Happy Birthday, Dear Julia

Yesterday was Julia’s 3rd birthday party in our mostly madeover back yard. Despite the threat of Tropical Storm Beryl, it really was the perfect evening for a party. And our friends and family came out in great numbers to celebrate the unofficial kick off to summer and my favorite little girl.

Everyone enjoyed the evening sunshine in the back yard while the kids swung and dug and ran and colored and twirled around the swing set.

We ate plenty of watermelon, barbeque, and ice cream. Plus, I introduced everyone to beet walnut dip and ice box pickles. I baked cupcakes into ice cream cones, so when it was time for candles and cake, I scooped ice cream on top and everyone got cake and an ice cream cone. Julia’s candles went right on top with the sprinkles.

I was busy with food and being hostess rather than snapping photographs (and I hate to post pictures of other people and their children who might not be comfortable with that). I did miss capturing some wonderful moments. Here are the snapshots that exist only in my mind.

• Julia’s singing Happy Birthday to herself while she looked around her in awe that everyone else was singing too.
• Five babies, all between 12 and 14 months crawling in and around the Radio Flyer wagon, dimpled fingers bent around the railing while they “talked” back and forth with each other.
• The Frisbee game that lasted most of the party.
• Max’s attempt to drink lemonade from a real cup as he walked/toddled through the grass, spilling much of it down his front.
• My friend’s son who practically bathed in sidewalk chalk as he decorated the playhouse and tunnel.
• The laughter and smiles and love. Because there was a lot of that going around.

The yard looked beautiful. And despite the struggles to get there (and the threat of rain and the missing patio), it was a lovely and perfect evening.