Ewwww...

Sometimes I get nasty reminders that the meat I cook and feed to my family was once a living, massive, blood-pumping beast.  I just might go vegan.

Boys will be boys...

 ...and girls will be girls.

On Saturday Jack and Jess spent the day at the dunes for buggy test runs while the girls had a baking fest at my mom's house.  Grammy made all the adorable aprons!

Pinkalicioius Party

Just a heads up: There are a bazillion pictures!

Probably the most I've ever put in a post.

Feel free to copy any ideas because most weren't my own :)

I usually only throw my kids little family parties for birthdays because they are still so young.  This year however, Jayci told me she wanted a "pink party with pink cupcakes" so I suggested a "Pinkalicious Party", based off of one of Jayci's favorite books, which she excitedly agreed to.  We also decided to invite a couple of friends because what's a pink party without little girls to bask in the pinkaliciousness?  I'm a girly girl and love pink so this was one of the funnest and cutest (and craziest!) things I think I could ever plan!

My craft room. Aka the pink prep room.

(just a tip should you ever want to plan a pink party: everything after Valentine's Day is pink and 75% off!  Great time for Jayci's birthday to land!)

Jayci got to open her first present, a pink pettiskirt to wear to the party.  She has wanted one for a long time and was more than delighted!

Jesse has the sweetest tradition that he started on Jayci's first birthday of getting her flowers.  He says he has a hard time shopping for girls but still wants to give her something special just from him.  Jayci loves it.  I think it makes her feel grown up and special.

He brought her these right before the party.  He was such a good sport and took Jack out to dinner since "no boys allowed".  We celebrated as a family the next night.

My pinkafied house:

I was feeling fine and doing okay until about 30 min before the party was going to start and I realized there was no way I was going to finish everything in a half hour.  Jenny and Erica came early and set this room up in about 10 min.  Before, everything was just in a pile on that middle table.  They did an awesome job!  Better than I could have done in an hour.  Thanks sistas!

I was pleased with how the cupcakes turned out (a little sloppier than I would have liked because I was in such a hurry, but still pleased).  They looked just like the ones in the book.

  

 SO what's on the menu for an all-pink (kid friendly) dinner? 

Pink lemonade, pink popcorn, pink marshmallows,

Pink wafers, strawberries with pink yogurt, green grapes (in the book Pinkalicious turns pink from eating too many pink cupcakes and the cure is an all-green diet so the grapes are our green contribution),

heart-shaped strawberry cream cheese with strawberry jam sandwiches,

(bagels for the adults, though these ended up being a bigger hit.  I forgot how delicious strawberry cream cheese is!)

 and jello jigglers. Super healthy.

As the guests arrived we colored coloring pages out of the book. 

(Found here if you're interested.)

Next, I read the story to everyone so they would know what the party was all about.  The girls were so darling and attentive.

The little pink ladies (and Mason) at their tea table.

The ever beautiful Jenny and Erica, aka pink party nail tech and makeup artist (and lifesavers)!

Getting Pinkafied:

First the girlies made pink tiaras with jewels and diamonds,

and then they got pink manicures and makeovers.

Jayci started the song by herself and sang about half solo before we realized and joined in.  She was a little bit anxious to blow out her candles. 

Grammy with her grand-girls

 Emma wanted a picture under the pink parasol with mommy.  She was so funny all night and loved being decked out in pink from head to toe!

 Jayci said thank-you and good bye with pink-glitter goody boxes

I LOVED every girly minute.

Thanks to everyone for coming and celebrating with us!

To give credit where credit is due (and my most sincere THANK YOU)

Kayli made the gorgeous banner hanging behind the table and spent countless hours planning, shopping, and preparing with me

Jenny and Erica came early to rescue me when I was running, sweating, and panting trying to finish.  And did the nails and makeup.

My sweet mother helped prepare the food and decorations.

And missed new beginnings to come.

My dear mother-in-law picked up those inevitable last minute forgotten items.

And watched Jack for me

Jenna (who moved to Idaho {sniff} and obviously couldn't come) gave me great cupcake making tips and delicious recipes

Aleesa was a great photographer at the party

Sarah, Delynn, Heidi, and Aleesa came and shared their beautiful girls with us

I know there is more that I'm forgetting, so I'm sorry but truly, genuinely grateful to be surrounded by such incredible, selfless, graceful women. 

Jayci has great examples to follow

So do I

I love you all!!!

And here's my baby all tuckered but still on a sugar and excitement high

(I found these jammies at Macy's.  They screamed Jayci, who insists on wearing her giant tutus to bed but I usually don't let her, so these are perfect!  She got to open them after the party as a bribe to take her other new tutu off. It worked.)