Who smells smoke? Don’t panic, that’s just Clara’s dragon party, rollin’ into town (er, the internet?). Note: you can’t really smell this party through your computer, so if you smell smoke, please look into it. This year’s party was lower key than our last two (here’s her first birthday party, and her worm party from last year) and even though it was rainy and wet outside, eight kiddos and twelve adults jammed out inside. It was fun. And Clara made me cry. She’s just so big and sweet and hilarious and I’m the luckiest mom in the world.
Plus, dragons. I mean if that’s not a trump card for a party, I’m not sure what is. After she picked worms for her party last year I wasn’t sure it got more fun than that, but when she told us she wanted dragons this year, well, we laughed and jumped right in. She even told the doctor at her three year appointment that dragons were coming to her party and I’m pretty sure he was hedging for an invite after she name dropped winged-fire-breathing-creatures.
Look at this kid of mine, holding her cousin’s hand and dragging him into the sunroom for pizza. A second after I snapped this shot, she turned to Emanuel and said “be happy! there’s pizza!”
My favorite part of the whole day was this little painting of fire that I made on foam core and taped to the wall at kid-mouth-height. Everyone could be a dragon and we snapped lots of photos of all the kids having fun with it.
Burger even got in on the action…
Some adults posed for a few pretty hilarious photos too (turns out kid mouth height is adult bum height so you can guess where I’m going).
Here’s the sunroom all decked out. No balloons and streamers this year, just a few packs of paper lanterns from the dollar spot at Target (they sell them in sets of 2 & 3). The paper tablecloth is also from Target (it has some pretty dragon-ish consummate Vs) which is also where we grabbed the plates and napkins. Then we just ordered pizza, heated up some dragon-shaped chicken nuggets (aka: dragon nuggets), sliced up some vegetables, and tossed some chips and popcorn into a few bowls.
Oh and the table is the one from the deck. We just dragged it into the sunroom and wiped it down (dang rain!) and it was all good.
Who knew sliced peppers could look so fire-like, eh? John. John knew. Apparently guys + fire = besties. And of course we had the castles that Clara painted in the background with little rubber dragons on them (snagged at Michael’s in a few tubes of 8, so they also ended up in the kids’ favors). And those flame-like sunflowers were a few bucks at Kroger (that’s a local grocery store for the non-locals). How awesome are they?! They’re like fire on a stick.
We kept the food super simple. In fact, except for baking some cookies with the birthday girl herself, we didn’t cook a thing. We really just wanted this to be an easy and casual gathering, so we didn’t go crazy cooking or decorating. Plus it’s a fun challenge to look at “party food” like chips, jelly beans, and popcorn to see if we could somehow make it dragon-ish. Here’s what we came up with:
We also played up the hot/fire-breathing thing and had some Hot Tamales and FireBalls (clearly labeled so no kiddos accidentally ate them and blew smoke out of their ears). They were a big hit with the grown ups. Meanwhile the kids rocked out with the rock candy. I thought they were fire-ish so I grabbed them at the register at Michaels (hello impulse buy).
Gratuitous sunflower shot. I love them. I hope they last a good long time so I can soak them up through the move (I’m the girl who will hold this vase on her lap in the car on moving day so they make it to the new house).
Clara’s favorites were the lanterns. She thought they were balloons and even said “I’m sad they’re going to get small” and I said “Yay! They’re paper lanterns! We can use them for every birthday for ever and ever!” Cheered her right up.
On the other side of the sunroom we temporarily removed the bike art (it was John’s idea… I couldn’t believe it!) to make a little drink station out of the expedit bookcase with Clara’s monthly photos taped up on the wall between some fire-ish bursts of tissue paper.
That’s also where I stuck the favors, which are always my favorite thing to throw together. This year I found some red tins at the dollar store that I filled with tissue paper that I cut to look like fire.
They were each filled with a pair of dragon socks that I found at Target for 99 cents, a pack of crayons, a glowing bracelet, a dollar store pinwheel (they were 3/$1) and a few of the aforementioned plastic dragons from Michael’s that also graced Clara’s painted castles on the table.
In the drink tin we had red and yellow Izze bottles for the grown ups (along with bottled water, juice boxes, and a few other beverage choices in a cooler nearby).
As for how I made the tissue paper poofs on the wall, I just smooshed them up and used one staple to hold them together in the back. One loop of painter’s tape held each of them in place between the Clara pics on the wall.
