It was supposed to rain. In fact it had been a very wet week. The ominous clouds loomed over the green grass, their haunting presence a reminder of the cold downpour that was sure to come. Then, something beautiful happened. The sun’s gorgeous rays began burrowing holes through those dark clouds just in time to warm the wet earth beneath our feet.
And I cried. Happy tears because it was perfect. Because even the sky participated in the celebration of my fabulous firstborn, my girl. Because our yard quickly filled with littles and bright happy faces. Because her face lit up with a crooked smile knowing that this was all in celebration of her, of her life… and there’s nothing bigger to celebrate than life. Than birth. And we celebrate big.
This overly sappy mama could wax on about the beauty of life and love, how mine has taken on completely new meaning with my sweet girl in my life. How she’s stretched me and taught me so much in the last four years, things I never knew about myself. With eyes full of welled tears I think about the day she made me a mama, how her tiny little body was placed in my arms and my heart found a whole new rhythm. But I’ve gone that route before, and this post is all about something that I look forward to planning every year, because I just like to throw parties, I thrive on it. And what offers up a better reason to party than birth? So… here is her party.
This time with our backyard being transported to Wonderland and full of sweet things, of pink things, of bouncy things, of sticky cotton candy things, of cute little bunnies and a visit from Alice who just happens to love to paint little faces.
Oh, how I loved watching the littles arrive, the girls diving into the piles of hats and bows and tutus waiting to adorn their little bodies… and their smiles. Once they’d pranced in and out of outfits until they arrived at the perfect combination, they would find their way through the doors to this magical place and make their way straight to the bunnies.
The birthday girl herself became a wonderful hostess, welcoming her friends and searching out each one that brought a gift to offer a Thank You and a hug, shy smiling Alice, announcing whose key had been drawn from the treasure box and making sure they chose a great gift from the treasure chest.
We had a tea party, Alice in Wonderland style, with paper lanterns and colorful tissue flowers sprinkling the sky above and fun little tea pots peppered across a flowery table of pink.
Nana outdid herself as she scoured every nearby resale and antique store to help find enough gorgeous tea cups for each little girl to use and take home with her.
And as the littles scrambled to find their seats marked by the personalized sack lunches, us mamas and daddies smiled big smiles as we read Eat Me and Drink Me over and over again to curious little minds.
And there’s something amazing about answering a phone call the night before the party and hearing I’ve found something that we should do! Then having a couple of friends show up at the door with stacks of ribbon in hand and we rifle through my stash of lace, fabric and flowers to stay up late into the night and come up with this amazing transformation for a plain, overwhealmingly yellow, school chair.
We are so blessed and honored to know all these sweet souls and have them be a part of our lives and this very special day. They made it special.
I was aching from smiles just watching Aliyah demurely stroll from station to station and friend to friend, taking it all in. She knew they were here for her and her big heart wanted to give back, to make sure each one was having the time of their life and in doing so, she was having the time of her life. Each time I watched her my sentimental heart just caved at the beauty of her and her day.
And at the end of the day… when the last bit of pink was cleared to reveal yet again the green of our grass, the rain drops fell. Like it was cued perfectly by God himself, a perfect ending to a perfect day. And it was all so immensely worth it. Every trip to the antique store, every burn from the hot glue gun (thanks mama for bearing most of those), every time there was another chair to decorate, every month spent planning, everything fell into place more beautifully than I could have imagined, and I was overcome with joy for my girl.
It was wonderland, I say… and heaven.
For the details on how to plan a DIY Wonderland party, click HERE!!
{A look at the past… Year Three Party, Year Two Party, Year One Party}
Jhen.Stark says
That is the most beautiful birthday party I have ever seen!!! I love everything about it and the pictures are BEAUTIFUL!
Blissful Babe says
Omigosh, Tabitha! What an absolutely WONDERful birthday party! It’s absolutely gorgeous! No wonder they had an amazing time. It’s so perfect! I want to have a Wonderland Party for my next birthday. Please send the leftover decorations. Thanks.
And of course, the photos are phenomenal. They catch the spirit so perfectly!
What a lucky girl!!
Mandy says
Holy cow!!! That is the best birthday party ever!! Happy Birthday to your beautiful little girl! She’s going to love looking back on all of these photos.
Muthering Heights says
What an AMAZING party!!! Everything is gorgeous!
Alysha (Supermom) says
OMG… All the details that you put into her little party were just amazing. Seriousl!!! Soooo brillian and what a great idea for a party theme for little girl. Thank for the ideas for my future. But really, such a lovely post as always. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Victoria {Victoria's Secrets} says
Omg. That is the most beautiful birthday party ever.
You should host my 22nd party. heee
Tabitha (From Single to Married) says
WOW! Now THAT is a party! Awesome – I bet she was beyond excited! I know I would have been. 🙂
Crystal Rae says
Aliyah is truely a blessed girl. It was a fun amazing party and I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it. The pictures look awesome! 🙂
Tabitha says
Beautiful, stunning and so perfect for a little girl!
