05 August 2008

and she's eight



little people are slowly turning into big people around here. and I am becoming more and more convinced that I have missed my true calling as someone who throws birthday parties for children and likes it a little too much.



that ava, she is officially eight. wasn't I just talking about five and six? did I even get around to seven?



several months ago, she asked for a party with a chinese theme. it was all I could do to keep from emitting a series of high-pitched screams. oh, the possibilities! picture me wild-eyed, visions of red paper lanterns and pink parasols dancing in my head. I could not help myself.







it's my 7th birthday that I remember most. me in a frothy confection of a dress, white organza with a layer of candy pink underneath. I remember the way my mom transformed the living room of our very brown split level home into a sugary sweet land of hovering balloons and crepe paper magic. the whole scene is faded but forever set in my mind like a partially developed polaroid. we are playing musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey in slow motion. I am wearing bright white socks carefully pulled to the tops of my knees and shiny black mary janes. I am surrounded by a collection of friends: marsha and melanie from across the street, michelle and anna from my first grade class and cindy, the class bully. whom I invited because I was afraid of what might happen to me if I didn't. cut to the part where they are all singing to me and I am smiling, gathering breath to take out seven tall, skinny birthday candles, wishing it could all go on forever.



so this is my gift to them, year after year. parties they will always remember, details that will (hopefully) find their way into stories they will eventually tell about childhood. I'm not going to lie, I thoroughly enjoy it, probably a little too much. I love the entire process, from beginning to end. the planning, the brainstorming and researching of ideas, the collecting of supplies, the making, the doing. I love it. this is something I can give them, so I do. and I will continue on with it until that day when they pretend it is so uncool. when my enthusiasm is just too much for them to take. I will step down graciously, I promise.



until then, all bets are off. happy 8th birthday, sweet girl. not sure how we are going to top this one. I think this one was my favorite.


p.s. back in june, ezra turned four and had a robot party. where are the photographs and the stories? they are coming. am now completely undecided as to which was more fun: chinese paper lanterns or robots wearing party hats.

p.p.s. the ideas for ava's party were already pretty much in place but my sweet friend christina sent me this link which just about sent me over the edge of happy creative party-making. thank you, christina.

p.p.p.s. see ava's entire birthday bash here.

p.p.p.p.s. yes, I do like the p.s. thing. a lot.

60 comments:

  1. looks like it was a fun party~!

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  2. I'm known for the slumber parties and birthday parties I throw for my daughter too...this year though she's going to be 14 and doesn't want a party:( I'm hoping to step down gracefully...

    beautiful party:)

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  3. Just beautiful, everything about it.

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  4. My Oh My...what a fine celebration, if I was not old enough to be your Mom...I would want to be your child. When I came across your blog you were doing secret happy messages around town with the kids...what a happy family life you are making for your children.

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  5. White Rabbit candies are my favorite!!!

    Definitely looks like a memorable birthday :o)

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  6. Beautiful!Lovely!
    Kealani is going to a Japanese B-Day party on Friday:-)

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  7. beautiful party! she is one lucky eight year old!

    i love the candles so very much

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  8. when you're done throwing parties for the wee ones 'cuz they 'pretend' they don't like 'em...you can throw them for all of us here in your virtual blog whirled! or, or...or for yourSELF. seriously though...my mom could have thrown me theme parties forEVer and i'd have been one delighted soul. keep rockin' the way you're rockin' woman...you are a joy.

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  9. Wow, I'm sure she will remember that forever. What a beautiful party. It looks like something out of a magazine. I hope your kids never think your parties are uncool!! Enjoy the sunshine!
    xox,
    Linnea

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  10. Love, love, love it! You are such a cool person and a great mom!

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  11. girl, you can throw me a party anytime!

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  12. It looks like a wonderful party, great job :-)

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  13. i love this theme! you did it justice.

    My mom used to always make elaborate cakes. I would go through the cake book and I could choose whichever one I wanted. Such great memories.

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  14. you're officially hilarious andrea! seriously right on! your love for event planning, doing, gathering, creating and hosting reminds me of my mom. her parties are still the best in my memory, your gift oughta never grow old or uncool...

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  15. Wow, was 'Poor Five' already two years ago? How is that possible? I was re-reading that beloved post tonight, where you talk about asking questions of favorite things, etc, and it dawned on me that maybe a book like that would be your forte. Some sort of childhood diary...I don't know. There's an idea lurking in the shadows just waiting to be discovered and embraced. I know one blogger who blogs specifically as a memento for her kids to look back on in the future--a record of day to day happenings, like and ongoing scrapbook. I love that. I'm thinking perhaps our blogs need to be printed out and immortalized in book form...somehow that (an item I can hold in my hand) feels more permanent. I'm not sure I'm making sense here, but Poor Five was such a magical post for me, and it carries such a huge message.

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  16. So.amazingly.beautiful! You TOTALLY could make a career out of birthday planning! Thanks for the ideas!

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  17. oh my GOODNESS, that is awesome!

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  18. I had a sneaking suspicion during the planning stages but - SERIOUSLY woman - you are the mama to end all mamas. This party and these photos are simply fantastic!
    Hoo. Ray!

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  19. what a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday... happy to hear it was a success. i too think I was meant to be a pary planner... it's just way to much fun!

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  20. Oh, thank heavens that I ma not the only person that is totally consumed by their childrens' birthday parties. And, so funny that you did the Chinese theme. That's what I'm thinking about doing for my daughter next year. There was a fabulous article that I save from an old Martha Stewart Kids (I think) that had a lot of great ideas for a Chinese-themed kids party in it too!