I also used a sharpie to draw a bunch of dragons on card stock and set them out on the coffee table in the sunroom with a bowl full of crayons.
Oh and we dragged out Clara’s train board, which ended up being a fun little kid zone while the parents chatted each other up.
We had planned on an outdoor “dragon egg hunt” (with a bunch of on-clearance plastic eggs that we got at Target after Easter with a few jelly beans in each one) but since it was too wet outside we hid them all over the dining room and the office. It was pretty cute watching the kids run around and grab as many as they could – especially when they were in such strange spots like under the chair cushions, behind the curtains, and even on our favorite concrete pet’s head…
As for desserts, we ordered 10 dragon cookies from Snickety Snacks (they’re like works of art – and they taste amazing!) along with making some homemade white chocolate chip cookies with Clara (we stamped them with “dinosaur footprints” right after they came out of the oven).
The cupcakes are local favorites from the grocery store (Ukrops) and I made those spikes in about ten minutes by cutting up airheads (yes, those crazy candies that look like long flat tongues). I just used a knife to cut them down the center to make two skinny strips and then cut little triangles from each row and shoved four of them into each cupcake in a spiny little line.
This picture is a small miracle. How I got the cookie in focus and caught her looking up at me, I’ll never know. Oh beansie, this makes me want to cry. How’d you get so big?!
As is the tradition, we did our best to grab a family photo. This was the best we could do, but I’ll take it.
When three of us were walking around wearing similar striped shirts, we had to snap a shot of that too. We’re practically triplets.
So Clara’s three and her dragon party was a fire-breathing good time. I can’t wait to see what she picks next year. Chickens? Ninjas? A Burger theme? Time will tell…
Annette says
Aw it was perfect! Happy Birthday to Clara! The video was so cute as well!
Callye says
How colorful and cute! As for the video, I got emotional watching it even though I’ve never met Clara! I feel like I’ve watched her grow up though and she’s just so adorable.
Angie says
What a great party theme! Dragons. Who knew?
And Clara is just too adorable. “be happy! there’s pizza!” Those are words to live by.
Cara says
Cutest family eva!
LARY@ Inspiration Nook says
So cute!!!! What a cute theme and party. Love all the little details.
Nicole says
Aw, Happy Birthday, Clara! That video is so sweet… and I cannot get over how much she has changed from 2 to 3. She seems like such a great girl!
Cora says
It’s been such a sweet pleasure watching our (um, yea) Clara grow up. Not only is she a smart, sweet, beautiful girl, she is also spunky and shows so much love. Thank you for letting us watch her grow up. It’s a real treat! Also, you guys do parties the way they should be done, low key but fabulous enough that it’s super special. Boy, is Clara a lucky girl.
Melody Benschoter says
OH MY WORD- you totally just referenced Trogdor! I knew you were my favorites for a while, but now, somehow you just jumped up even higher in my esteem! We had little baby Trogdor onesies for our babies- the hubs has a trogdor beanie cap AND a sweatshirt- we even have a plush the Cheat. So fun! And such a cute, out of the norm party! I love how simple, yet thoughtful it was!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha! I love it!
xo
s
Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says
This is just too cute. And that fact that it isn’t pink princess makes it even cuter. Clara has great taste in party themes.
Lisa @ Paintbrush & Screwdriver says
Ack – now I feel old! My daughter will graduate from high school this weekend. It seems like a week or two ago she was Clara’s age.
She’s adorable, and it looks like her dragon party was a huge success. Loved the “fire breathing” photos :)
Julie says
LOL Trogdor!
kristi@SimplePrettyThings says
You know, for keeping it simple it still looks like so much fun! Really good job with the theme!)I really like the paper lanterns instead of balloons! I ended up getting 26 balloons and they were all dead by night time. Here’s a post about our daughter’s second bday: http://www.idlepress.com/simpleprettythings/little-girl-turned-two/
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet!
xo
s
Megan B says
The party looks adorable and the video is so sweet. Goodness did Clara grow this year! My daughter just turned 3 on the 11th and now I feel like I need to look at pictures from her 2nd birthday to see how much she’s grown. Although it might make me cry too! Happy Birthday, Clara!
Lisa G. says
Very fun and sweet party! Sophie has talked about it lots and is wearing her dragon socks today :) They are growing up WAY to fast though…
Bethany says
Just when I think I couldn’t adore you guys any more than I already do, you bust out consummate Vs.
Love.
