Butterfly Birthday Party

There are times when you realize how incredibly blessed your children are. I had one of those moments last weekend.

My mom has always done an outstanding job of making birthdays special. Without the help of the "experts" at bouncy places or Chuck E Cheese. I have wonderful memories of my birthdays being uniquely fitted to my tastes. Simple, yet always going all the way.

Kenzie, for quite some time, had been saying that she wanted a party only with Nanny and Papoo, James and Emily, and her family. My parents made the butterfly party an unforgettable evening, to say the least.

We were instructed that a butterfly wing contest was part of it. So the week before, the kids and I made wings, glittered wings, and glued jewels on wings. And Kenzie was excited that Daddy made his own wings. (Seriously, how many dads[outside of my own dad, of course!] would design and paint his own butterfly wings....and WEAR them?!)

Once at Flagstaff, we decorated....
And donned our wings....

Is that not one of the cutest little butterflies EVER?!

And we waited for our other guests to arrive. James and Emily (my brother and his wife) were up until 3 am making their wings.....again, my little butterfly princess is so blessed.....

How many Uncles will wear tights? Tights, I say! And emily had on the funnest boots ever!
AND...Emily's sister, Anna, and her boyfriend Justin, came too....by choice. They WANTED to attend a 4 year old's birthday party and dress up.

Here are the male insects....
Obviously quite confident in their manliness. (Justin's wings were so cool....he made them out of disposable bakeware!)

And the ladies....we were laughing. And vying to show off our wings...Emily kept hogging all the room! =)

And the Hendricks Family....butterfly style!
We had crafts....
And of course, a splendiferous Nanny cake:

All for a little girl who wanted a butterfly party. No 25 children. Just a group of family that loves her dearly. And she loved her party. Thanks, Mom, for continuing the tradition of meaningful birthdays! And thanks, Dad, for supporting mom in all her crazy plans to make the day special for Kenzie. The way you quietly encourage, clean up, wash dishes, clean up, wash dishes, make butterflies, wash dishes, wear mylar wings, and do more dishes is such a picture of servanthood. Mom can do what she does best because of how you support her. So, thanks for making Kenzie's day so special.


And here is what Kenzie, Molly, and Jack spent a good portion of the afternoon doing....Butterfly Dances....