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  21. Oh! I love this! It makes me wish I had a girl. I can't wait to see pictures of your boy party.

    P.S. I love the P.S. thing. Thank you for not doing the P.P.S.S. thing. Drives me crazy.

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  22. her party was beautiful. (fun theme, huh?)

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  23. What a great idea for a party!

    I just wanted to let you know that I am addicted to your blog & your photography. It is all amazing and oh-so-inpsiring :) When did you start taking photos? (I am 14.)

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  24. Andrea, it's magical! Your photos are so inspiring - I can only imagine what it was like to be in the midst of it. And what a great gift to give your kids, a beautiful creative gift from the heart. I was not blessed with the party gene, so I stand in awe of those of you who have it! Keep it up! The world needs it!

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  25. Man, I wish you were my mom. Mine never did super cool stuff like this when I was little!

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  26. happy birthday ava! what a beautiful party!

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  27. what a gorgeous party!! you captured the bright colors beautifully... i especially love that last shot with the beautiful light.

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  28. THE PHOTOS ON YOUR BLOG are breathtaking!
    Would lUV to link up with you and let my readers link to you as well : )
    Let me know!
    all the best,

    Jen Ramos
    '100% Recycled DESIGNER Cards & More'
    www.madebygirl.com
    madebygirl.blogspot.com

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  29. Hi, I found your blog recently and had to comment this time on the gorgeous photos and party decor. Greatly inspiring.

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  30. You did such a great job! Everything looks so pretty and Ava looks overjoyed. What a little doll:)

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  31. These pictures are so perfect, they hardly look like a "real" party!! I am SO jealous!! I want a Chinese theme birthday party!!

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  32. oh, those photo make me swoon and wish i were turing 8 again!

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  33. I think you got it right, you were meant to design birthday parties (for kids or anyone). What an incredible event ava's party seems to have been. I'm quite inspired. Chinatown, here I come.

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  34. Wow! Great job. What a lucky girl, she must have been thrilled. Way to create fantastic memories.

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  35. oh wow a girl after my own heart... I love doing my children's birthday parties.

    My daughter is 15 and she always complains, "why can't i just have normal store bought invites"!!!
    so this year she decided to have nothing... I was gutted.

    But my son has just turned 3 and he had a robot birthday, oh the joy of a robot theme...!!!

    I just love all the things you did for your daughters birthday, you are just amazing, something she will remember for ever...

    Katherine

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  36. i've said it before and i'll say it again....when i am a mom i want to be just like you!

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  37. that rabbit candy. i recognize that rabbit candy.

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  38. what a fun party idea. love it.

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  39. That looks amazing!! I love love love it! Especially the little cup cakes. And the little fans....

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  40. this is incredible! she must have been LOVING every minute. xo

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  41. Oh my - such an amazing looking party - lucky kids!

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  42. Lovely! I'm right there with you, I love the birthday party planning maybe a little too much. :)

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  43. This party is gorgeous! You really did a great job pulling it all together, maybe you did miss your calling! We just finished up a 5 year old butterfly birthday, but this is something to aspire to. ps - I had to blog about it..A

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  44. i stumbled across your blog by mistake, and what a good mistake! a pleasant surprise reading "and she's eight". the party looked great, and am sure it was lots of fun!! r u perhaps a graphic designer? coz, hula seventy's photos look simply breathtaking!!
    p.s: number 8 for the chinese represents happiness and luck:)

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  45. I also happened to stumble onto your blog. The party looked like a dream but I was also very impressed with your writing. What a lucky little girl she is to have you for a mother. Good luck with your future parties!

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  46. omg.. that is amazing!! 8 year olds are so creative!! i would have never thought of a chinese theme.
    you did such a wonderful job!

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  47. Yet another "I stumbled on your blog" comment. That party looks like it would be the one of my dreams, haha. Everything looks gorgeous.

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  48. My 10-year old asked me the other day whatever happened to China.... this after the Olympics. You're clearly doing a better job in the Current Events department.

    Martha Stewart would be proud of those photos--they're dreamy!

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  49. Great photos, great color and design and great party!

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  50. This is the best 8 year-old birthday party I have ever seen! The attention to detail, all the pretty little things, and those cupcakes! Beautiful.

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  51. did u see this!!!?
    you go, mah sistah!

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  52. duh. i guess i should post the link since i asked if you saw this.
    lol


    http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/slinks/hula-seventy-themed-birthday-partyslinks-n-slingks-surreptitious-web-links-to-other-good-sites-061432

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  53. That is so wonderful! wow love her amazing open mind and sense of culture! looks great!

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  54. Oh...so glad I stumbled upon your blog (from Posie gets Cosy...). I love your writing style. And this party is to die for. I hope when my little girl gets older she wants cool themes like this. So gorgeous. I just blogged my 4-year-old's monster party (http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2008/09/33-the-monster-bash-part-one-the-look.html), which I must admit was themed that way with MUCH influence from me (I wasn't wanting to do another princess party).

    I'm right there with you...I might like it a little too much.

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  55. Just found your blog, I think via julochka (moments of perfect clarity), and am happily whiling away my morning catching up with it. LOVE this party (and am soooo looking forward to doing kiddies parties myself - sometimes I think this could be one of the main reasons I've procreated!).
    Am having lots of fun visiting here - thanks!

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  56. wow. what a brilliant party it must have been!

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