Calli turns SIX!!
This year, Calli's birthday fell just before school resumed after the Christmas holidays. We planned on having a party for her the following weekend, but with our family unable to make it for that party, Auntie Gillian and Uncle Raffi invited us to Ottawa for a birthday supper with them.
Gillian, Calli, Marin and I escaped to the National Gallery of Canada for a few hours in the afternoon while the turkey was cooking. There was a really great area set up for kids to make their own masks in front of this beautiful 40 ft Christmas tree!
We got little cushions to sit on and filled up trays with all sorts of materials to make the masks. Marin was thrilled with the blue felt covering, the lovely feathers and multiple sequins that she glued on to create her masterpiece.
Calli made a great mask too with white felt, a yarn wrapped stick and fluffy feathers. As we walked through the gallery afterwards Calli kept looking at her mask and coming up with other ideas for decorating it.
We bustled through the Bernini exhibit and a fantastic Contemporary section where the kids were able to send a message to Mother Earth via a giant wooden megaphone that echoed into the great hall where they had made their masks. As well, there was a big scissor lift with machines that spat out real Canadian money at varying intervals. The bills floated down into a large cordoned off area, with the odd one making it's way out and into the eagerly waiting hands of a gallery goer. Unfortunately, the bills were quickly reclaimed by the 2 security guards waiting nearby. I wonder who counts the money at the end of the day...
We also tried out this great robot microphone podium thing. (nice description...)
When we returned, dinner was cooked and close to being served! Can you imagine leaving for a few hours and returning to a fully cooked meal!!?? Kevin and Chelsea came from Kingston and Grandma was there to help celebrate (and cook) as well.
Can my little girl really be 6 already?
Has it really been 6 years since we first said Hello and stared endlessly into each others eyes?
Calli got a new watch from Grandpa and Grandma and is doing a great job at telling time!! I love seeing how excited she is after correctly telling us the time.
Sofia and Marin took on the task of wrestling with Raffi on the living room floor. From the looks of things, I think the girls were winning. Nellie was in the background acting as the referee!
Looks like Raffi resorted to tickling to win this match!
Adam, Sofia and Marin after the girls were declared as the winners!!
I love this photo of Calli and her jello infused cake. It looks like she is making a wish. So sweet.
The next weekend we invited 6 of Calli's friends to come and celebrate with us. I, with the help of my Mother's brain wave, decided to knit hats for each of the girls as party favours. The unfortunate part was that I began knitting on Wednesday and the party was on Saturday. I stayed up until 2am on Friday night trying to finish the last hat, only to wake up early Saturday morning to put the finishing stitches on. What a crazy task. In the long run, I'm happy that I knit them, but when Calli told me that one of the girls had said she didn't like her hat because it wasn't pink....I wondered if it was worth it in the long run.
Calli had a girl in mind for each hat I knit and distributed them accordingly. Next year, I'll be far more prepared.
We bought a bunch of canvases and paint brushes for the party girls and they each got to paint a picture or two to bring home. Even Marin got in on the painting action. That's her at the front, on the left.
Along with the hats in the goodie bags, each girl got to decorate 2 cupcakes with an assortment of candies, sprinkles and a curly candle. I wrapped the cupcakes up in fancy wrapping paper and ribbon to make them a special surprise.
All in all, Calli had a great birthday again this year, although having 2 yearly birthday parties might have to come to a stop as I'm afraid she is going to come to expect this grandeur each year!!
Happy Birthday Calli! We love you so very much! xo
Gillian, Calli, Marin and I escaped to the National Gallery of Canada for a few hours in the afternoon while the turkey was cooking. There was a really great area set up for kids to make their own masks in front of this beautiful 40 ft Christmas tree!
We got little cushions to sit on and filled up trays with all sorts of materials to make the masks. Marin was thrilled with the blue felt covering, the lovely feathers and multiple sequins that she glued on to create her masterpiece.
Calli made a great mask too with white felt, a yarn wrapped stick and fluffy feathers. As we walked through the gallery afterwards Calli kept looking at her mask and coming up with other ideas for decorating it.
We bustled through the Bernini exhibit and a fantastic Contemporary section where the kids were able to send a message to Mother Earth via a giant wooden megaphone that echoed into the great hall where they had made their masks. As well, there was a big scissor lift with machines that spat out real Canadian money at varying intervals. The bills floated down into a large cordoned off area, with the odd one making it's way out and into the eagerly waiting hands of a gallery goer. Unfortunately, the bills were quickly reclaimed by the 2 security guards waiting nearby. I wonder who counts the money at the end of the day...We also tried out this great robot microphone podium thing. (nice description...)
The girls had a super fun time walking around with their masks. Completely incognito.
This picture should give you a greater understanding at the size of the tree! It was really something!
When we returned, dinner was cooked and close to being served! Can you imagine leaving for a few hours and returning to a fully cooked meal!!?? Kevin and Chelsea came from Kingston and Grandma was there to help celebrate (and cook) as well.
Can my little girl really be 6 already?
Has it really been 6 years since we first said Hello and stared endlessly into each others eyes?
Calli got a new watch from Grandpa and Grandma and is doing a great job at telling time!! I love seeing how excited she is after correctly telling us the time.
Sofia and Marin took on the task of wrestling with Raffi on the living room floor. From the looks of things, I think the girls were winning. Nellie was in the background acting as the referee!
Looks like Raffi resorted to tickling to win this match!
Adam, Sofia and Marin after the girls were declared as the winners!!
I love this photo of Calli and her jello infused cake. It looks like she is making a wish. So sweet.
The next weekend we invited 6 of Calli's friends to come and celebrate with us. I, with the help of my Mother's brain wave, decided to knit hats for each of the girls as party favours. The unfortunate part was that I began knitting on Wednesday and the party was on Saturday. I stayed up until 2am on Friday night trying to finish the last hat, only to wake up early Saturday morning to put the finishing stitches on. What a crazy task. In the long run, I'm happy that I knit them, but when Calli told me that one of the girls had said she didn't like her hat because it wasn't pink....I wondered if it was worth it in the long run.
Calli had a girl in mind for each hat I knit and distributed them accordingly. Next year, I'll be far more prepared.
We bought a bunch of canvases and paint brushes for the party girls and they each got to paint a picture or two to bring home. Even Marin got in on the painting action. That's her at the front, on the left.
Along with the hats in the goodie bags, each girl got to decorate 2 cupcakes with an assortment of candies, sprinkles and a curly candle. I wrapped the cupcakes up in fancy wrapping paper and ribbon to make them a special surprise.
All in all, Calli had a great birthday again this year, although having 2 yearly birthday parties might have to come to a stop as I'm afraid she is going to come to expect this grandeur each year!!Happy Birthday Calli! We love you so very much! xo
Comments
Love the hats(there is always one girl who wants something she did not get, Emma had one girl too pull the "I want Pink" card).
The cupcake idea was great too! I may use that one next year (or cookies). It's hard to think up ideas for winter birthdays. Way easier to plan fun things out doors in the summer.
Keep me posted on the move!
M-J xo
Looks like both parties were fit for a princess(s) - including Marin too.
Zoe's already talking about "when I turn 7"...oy. She told me she can't wait to be an adult or 10yrs old. (I understand because I was the same way but also tell that staying little is wayyyy more fun).
Take care,
Looking forward to your next address change, hope it's somewhere that you are going to love.
Hugs,
Robyn & family
What a sweetheart you are for making such an awesome party for Calli! She'll remember that.
xo suzieQ