"you are my sunshine" party.

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i have been wanting to do a "you are my sunshine" themed birthday party for a while  now.  when i first thought of the theme, i thought it was so original.  i hadn't seen any other parties like it.  but i decided it would be a perfect theme for emmy's first birthday party, and over this past year it has become a super popular!  ahhhh well.  there's only so much originality when it comes to themes for kids birthday parties.

i sing "you are my sunshine" to my girls a lot and one of my favorite prints by katie daisy i have hanging in our bright kitchen.  little did i know that when i decided a year ago (i know, i'm such a nerd) on this party theme for my little emmy faith how *perfectly* it would fit her personality, and also her role in our family.  if you're a friend of mine, or if you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that i lost my father when i was about 4 months pregnant with my sweet ems.  god's timing of bringing her into my life at such a dark, dark season is such a reminder to me of his faithfulness to produce beauty even in the rain.  she has been my calm during this stormy season of life.  not only was her arrival in our family so timely, but her little personality just exudes sunshine.  she always has us laughing, and she is such a happy little girl.  as cheesy as it sounds, she truly our sunshine.  i love seeing god in the details of life; even in party themes ;)  this one was just perfect for emmy.

i was starting to feel guilty because in the weeks leading up to bella's first birthday party, i was a busy little bee making everything and spending hours crafting to create a beautiful party.  the weeks leading up to emmy's were filled with painting our kitchen, finishing some other home projects and doing yard work.  needless to say, i didn't even begin her party decorations until two nights before her party.  poor second child.  but i have to say, i think this party was my favorite.  so bright and so cheery; just like our emmy.

table:

- a white eyelet tablecloth under a yellow floral vintage one i bought on ebay for twelve bucks

- i used my favorite print as the centerpiece, along with a yellow ranunculus plant in my favorite little ikea planters.

food:

- cheese crackers in mason jars

- lemon squares

- banana cream pie

- pink lemonade cake

- cupcakes

i made a doily bunting out of paper doilies i got at the dollar store, layered with some pennants i cut out of pretty scrapbook paper.  i hung them on yellow and blue baker's twine i bought on etsy.

i made the white tissue poms and fastened them to the ceiling with pushpins, and used a yellow punching ball from the dollar store for the "sun".  i cut raindrops out of scrapbook paper and glued them to white thread dangling from the tissue pom "clouds".

timeline photos of each month of her first year.  this bunting hung over each doorway in our living room.

dollar store mini bubbles that i wrapped with yellow and blue baker's twine.

i put them in this pink basket filled with vintage hankies and doilies and the kids went to town (mostly spilling them) since it was such a beautiful day outside!

an old shutter i fastened my favorite photos of emmy's first year to using mini clothespins.

drink station with lemonade and water and a cute "you are my sunshine" sign i purchased from groopdealz.com.

lemon squares on antique platters.

centerpiece; i used this print as the inspiration for the color scheme for the party.  love all the bright, vibrant colors!

cupcakes in yellow and white striped paper cups topped with frosting and aqua colored "pearls".

homemade banana cream pie topped with bunting; two kabob skewers i tied baker's twine to and threaded the paper pennants.

close up of the table.

pink lemonade cake.

ranunculus.

me and my girl. 

(i know; i dressed to match the party scheme.  told you i was a nerd.)

family shot.

the birthday girl!

loving her first cupcake :)

it was a beautiful day; gorgeous weather, lots of family and friends, and a special time celebrating our sweet emmy faith!  couldn't have asked for a better party for our little sunshine.  ended the day with such full hearts, feeling very blessed that our girls are loved so well both near and far!  holding onto all of these moments and savoring each of them before they are gone and she is grown all too quickly.

we love you, sweet emmy faith!

this post was linked to these *lovely* blogs:

liz marie
shaken together
shabby nest
diana rambles
five days...5 ways
sun scholars
one artsy mama
a night owl
six sisters stuff
tatertots and jello