Ava’s 5th Birthday Party
My little girl turned 5 recently and so of course I had to have a party! Ava told her new Kindergarten teacher at her school that I was the “Fabulous” one in the family. Yes, she sure did, and it was adorable. I walked around all day telling everyone that my daughter thinks I’m fabulous. So, with my five year old thinking I’m fabulous, I had to plan a fabulous party for her. When you have children, it is all about them and I would not want it any other way. My Birthday was less than a week later and I think we went to IHOP. No, not Ruth Chris, not Mastro’s or my favorite, Maggiano’s-No, IHOP! Hey, do not be IHOP snobs as the pancakes are great!
Well, I design and produce weddings and events all the time as of course that is my job and I love it, but when it comes to planning a party for my little girl–well that is my favorite party to plan. It is funny that I have seen so many amazing things from my talented vendors for over 16 years, but I am like a little kid planning a party for the first time when I plan parties for Ava. I have so much fun.
This year Ava’s party was held at Bears, Buddies and Toys Children’s Boutique in Huntington Beach, CA. It is a charming, children’s boutique where the most adorable children’s clothing and toys, etc. are sold. They also have amazing spaces to accommodate children’s parties throughout the store. They offer themed parties such as: Pirate Parties, Princess Parties, English Tea Parties, Kareoke Rock Star Parties, Slumber Parties, Pinkalicious Parties, etc. It was the perfect setting for Ava’s Party.
All of Ava’s classmates from Fountain Valley Montessori came as well as family friends and family. The children were so adorable. Upon, arrival, each child got to dress up in a costume of their choice supplied by Bears, Buddies and Toys. There were so many adorable costumes for them to choose from. Princesses, Fairies, Knights, Kings and Pirates, etc. Of course all the little girls who attended the party all chose the exact same yellow, “Belle” Princess Costume and so they all matched. The little girls got to get their make up done-MINIMAL MAKE UP and glitter in their hair. (Pixie Dust). I told the staff at the venue to please go light on the glitter as it will take a month to get that out of Ava’s hair! 🙂
After all the children were dressed they were given their party favors of swords and magic wands and were all led into the Storybook Cottage Library where Snow White and a Pirate Princess read the children a story of Ava’s choice. Then, the Storytellers talked briefly about Cinderella’s Magic Horse Drawn Carriage (little did the children know that we had a White, Horse Drawn Cinderella Carriage from Cindy Cinderella Carriages waiting outdside) and then during the story, CINDERELLA, herself came bursting into the Cottage looking rather sad and upset and she was carrying a GOLD PUMPKIN with her. (Thanks Bernie!)
She told the children that she was unable to get home to the Prince at the Castle because her Magic Carriage had turned back into a Pumpkin, her Fairy Godmother was on vacation and she told them that the only way that she might be able to turn it back was with the magic of a Birthday Princess and her Court of Friends. Cinderella told the children that she was told that perhaps there was a Birthday Princess present at Bears, Buddies and Toys. Cinderella asked the children if they could help her to find a Birthday Princess to help her to change the Pumpkin back into her Magic Carriage so she could get home to her Castle.
YES, me being the planner that I am, as you may already have figured out , I gave Cinderella a script! Poor Girl–No, she actually thought it was great and did a great job!
Of course Ava was the Birthday Princess that could save the day!!!! Cinderella asked Ava, “Oh, Princess Ava can you and your friends help me?” The children screamed, “YES!!!!!” with excitement. It was great! Cinderella led the children to the back door of the store and said, “Okay, Princess Ava and all Ava’s friends, Let’s give it a try.” She opened the back door of the store and put the pumpkin outside the back door and then closed the back door. The Cinderella Carriage was waiting off to the side where the children could not see it when Cinderella opened the door.
Cinderella asked Ava and the children to say the magic words, “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo”, Then, asked them to say it again, “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo”. While Cinderella had the children say this for the second time, my husband took the pumpkin away and hid it and the Carriage pulled forward. Cinderella asked the children to say it one final time, “Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Boo”. Cinderella then opened the door and there was the Magic Carriage!!!! You should have seen their faces. It was perfect!
