Mastering The Indoor Birthday Party

Kamille's birthday is in early January so unless we move to a different climate, chances are that we will be planning indoor birthday parties for her for years to come.  (However, as I type that I am thinking about skating and tubing parties when she gets a little older!  Fun!) 

Anyway, we've had a couple years of hosting really fun birthdays for her.  

When it comes to Kamille and her birthday, the planning begins early and the fun is anticipated months in advance!  

Each year we've carried on some fun ideas, and ultimately Kevin and I end up pulling a really late birthday eve just to get everything done and in order.  Its fun to do, yet this year we were looking to do something outside of the home, keep it simple, kind of.  

I looked into some great ideas, but me being a frugal kind of gal, was thinking that I could create a similar experience on the cheap...and I suppose it meant another in-home mid-winter birthday.  

So cupcakes were prepared for decorating.....

Balloons were hung.....

 Food was set out.....

 And the birthday crown she wore at school all day on her actual birthday was ready to be worn!

 She even had a special dress from Nana to wear!

As with every year, the pre-party hours are the most painful as Kamille waits in anticipation for the party girls to arrive.  

Kamille's choice was to start with drawing while they wait for other girls to arrive.  She spaced out paper on hardcover books around her package of 100 gel pens for everyone to use!  

I've learned from past parties not to plan too much - that the girls will end up doing what they want to do and they fill in the time doing what they consider to be fun.  Ultimately, its a huge play date.

What we did plan though was t-shirt painting.  Kamille loved doing this last summer so she thought it would be a great idea for her party!

 Soon the girls began to arrive.....

 The t-shirt painting was a hit!

 Then they all went upstairs to Kamille and Karis' rooms to play with dolls,

talk about girly things, 

 and act out Mom and Baby.

 YAY!  Lunch time!  Cheese pizza please!

 And just as in past years, and the birthday tradition that I grew up with - a round of funny faces!

I think the most anticipated part of her birthday is her birthday CD.  Over the year, we put together a collection of music that Kamille and Karis have loved to dance to - stuff we hear on the radio or come across in different ways.  I love it when Kamille blurts out, "Mom!  Put this on my birthday CD, ok?!"

So it turns out that Kamille has a bunch of friends that love to dance!    They decided to start with solos....

oh this little friend had me laughing!  

then they all busted loose!

Kamille was so excited to lead the girls through this fun little dance just like in the Princess of China video by Coldplay and Rihanna.

Next up on their agenda was a spontaneous fashion show!  They had gone upstairs and got into the dress ups and when they were ready, they all lined up at the top of the stairs, came down and stuck a pose for me!

 And the littlest model of them all...

its so cute how she wants to be 'in' with the big girls!  

Spin the bottle gift opening was next.   

I am always so amazed at the generous and thoughtful gifts that my girls have received for their birthdays!  These girls sure know my girl and her interests! 

 Next up, and last of the ideas that I thought of was decorate your own cupcakes!

 Wow!  These girls are candy lovers!  This was a hit as well!

And the most exciting part for me to put together is the loot bag!  With Kamille's birthday being in January, the post-Christmas clearance on so many things in stores means that I can put something together for a fraction of the cost at regular prices!  This year our loot bags were about $4 each - a bath sponge, bubble bath, a lip gloss, package of Lifesavers, a couple Hershey chocolates and the decorative bag. We also added a copy of her Birthday CD with some of her favourite dance tunes.  The birthday CD cover is Kevin's big yearly contribution.  He creates the collage, design and font.  Then we print them out, cut them and glue them.  This is usually why we end up staying up so late the night before, isn't it Kevin!!!?!!

Its a party that we know Kamille looks forward to each year and appreciates afterwards.
And so we do this all for her - to celebrate her special day.
Because when you're 6, your birthday sure is a big deal!

Dancing With Smiles On Their Faces!

With Karis' enthusiasm for dance, how could we not keep her going?  We registered her into another term of the same class and she had just as much fun with this round!   Kamille was inspired to get back into dance and so she participated in a Jazz class.  Oh, the smile on that girl's face as she danced was priceless!  She loved it!  

I actually didn't carry my camera around that often during their dance classes, but I did manage to get some great snaps when their end of term recitals took place.  There was nothing fancy to their "final" dance, but it was an opportunity for matching skirts and a row of parent paparazzi in front of them all.  

Karis' class was earlier in the day....

Warming up....

Let the show begin!

I wasn't familiar with the music that they played for their final dance, but it was "fairy garden" like.  She did so well.  There was such a cute look of concentration as she watched her teacher demonstrate all the moves of the dance!  Kevin and I sat right in front of her.  

Her little "solo" bit, flying around the circle of fairies!  ; )  

While Karis' class was chock full of little ballerinas, Kamille's class only had 4 participants.  Kamille was the "unknown" girl in class but she quickly found her way "in" and they all got along great!  By her second class, she had figured out her "style."

Her favourite move - The Coffee Grinder! 

These are all snaps from a class early on......

Needless to say, she was loving dancing again!

Her recital followed Karis' later in the day.  Again, fancy skirts for the girls and Kevin and I centered up to our girl.

They started out with skills demonstration...always with smiles on their face and tongues hanging out!

Woooooo!

And her most worked on skill......

Their dance was to Good Time, by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen.  She and all the other girls loved this song and sang their way through it as they danced!

They loved this part the most - throwing fist punches in the air while jumping on the spot!

Fancy walking......

....and done!

what a smile!  

Because 3 of the 4 girls in her class had little sisters in the audience, the little sisters were invited to participate in that last few minutes of the class.  Talk about c-ute!

Fun.  It was all just a bunch of good fun for them all!

My little dancing sisters!

The best part is that they have the most fun dancing together at home too!  I love the little routines that they get going on when I turn on their favourite music!
Ridiculous cuteness!