Happy Birthday, Clara!
jeannette says
beautiful party, loved the earlier pic of clara in her TROG DOR THE BURNINATOR caaaaaaaaaaape.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha!
xo
s
Melody says
Geez! Why do these videos have to be so amazing?! I am so weepy, and she’s not even my child! But seriously, thank you so much for being willing to share her with the blog world. I sincerely hope that I have a relationship like you guys do with my future child(ren).
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Melody, you’re so sweet!
xo
s
andrea p says
What a sweet party! Love all the unique touches & those cookies looked amazing!!
Question: How did you hang the paper lanterns? I want to use them for my daughter’s birthday. Did you (*gasp*) put hooks in your ceiling?!
Thanks guys :)
YoungHouseLove says
We just used white string from my sewing box and taped that to the windowsill above the table :)
xo
s
Meredith says
Great video! There’s no doubt you love your little bean :-) I totally see Sherry in her!
Diana says
Oh, this is the sweetest post ever!! (Tugged at my heart and brought tears to my eyes…) Please give the birthday girl extra hugs and kisses for us! She will treasure these videos forever!
Rainbow Miller says
What a wonderful party! I hope Clara had the best time. I love how creative, yet simple you guys are with her birthdays. So much fun.
It must have been a really sweet last ‘hurrah’ in this house.
Happiness to you guys Xx
Lauren says
I cried watching the video. Lol. Perfect song choice! Clara is such a lucky girl to have you guys as parents!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lauren!
xo
s
darcy says
I am forever telling my boyfriend that I think Sherry looks like Kahleesi from Game of Thrones, and every time I think of Clara in her little dragon cape, I have a mental field day referring to you as the mother of dragons.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s my alter ego. Except in my world I’m nude less… and I can’t speak other fictional languages…
xo
s
Kiki says
You guys seriously plan the CUTEST birthday parties ever. I always love seeing your creativity in the new names for food and sweets, seeing what you find for party favors (my favorite part of party planning!), and seeing your family traditions, too. Looks like it was full of fun!
Evelina says
This party looks like so much fun! I bet Clara had a blast (punny!)
My favourite part is definitely the fire photo prop.
Can’t wait to watch the video after work!
Sarah F. says
You guys simultaneously make me cry and hike up the Baby Fever to 11! That video is so sweet and funny. I hope when I have a kid he/she is half as awesome as Clara.
Jordan says
Is it odd that my favorite part is where you admit to carrying vases of flowers on your lap during a move? We have a potential halfway-across-the-country move that could happen soon (to Virginia, ironically) and even though it’s not for sure yet, I’m already trying to figure out the best way to move all my plants!
Loved everything about the party this year – way to keep it simple and fun!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! Plants are the hardest thing to move! I totally remember laying in bed not being able to sleep wondering how we’d move ours from our first house! The answer was standing them all up in a series of topless boxes and putting them in the back of the car instead of the moving truck :)
xo
s
Abbey says
It’s interesting to see the warm bright colors of the party theme compared to the cool colors of the sun room. Do you guys think your color pallette which evolve in the next house to some more of those bright warm tones or keep the cool colors of the last two houses?
Clara is the most adorable little girl!
YoungHouseLove says
I definitely think we’ve been embracing warm colors lately (like pink and red in Clara’s big girl room, and the red adirondak chairs out on the patio, etc). Should be fun to see where the new house takes us! I’d guess we’ll have almost every color as an accent and lots of classic tones like white, brown, gray, wood, etc :)
xo
s
Lindsey says
Thank you for sharing such special milestones in your life with us. It is one of the many reasons why I absolutely love your blog. I feel like I “know” all 3 of you (and of course Burger too). But not in a creepy sort of way if you know what I mean :)
Happy birthday, Clara!!
Mary says
Saw this wooden tool box and thought of Clara. Shucks, It’s too late for her birthday.
http://acorntoyshop.com/product/wooden-tool-box-/1009/artscraftsmusic/89/1451/all
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, she’d love that! Thanks for the link!
xo
s
Claudia says
VERY CUTE!!! Can’t believe Clara is three already! My youngest said she can come play with his Imaginext dragon stuff :D
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo
s
anne says
LOVE the strongbad reference, guaranteed laughs every time. Happy birthday to your big girl!
Karen Q. says
What an adorable party! You guys did an amazing job- so creative, thoughtful and fun-as always! :) Can’t wait to see what her 4th B.Day party will bring!
