A Very Berry Birthday Party

Quincy requested a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party.
I told her that since she was turning 5, she could choose 5 friends to invite.
She chose Brightyn, Hannah E., Hannah G., Phoebe, Addison, Baylee, and Leah...which obviously adds up to more than five. I told her to choose only five and she simply shrugged and said, "I did, plus the other friends, and don't forget Reese and Corbin, too. I want them at my party."

Oh well. We ended up with 1o kids at the house, and it was pretty crazy, but they had fun and that's what matters.

I got her a pair of green and white striped tights to go with a pink and red dress she already had, so she could look like Strawberry Shortcake at her party. Minutes before the party, Quincy dressed herself and announced she was Lemon Meringue (complete with the hand mirror, just like her toy Lemon Meringue.) She asked to have her hair braided and then we put yellow flowers on her shoes, since she was sad that she didn't have any yellow shoes to wear. Funny girl.
The girls colored Strawberry Shortcake pictures while the guests arrived. Years ago, I mentioned to Lynda that I had loved Strawberry Shortcake when I was little, and was so excited to see it coming back. Lynda went into her magical Mary Poppins garage and then searched several fabric stored in Boise and gave me a collection of both new and vintage Strawberry Shortcake fabric. I used it to decorate Q's party and it was really cute. I also made the little bunting hanging above the food, a pillowcase for Quincy, crib set and tiny pillow for the baby doll crib that we gave her for her birthday present, and 6 cloth diapers for her babies with the fabric. She loves everything. I'll try to remember to take a picture of the pillowcase, and doll bedding and diapers later. I love that they look like toys I would have played with as a child because they have an old school Strawberry Shortcake on them. Thanks, Lynda, for the fabric! I have been saving it for years, waiting for the perfect thing to make with it. Quincy's birthday was berry-riffic!
I printed images from the Internet of all the Strawberry Shortcake characters and made little cupcake toppers with a craft punch. Quincy's friend chose Raspberry Torte, Plum Pudding, Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Strawberry Shortcake, or Blueberry Muffin cupcakes.

Since the party was so close to dinnertime, we had a lot of snacks for the kids. We had pigs in a blanket, and Quincy chose strawberries, grapes, teddy grams, Cheetos, raspberries, strawberry soda and fruit shaped mini marshmallows. The girls watched a 10 minute Strawberry Shortcake movie, ate, had cake and presents, and played a Strawberry Shortcake Bingo game that I made with card stock and strawberry shortcake images that I found online and shrunk down to 1 inch, then printed and cut out to make stickers and game boards. Every time the girls got a bingo, they chose from Strawberry shortcake lip gloss and nail polish, snack mix, pencils, fruit snacks, bubbles and stickers to put in their party bags. Quincy was a gracious host and thanked each of her friends for coming. She is already planning next year's party. If I'm smart, I'll plan further ahead for that one ;)

For preschool, she took Strawberry cupcakes with strawberry marshmallows and strawberry frosting on them. Her classmates sang to her and she got to wear a paper crown (that she loved so much she slept with it on, at nap time.)

December 4th (her actual birthday) began with Quincy waking up in the morning and asking each of us how we slept. This was quickly followed up with, "Are you going to tell me, 'Happy Birthday,' now? Hey did you know that I am five, today?" I love her so much. She makes me laugh and smile every day. She is super awesome, creative, kind, and unique. And her laugh...oh her laugh! Everyone should get to hear it.

Happy Birthday, Quincy Brooklyn. I am so grateful for you. We love having you in our family and enjoyed celebrating your 5th birthday with you! You are a lovely little lemon scented gem.
I love you very berry much!