Ruby's Early Birthday Party

We threw Ruby an early birthday party so that Brett could be there to enjoy it with us. I had grand plans of something doll house themed with little doll cardboard doll houses for everyone to decorate (you can find the pattern I purchased here), a giant cardboard doll house for the kids to crawl through similar to this one, and even a handmade mini quilt to go with the vintage doll bed I've been saving since February. Alas, I'm a crazy person.

In the midst of preparing for Brett to leave, catching up with online commitments, finding Halloween costumes, and regular every day stuff time got away from me. The party that DID happen was a great success thanks to help from family and friends that were able to make it and that pitched in to create some great memories.

I based all of the decor on the vintage sheet that I used for her tablecloth. It was first used in her newborn portrait and last year as the backdrop for her first birthday party. I'm hoping to incorporate it into every part of her birthday for as long as I can. And if it's still in good shape in five more years, I'll probably use it to make a quilt for her.

I served apple cider and soda, pigs-in-the-blanket, sandwiches, kid friendly snacks, and pumpkin spice mini cupcakes with cream cheese frosting instead of a cake.

Party favors included little buckets I found this summer in the Target $1 section. I loved the colors and decided to plan ahead. I put two wooden dolls and a bundle of scrap fabric in each one for guests to paint and decorate later as well as some dum-dums.

Katie left Ruby a sweet birthday creation the night before so it was Ruby's first present to open that morning. It's the sweetest little lamb and we both LOVE it.

The mini cupcakes were a hit with everyone. I love them because it's just a box of spice cake mixed with a can of pumpkin (only those two ingredients!) and topped with cream cheese frosting. I  made two batches to freeze earlier that week and then we ate one of them. I frosted them the night before and they were delicious the day of the party. Bite sized cupcakes are kind of my new favorite (non) guilty pleasure! P.S. Thanks for the recipe help, Twitter friends!

Ruby loved all of the attention. She smiled through her birthday song, figured out that opening presents was fun, and made the rounds sharing her new baby doll.

The highlight of the party, however, seemed to be the doll house turned sleigh. I didn't get a photo of the dollhouse before the party started but imagine a large, cardboard dog house. Snoopy style. It was one big dishwasher box that I taped together at one end so that it had a sloped roof but it was no match for our energetic bunch. They had more fun with that flattened box than they ever would've in a doll house.

They took turns getting pulled around the yard by the adults. I'm pretty sure my dad got an extra workout that afternoon.

 Daisy and Ruby got a kiddy ride when a section ripped off the big sleigh.

We had great weather to match our wonderful time and were so thankful for everyone coming over to celebrate this special little two year old. Happy Birthday, Ruby Duby. You're such a thrill!

 

xo,
Rachel