Briony says
i had a blast throughout the process 🙂 and i definitely hogged that one bunny. hahha
Ashlee says
The Party was Amazing! Birthdays are special, and deserve to be treated as a huge celebration. It’s refreshing to see a family make it as wonderful as it should be.
Loved it!
Christina Lusk says
SO FUN!!!! and perfect in every way. Thank you Aliyah for being such a beautiful hostess. You really shined that day!
Maggie says
This comment has been removed by the author.
ItRocks2BMom says
It WAS perefect, including the turkey sandwich you so thoughtfully made for Ethan because he was allergic to the pbj’s and the cotton candy machine 🙂
I really don’t know how you do it all. Here I thought I did good ordering a cake from Walmart & buying some matching plates & napkins for Ethan’s party of 3…hahaha
Jaden Paige says
Wow, you totally blew me away with this party Tabitha!! Bravo!!! I can see why they loved it… If I was Aliyah, I would want to stay in my own little Wonderland forever 🙂 I might have to *borrow* this idea for a party for my girl sometime! 🙂
AForestFrolic says
What a lovely party! Everything looks like a wonderland for sure 😉 And she is just a doll…happy 4th Birthday to her. I love the theme too and all the decor, so lovely.
Jamie 🙂
Laura says
What an amazing party – you outdid yourself! Can’t wait to see her wedding lol.
Melissa says
What a beautiful party! Well done!
Momma@Live. Laugh. Pull your hair out says
WOW!!!!!!!!
Annikke says
The whole party looks amazing! What a very special day for a very special girl!
{I absolutely LOVE the picture of the baby on the chair with the bunny…. too too too cute!}
Shannon @ Lifelong Impressions says
So awesome!! Way to go creative mama!!!
Mama Zen says
What a beautiful, beautiful party!
Barbara says
How absolutely adorable, from start to finish. Alice in Wonderland. I love it! You did a wonderful job, the table was so sweet and those happy faces must have brought you great joy!
You’re a lucky mama and she’s a lucky daughter to have a mama like you!
Karine Traverse says
You did such an amazing job! What a beautiful birthday for a beautiful little girl
Together We Save says
Looks like a wonderful day!! So glad the weather worked out! God is Good!
Veronica Lee says
I’ve never seen a more enchanting party! And those pics… WOW!!!
Everything looks perfect!!
Have a nice day, Tabitha!!
jayayceeblog says
That is the perfect party. And one lucky 4-year-old princess. Love, love, love your decorations … beautiful job!
Natalie Green says
This is absolutely gorgeous. What beautiful photographs and a lovely idea for your little girl xXx
Ladii Aponte says
so Colorful this was amazingeven the EAT ME on the cookies! Um over here killing myself trying to Plan My LOS 2nd birthday! The dress up Idea was great! and the tea Party! loved all the pictures! Im glad the sun came out just for her!
Through My Eyes-Ladii Aponte
Corey~living and loving says
what an amazing party! seriously….a dream come true. Your little one is so very blessed. WOW! i wish I had been there.
jennykate77 says
We were meant to be friends, you and I. You know that party planning is near and dear to my heart…and this party was off the hook!!! You pulled out all the stops. I mean, of course you would…anything for that precious girl!! I’m so glad she had a wonderful birthday! I LOVE the pictures! I’ve seen several Alice themed parties and this is by far my favorite! I’m in love♥
allenaim photography and design says
officially BEST. PARTY. EVER.
Where’s Martha Stewart? She should publish this…seriously…
Gerri says
It was pretty fantastic. 😉
Christine @ Following Phubie says
Wow! What an incredible party. Love the color and all of the amazing details. I would love for you to link it up to my party: http://phubie.blogspot.com/2010/10/get-link-party-started.html
Glory/ Glorious Treats says
I shared your amazing work on my (Glorious Treats) Facebook page, and linked directly to you.
Again, beautiful work!!
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Glorious-Treats/132141370143952
Lesley says
Hope you know I am stealing every, single bit of this for my daughter’s upcoming 8th birthday! It’s so lovely!
I’m seriously in awe!
Ebonie's Mummy says
I have viewed this post before but had to again OMG WOW! Its amazing! I bet youre daughter had a wonderful party. I would love to see a post on how you put it all together (I am in Australia) so I doubt the suppliers would be of any use but others would definately appreciate it and maybe even tell us about how you did it all xx
mellyfree says
ahh. Tab. Inspiring… Made my heart sing. I can only imagine that Aliyah had such a wonderful day, and I can almost be certain that there were some funny quotes to be had on such a wonderland day. 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Simoney says
WOW, what a fantastic party.
Would LOVE you to link up to my party linky…
xx
http://www.greatfun4kidsblog.com/2011/05/party-linky-link-up-your-parties.html