IT WORKED!!! HOORAY!!! THE BIRTHDAY PRINCESS AVA AND HER FRIENDS TURNED THE PUMPKIN BACK INTO THE MAGIC CARRIAGE AND NOW CINDERELLA COULD GO HOME TO THE PRINCE AT THE CASTLE. She led all the children out to the back for the special surprise of her white, horse drawn Cinderella Carriage. She thanked Ava and the children for their help and told them she was going to go home now back to the Castle, but then she said, “Wait! to thank you all for helping me AND to celebrate Ava’s 5th Birthday, would you all like to take a ride in my Magic Carriage before I leave?
Well, of course the answer was. “YES!”. The children got to take turns riding in the Cinderella Carriage and when they were not taking their turns riding in the Carriage they got to go into the store and stuff an animal of their choice like at Build a Bear. They got to put a heart or a star inside their animal and make a wish. 
Ava got to take a very special ride with the Carriage driver after all the children had a turn or two or three riding in the Carriage. After the Cinderella Carriage rides were over and all the children got to build a stuffed animal of their choice, we all went into the quaint, vintage Castle area and sang, “Happy Birthday” to Ava.
We had lunch, Birthday Cake and tons of sweets! Corner Bakery Sandwiches, Bakery Chips, Brownies, Lemon Bars, Maple Pecan Bars, Raspberry Bars, Creme Cheese Brownie Bars, Mini Red Velvet, Banana and Chocolate Bundt Cakes, Jumbo Assorted Cookies, Cake Pops, Fresh Fruit and lots of Pink Lemonade.
Before the party, I had taken Ava to my vendor and friend’s bakery, Great Dane Baking Company for her own, personal Cake Tasting as Ava wanted to see what Mommy does at work at tastings. Ava selected Marble Cake with Cookies and Creme filling after much careful consideration.
Ava’s Birthday Cake, from the Great Dane Baking Company was designed as a Pillow Cake and was adorned with lots of “Bling” and fondant tassels. It had a big jeweled button right in the middle of the pillow. I placed an engraved ice pink Glass Slipper from Arribas Brothers on the top of the Cake which read, “Happy Birthday Ava, May All Your Dreams come True”. The Pillow Cake sat on a bed of delicate, white Hydrangeas atop Nisie’s, Bling Bling Cake Stand, from Nisie’s Enchanted Florist. The Cake was so beautiful and tasted delicious! The engraved, Pink Glass Slipper now sits on top of Ava’s dresser in her Bedroom.
We had edible fruit arrangements that looked like bouquets of daises in white vases. The children loved these and because the pineapple, melon and grapes were on sticks they were easy for the children to eat.
Cake Pops from Great Dane Baking Company were delicious and so cute! They were dusted with a little iridescent shimmer and sparkled like little diamonds.
Party Favors for the girls were White Chocolate Cinderella Coach Lollipops and for the boys were Milk Chocolate Pirate Ship Lollipops.
After lunch, the children got to play various children’s games and then each child was given another party favor, a blow up guitar. We ended the party with a “Karaoke Rock Star Dance Party” jam session. The children loved it! They danced and sang their little hearts out and played their blow up guitars like pros. It was a great way to end the party and the children went home completely exhausted. When I saw all the Parents the next week at Ava’s school, they all thanked me for tiring their children out at the party and told me that their children went to bed very early the night of Ava’s Party.
Ava tells me that next year she wants a “slumber party” so my mind is already starting to think of great ideas..Hmmmm, ” Ava’s Super, Sensational Summer Slumber Party”……… YES, I know I am a geek!!!! 🙂 Yes, I am.
I cannot wait until next year’s Party, although I would not mind it if Ava stayed 5 years old forever! It is a great age, but then every age has been a great age!
Happy 5th Birthday Ava! May All Your Wishes and Dreams Come True!
Special Thanks to:
Bears, Buddies and Toys Children’s Boutique, Huntington Beach, CA
