9.06.2011

Some Scenes From the Weekend -- Audrey's Birthday Edition





Me, Christine + Shannon and Kayli (the amazing ladies behind Oil and Cotton where we held the party...) hanging out in the teepee before the festivities started.









Clearly the big event of the weekend was Audrey's birthday celebration...

The party on Saturday was a success, and all the sweet girlies seemed to have fun making their little dream catchers (which I have to say, wasn't easy). But I think beyond all the obvious festivity of a birthday party, for me, the loveliest part of the day was watching 20+ five-eight year old girls have such an appetite for art and a willingness to help each other. I hope that desire sticks with them, as I truly believe so many amazing/powerful things come out of women banding together, but I digress ;-)

I'm also especially proud of how the party turned out, as I literally have never put more work into homemade decorations...(Let's just say, I spent an insane amount of time wrapping embroidery thread around a branch.) The effort was equal parts highly satisfying, exhausting and, well... humbling. The humbling occurred late last week as I toiled away for the third night in a row while gazing out the window at Bryan and the girlies happily splashing around in the pool. Later that night when Audrey and I were snuggling and reading a couple of books before bed, she declared she had a really good idea and proceed to gently suggest that I, "work on the branch after we go to bed so you can spend more time with me". Ouch. Talk about providing some perspective. I swear that one gets smarter with each passing year.

Needless to say, I took heed -- i.e. I stopped wrapping the branch and just slapped some paint on the bare bits of bark and nobody was the worse for it...

The rest of the weekend was spent reveling in A's b-day with lots of mellow family moments, and it concluded last night with dinner outside (in the amazing mid-80 degree weather!) to celebrate the exciting news that lovely cousin Erin and boyfriend Ben got engaged... So major goodness all around.


Hope you guys had a fantastic weekend!













19 comments:

Desi McKinnon said...

Happy Birthday Audrey! The party looked great.

I know all too well what it's like to get caught up in the details and miss some of the big picture. It's a lesson that I've had to learn many times. Hopefully I am getting better at seeing it sooner rather than later.

Congratulations on a beautiful fete.

Lucia said...

The party was so fun, Jos. Every detail was so lovely and full of thought. Beautiful.

torrie said...

Thank you for sharing both the uplifting and the humbling parts with us. We've all been there, and it's always a good reminder when we have the 'aha' moment to give us the perspective that we need...

Such a beautiful party, and you both should be very proud of a job well done... and of getting it done *together =).

Caitlin said...

Happy, happy birthday to Miss Audrey! Looks like a wonderful party - all the details you work so hard of certainly paid off.

Have a lovely week! xx

Anonymous said...

congrats to your cousin on the engagement!

and what an amazing looking party, it looks like everyone had fun.

melissa loves said...

What a gorgeous party and gorgeous pics of the little ones! AND of you and your pals! So glad you had such a good time!
xo
Melis

Brittany said...

it all looks fantastic, really! we moms often try to hard and miss out on all the REAL fun.

Kirsteen said...

Wow, this looks beautiful. Such gorgeous colours x

Unknown said...

I just finished a party myself, and had to constantly real myself in from spending too much time on little details. Good to hear I not alone in being so consumed by little details that I forget to play.

whoorl said...

What a beautiful party! Love it.

Anonymous said...

This is amazing. I knew it would be, but this is even better than what I expected. It so magical. And Audrey's banner looks awesome. Loved your post about that. Releasing control is going to be a huge struggle for me when I become a mom.

Barbie // Fringe and Feathers said...

Beautiful party! And the branch looks great ;) The dream catchers are super cute. You should share the deets on how to make them.

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

so my birthday is in april, and i've never been one for self-celebration and parties all about moi, but if you happened to be the event planner...well, let's just say, i would be ALL over some festive fun.

audrey's party is my dream kinda of day. lucky, happy girl!

roysie said...

The party looks beautiful and fun for adults and children alike. Also, I think I have the same wedding ring!

la la Lovely said...

This is probably the coolest kids party I've ever seen or heard of. I know it will be a forever memory for sweet Audrey! Happy Happy Birthday to Audrey!
xo Trina

Anonymous said...

Joslyn I am SO in love with this birthday scene. You have to be the coolest mom I know!

Unknown said...

How did you make the dreamcatchers? They look amazing!

Stephanie said...

This is such a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind sort of party Joslyn...definitely worth the hand cramps you surely experienced after wrapping embroidery thread 'round those branches...

xo

sd said...

So beautiful and the sweetest girls in the universe. It was such a pleasure sharing and playing with each of them. Thanks for letting us be a part of Audrey's birthday.