - October 2018

Parenting is full of ups and downs. We choose to focus on the ups. Those moments of standstill joys are what we live for. Jon and I adore these girls and all that they bring to our lives! We are so excited to bring another November Baby into this Girl Party. Good thing Daddy is our rock!

Amberly's Sleeping Beauty Birthday Party

I realize this blog is pretty much only read by me and my family, but I thought it would be fun to document Amberly's first friend birthday party so she can look back at these happy memories when she's older. :)

Amberly really wanted a Sleeping Beauty birthday party. I think the best part was planning everything with her and watching her anticipation these last couple of months. It truly was like Christmas for her! I really tried to keep it simple, however, and I'm really glad I did. I find so much joy in simplicity especially as a young mother. 

I felt prompted months ago to celebrate her friend party a week and a half early, knowing I would be over 36 weeks pregnant. I cannot imagine throwing this party one week from today so I am so glad I listened to that prompting! I am tired. :) But really like I said, we kept it pretty simple and fun. On her even-year birthdays, we will have family birthday celebrations only so I'm off the hook for a couple of years! 

                                                     Here are a few of the things we did:

I didn't get a picture playing musical chairs but that game is always a win with kids! I didn't want anyone to be sad when they got out, so each time a girl got out they got to go inside our castle tent and have my cousin Brittany put princess lipstick on them. Sometimes they got out on purpose they were so stoked for the makeup...

How cute is this Sleeping Beauty Bingo game? 

I found it HERE on Etsy.

Each of the girls made an Aurora crown when they first arrived and I thought they turned out so so super cute!  I found a free template HERE. 

We had two of Amberly's boy cousins brave the princess party! In hindsight I should have invited one more boy Owen's age though, as her other cousin Morgan is not yet 2. So Owen was brave to attend this total princess party be pretty much the only boy among all these girly girls! I thought he might prefer a shield and helmet over a crown...easy dollar store purchase.

My sister's friend made a delicious cake with an Aurora crown on top that Amberly went nutso over. :)

The cake was delicious and went along perfectly with the Sleeping Beauty theme..."Make it pink...make it blue!!" 

Like I said, I do simple. :) Amberly loved the decor and helped me set it all up. Those fans had way cute colors on the front but kept turning the wrong direction...oh well

The three fairies were my favorite!

 My main goal for this party was to have Amberly practice her manners being a good friend and hostess. I really want her to learn to be grateful for presents and friendship and to be gracious especially when things don't go her way.

 She's been a little emotional and having more meltdowns these days, maybe because baby sister is coming so soon? Maybe because I am so tired and some days feel like survival mode over here? Or maybe just because she is turning 5! But the party was a tremendous success, zero meltdowns involved even when things didn't go her way (we really talked about this and prepped her mentally the week of her party), and I think it was such a positive experience for my Amberly Faith! She loved every moment.

Amberly Faith, I cannot believe that on November 6th you will turn 5! You are a beautiful jewel in the lives of so many around you, especially to your Mama, Daddy, and younger sister Violet. We all adore you. You love to color, play with cousins, have dates with mom or with dad, do crafts, go to school, do Upstart, and go to dance class! You LOVE coming with me to my doctor's appointments and finding the baby's heartbeat all by yourself with the doppler. :) You are a wonderful, protective older sister. You have a very strong moral sense of right and wrong, you are probably the most responsible 5-year-old I know, and you are completely beautiful to me inside and out my girl.

Happy Birthday, Amberly Faith!