Carrie M says
That video is amazing and made me cry! Clara is so adorable and has such great parents in you two! The video is somethign an idea I’d love to copy you guys on and I hope I can pull off when I have kids :)
Also its so nice to see a non-tacky kids b-day party thats still so put together, pretty and coordinated, and budget friendly!
JebberJay says
Beautiful, colourful, fun, joyous. :-). Your family unit rocks.
RLR says
“turns out kid mouth height is adult bum height”
Hahaha! I laughed out loud – for real! But that’s exactly why I recommend to my kids that they give folks in front of us some “personal space” when we’re standing in line (at the grocery store, the P.O., etc). Mainly because I don’t like standing thisclose to people – but they kids get my point and it usually works :)
What a fun party! It’s time for me to start planning my younger child’s 7th birthday party. SEVENTH. We had a Halloween party last year (yes, in the summer…), so who knows what she’ll ask for this year.
Happy (belated) Birthday, Clara!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh, a Halloween party sounds like so much fun!
xo
s
mommydale says
Oh my word! You guys did a fantastic job – it looks wonderful. You guys did such a great job playing with the names for the food.
I really wish you’d posted one of the adults picture with the fire!! That totally sounds like what my friends/family would have done. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! They all swore me to secrecy. They know when the camera’s in my hands things could end up on the blog so they literally refused to pose until I promised I wouldn’t post the pics. But they’ll definitely be in our family yearbook! Haha!
xo
s
Meggan says
Clara’s party turned out super cute! I love all the ways you incorporated fire into the decorating, while still keeping it super simple. With four boys I’m sure I’ll have a reason to use dragon decor for something!
Also, I was wondering if you had seen this:
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/05/recycled-bike-part-chandeliers-under-a-texas-overpass/
It just seemed like awesome lighting + bicycle parts = something John would love!
YoungHouseLove says
Amazing!
xo
s
Martha says
Can you throw me the same party for my 26th birthday? (I’m totally an adult, right?)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, sure! Come on over!
xo
s
Hallie@ChasingHallie says
Happy Birthday Clara!
My daughter Molly (18 months) is obsessed with watching the video. So cute!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet!
xo
s
Kristy says
Are those the same cupcakes from your wedding? They look so delicious :)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! They’re so good they’re addicting. We might never have a party without them. Haha!
xo
s
Franci says
Love your site! And such a cute party idea. Just in case you/Clara hasn’t seen this book, Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin. A party for dragons… (well, tacos instead of pizza). Fun to read for parents and kids too.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, she’s OBSESSED with that book! Her favorite for sure.
xo
s
Heather @ Snookie's Cakes says
This is just adorable. I need a dragon themed party for my birthday.
Suzannah says
That video is such a great idea! I have a little girl who is turning 3 on Friday – she chose Snoopy for her party theme. I am now feeling motivated to do a little video like you all made for Clara. Thank you for the inspiration and the huge smiles your video gave me! Clara is blessed with so many people that love her!
YoungHouseLove says
Amen! So blessed! We love you guys.
xo
s
Rachel says
These posts always make me want to throw a party, so great job! Also, I wonder if you could get more use out of those lanterns by putting them in her new room in the new house? I bet Clara would love it. Thanks again for all the inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
That would be cute!
xo
s
Brittanie says
I love seeing all of the party details! Creating incredible parties out of the unexpected-I’m thinking it’s an excellent subject for the new book :] And the picture of Clara with the birthday cookie was adorable!
(It was great to meet you two again, thanks for the kind words about the dragon cookies!)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Brittanie! It was so great to see you again!
xo
s
Liz says
Your video made me cry at the end! I’m just a sap like that, though :P My youngest turns 1 next month, I LOVE the idea of using paper lanterns instead of balloons! We have a friend whose son is HORRIBLY allergic to latex and it’s a great alternative–and green, too!
Paige @ Little Nostalgia says
You guys are the best parents ever! And I have to say, I was never a huge fan of “Superstar” until I heard it in this context. I think I have something stuck in my eye…
Tamara says
What a great party and video! While I was blown away at how much Clara has grown in the last year, it occurred to me while watching, that you are so incredibly generous in sharing your family and lives with us, your readers. Yea, it’s your job, but mostly it’s your life. And that you let us see bits and pieces of it is awesome. THANK YOU! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Tamara, you’re so sweet!
xo
s
LeAnna says
I can see why you cried–that video was so sweet and to see the love your little family shares is awesome!
I personally think that photo of the sunflower should be framed!! The colors are incredible! Then you can always look at it and smile and whisper sweet nothings to it as you pass by ;-)