"And they all played games at the ladybug picnic..."

This year for the girls birthday I decided to have a ladybug picnic. I got the bright idea from the girls favorite show, Sesame Street. Alex and I remembered the catchy little tune immediately when it came on from when we were kids. I sing it so much that the girls have learned the tune.


We held the party at Liberty Park in the Tracy Aviary. Alex had a brilliant idea to get a really big sandwich. He was sooooo excited about it. At three feet long, it was only a little bit smaller than Homer's sub sandwich that he ate for a few months. Here we are eating the most delicious turkey sandwich, chips, veggies and dip and grapes. Esmé and Sophia's cousin Olivia is on the end, followed by Sophie, their little friend from church, Eve, and Esmé. (Oh, and Alex.)

Here are a couple of shots opening presents. It was pretty chaotic. We loved all the gifts--thank you everyone! Eve and Olivia were also very eager to open presents--and helped by opening about a third of them.

Here is Sophia and her new soccer ball. (Under the table.) The girls also recieved a Strawberry Shortcake baseball and bat, which Alex has been teaching them to use.

Ok. So this is not in chronological order, but we wanted to show the ladybug cake. After spending at least an hour looking online for bakery's that make birthday cakes. I ended up using our old standby bakery-the Lehi Country Bakery. (They also make fabulous square doughnuts.) We had wanted a cake shaped like a ladybug--because we have recently been watching a show on the Food Network called "Ace of Cakes." The folks on the show make the most amazing cakes.

Sarah was also concerned about the taste of the cake. She is picky about grocery store cakes.

The cake we got was cute, and was also tulicious.

And they did all play games at the ladybug picnic. This game is pin the spot on the ladybug. All the kids pinned their spots in the same place so the ladybug had one big mutant spot. I guess it didn't really matter that they weren't blindfolded.

Here are the small partygoers: Eve, Olivia, Esmé, Sophia, Lincoln. The grownups were Karen, Lindsay, Jenni, Cindi, Adam, Brittany, Sarah and Alex.

As the plans for the party were coming together I found these little stuffed ladybugs at the dollar store, along with red butterfly nets. We hid the stuffed ladybugs and the girls went on a ladybug hunt. The girls have been carrying their ladybugs around and sleeping with them. They even brought them to church today. They have been a big hit. All in all it was a really fun birthday.