Princess Party!

Since it was the big '5' for Aly, I wanted to make her party super, extra special.  Here are some shots of the 'royal' occasion...

The cake was just a regular round cake, but I cut out, baked and decorated sugar cookies to go around it like a 'crown'.  Some really cute glass slippers from Happy Hostess and a sparkly candle topped of the cake.  That was the easy part.

Then, instead of making cupcakes like I did for Hannah's party, I decided to try cake pops.  Bad move.  It was not nearly as easy as the directions and online video portray it to be.  Let's just say after 3 days of cooking, 6 loads of dishes and a lot of frustration I was too invested to give up.  Those little devils were going to be displayed...NO. MATTER. WHAT. Eventually I figured out a secret and got them presentable enough to display and eat.  Now that I have mastered the 'Art', I will definitely make them for another party...they were so convenient to give out and made  great 'decorations'!

The most special part about the day was that we invited a Disney Princess to Alyssa's special celebration...and she accepted! {One of our friends from church, who the girls don't know, agreed to be Sleeping Beauty for me at her party.  She looks so much like the princess that all I had to do was buy the costume online.  She was absolutely p-e-r-f-e-c-t!} The girls LOVED her and Alyssa was on Cloud 9!  The only problem is that I set the bar a little too high, too young.  Now, Hannah is expecting Ariel to come to her party next year :\

 Alyssa with the Princess...this is going to be framed!

She was so smitten with the fact that Sleeping Beauty was in our house...

Jump house fun: Princess style.

Playing 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey'...it was going to be 'Pin the Crown on the Princess', but I ran out of time. Stupid cake pops ;)

Opening presents...

Singing Happy Birthday...they were so ready for cake!

 Evie stayed with us longer because Melanie was being dropped off at the airport for her trip back to Australia.  The girls were having so much fun and I got a great shot of them hugging each other.  I love all of their expressions!

After everyone left, Aly was putting on lip gloss using the stuff Sleeping Beauty 'gave' her.  She had no idea I was taking this and I am quite sure she will hate me for it in 10 years ;)

Kissable lips...

 It was one magical, princess filled day!  Sure, I may have bitten off more than I could chew, but it turned out great. And, it was worth all the effort to see the huge smile on Alyssa's face.  I hope it is a day she will always remember.  I LOVE having little girls!

All 'Tangled' Up

Hannah's big party finally came!  It was a great day to celebrate our princess with family and friends! Here are some pictures from the royal occasions:

This is Hannah's custom, mommy-made Rapunzel cake.  It didn't turn out like what I was envisioning in my head and I abandoned the fondant idea, but Hannah loved it...and that is all that matters!!!  We don't have any pictures of her blowing out the candles because she was so embarrassed by everyone singing that she cried through the whole thing and I ended up blowing it out.  She was really taking the 'it's my party' thing to the extreme!

 'Tangled' Cupcakes

  Making their birthday crafts: princess rings and necklaces.

  Opening presents...she was getting really tired by this point!

 Aunt Emily and Kevin

 Great Grandma Johnson playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos with Evie and Aidan

Alyssa and Evie gave Kevin a pedicure...complete with pink and purple glittery polish...

  While Aunt Emily gave manicures to Hannah and all her party guests!

 The birthday girls was completely worn out!  I guess it was a successful party...

Hope you had a magical party Hannah!!

Winter Celebration

I seriously hate not being able to go to Aly's class parties (those are the kind of things that make me want to quite my job and sell everything we own so I can be a SAHM)!  Luckily, Grandma was able to go to the Holiday party...and Dan was able to surprise her with coming as well.  She had a blast and is such a show off when people are there with her! 

 Hannah was also ecstatic to be there with her sister!  She got to participate right along with Aly's class.  She is such a big girl...

 I know I have said this before, but Alyssa LOVES to have Hannah there with her and show her off! They may be complete opposites, but they are two little peas in a pod!

This is a cute picture of Hannah, but look behind her at the wall.  Aly's teachers created the coolest display of student made stockings hanging over a fireplace (complete with 3D fire) and a tree with presents!  Sometimes teaching preschool seems like fun...

This is just an adorable picture of Hannah hugging grandma's leg.  I lover her eyes.  So beautiful!

I can't believe this is Alyssa's last preschool Holiday party...

A Sprinkle of Pixie Dust...

It's no secret...I'm not a very good party planner.  I can come up with the ideas, but the follow through is just not there.  Even so, Hannah party turn out just fine.  The girls both had a lot of fun and happily ate their way into a sugar coma.  Alyssa was so cute opening helping Hannah open her presents.  She was taking them out of the bags and handing them to her one by one, explaining each of them to her.  Hannah thought it was great - and that the were all from Aly!  With each present she told Aly, 'kank kou'!  Here is a video and a 'few' of pictures I took...I will let them do the rest of the talking:

Hannah's Tinkerbell cake homemade by GG!

No fairy cake is complete without pixie dust, so GG let the girls put on the finishing touches!

Hannah was embarrassed by all the attention and singing...

Opening presents...Alyssa is such a great big sister!

My favorite one of the day...Happy Birthday Hannah!