The Reed Family's Journey: Julia's "Happy Day"

Okay... so this was back in July - but remember my "I'm Back" revival post? ...I'm a work in progress! And I thought a great place to start is Julia's 'HAPPY DAY' as she would say. Just like Mommy... Julia's birthday turned into a Birth-Week, as it should! Began with her 'Par-dee' at Art Soup, then special day painting with 'Annie Sue', Scripps Birch Aquarium with Daddy, Mommy, Nana, Papa & 'Annie Sue' and a fun filled day at Sea World with friends Nola, Gavin and Olive for her actual 'happy day' ended with a cookout with neighbors 'Addie {Allie}, Ronnie {Ryan}, Beff {Beth} and Rad {Brad}' along with Grandpa and Grandma and of course Mommy, Daddy, Duke and 'Annie Sue' that culminated with a 'happy day' dance party!

Julia turned T-W-O on July 12th and it started with her "Happy Day Par-dee" at Art Soup a week before her actual birthday!
What a magical celebration... Art Soup dotted every 'i' and crossed every 't' - Miss. Julia had so much fun celebrating with all of her little friends and painting, drawing and exploring the toddler wet room they created for us. She also had tons of fun with her Annie Sue creating Minnie and Mickey puppets. The Minnie Birthday Crown Art Soup made is still (to this day) a huge hit! We really embraced the Art theme for the party, from painter palette invitations and cupcakes to all of the creative and interactive activities {14' plexiglas's easel, VW Bug Car to paint, craft bar, chalk board fire truck and so much more} Art Soup has to offer. But when Tiffany - one of the owners asked what Julia was into as we were trying to decide on an additional craft for the party, I said Minnie and Mickey with no hesitation. They intertwined aspects of Minnie and Mickey into so many intricacies of her party - it was amazing! From the butcher paper Mickey silhouette 'table cloths', to the "Happy Birthday Julia" banner with Mickey ears to her Happy Birthday Minnie Birthday Crown, to the puppet crafts, to the 'happy birthday julia' mickey silhouette necklaces... they hit absolutely every mark! It couldn't have been better and my little angel had a great time with her friends. {to learn more about Art Soup you can check them out at http://www.artsoupsd.com/ } Here are some pics from her party...

Getting ready with Mommy the morning of her party... yes she puts a tutu on just because!

Now she's all ready to go to her 'Happy Day Par-dee'

Party Time...

Painting...

Making Minnie puppet craft with 'Annie Sue'...

With Mommy & Daddy...

Lunch with my friends...

Mmmm PIZZA...

Sweet Stop...

CHEESE...

All the time that 'Annie Sue' and Julia spend together is special but they have never had a paint playdate before. Julia talked about it FOREVER. We have the artwork hanging up in the house... she often points to it and says 'me an Annie Sue payneen'. 'Annie Sue' put together this collage to highlight one of their magical memories. XOXOXO

THEN on her actual Birthday, we had a Birthday playdate with some friends at Sea World {Julia's 1st visit} and boy did she have fun with the fishies!!!

She loved the new sea turtle exhibit... here is she and Nola taking it all in! Nose to the glass...literally! Precious...

LASTLY, we capped off her Birth-week with a BBQ with family and friends. She opened her dollhouse and went nuts and ended the evening with a crazy dance party!

Here with 'Addie' and 'Ronnie' before the dance party infront of her new doll house...