Turning Two: A Puppy Party!

By: Laura

   In the past, when the month of August creeped up on me, I usually hated to see it.  With August comes the new school year, and though it's exciting to get back into the swing of things, the dog days of summer are just too good to give up.  August doesn't seem nearly as bad now, though, because of our sweet little lady, Ella Jane, who just happens to have a birthday in that very month.  Last weekend, we celebrated in style with a puppy party. No, there were no real puppies present (this mama isn't a dog lady), but there were plenty of other "types" of puppies around.  You'll see what I mean.  Check out the highlights of the day.  Ella is just the cutest!  (sorry, this is my daughter we're talking about here!)

The first puppy was the ever important birthday cake.  Isn't he cute?  Leslie and I (yes, Leslie came to NE  to help me get all the birthday projects done!) worked on this cake into the evening Friday.   I baked two nine by thirteen chocolate cakes and then cute pieces from a template (martha stewart) and then frosted it.  Whew!

I also made some cupcakes and sugar cookies in the shape of a dog bone a few days earlier, frosted them and froze them for the big day.  

Here is some of the doggy decor...the bowls I found in the dollar aisle at Target.  Perfect.  The coloring pages at the bottom of the picture were draw and printed by my friend Aileen (who also photographed the party!).  

This a poster I made using  a picture from one of Ella's favorite books called, A Kiss for You.  I just enlarged the picture and colored it.  That's my idea of drawing, since I can't.  

Puppies!

Presents!

Puppy balloons.  This was an easy decoration!  Simply buy brown balloons, draw the face with black marker and cut out ears to stick on.  (martha stewart)

Finally, it's the birthday girl, peeking through the window of her new kitchen from Mama and Daddy. 

Puppies have to eat and so did the kiddos.  Here is Ella with her best bud Hudson.  There are so darn cute!

Enjoying hot dogs and more at the party!

And now onto the gifts.  A new car from Grandmama.

Running to catch up with Hudson!

A new grocery cart from Grandma and Papa.

Our little sweetie!

A bike helmet for the adventurous two year old.

Near the end of the day, the birthday girl is too tired to feed herself, luckily Hudson was glad to lend a hand. 

A happy family!


It was such a fun day and I will always look forward to the 11th of August each year now that I have such a wonderful little girl to celebrate.