a belated birthday update

this year for her birthday we decided to have a party with a couple of her friends. the previous years had just been family, but a few little friends were just what we needed to celebrate turning Three this year. she had requested strawberry cake, despite not ever having had any strawberry cake. i don't think i'd ever had strawberry cake either, other than strawberry shortcake. i had grand visions of a beautifully frosted layer cake, but they went out the window in favor of simpler cupcakes. i had to do a little research but i finally found a recipe that didn't include strawberry flavored jello. (i love martha stewart!) it included a recipe for strawberry buttercream, but i'm not a fan of buttercream. i love butter, but when it comes to frosting i want cream cheese. all combined the cupcakes tasted a lot like strawberry ice cream. so yummy! of course the birthday girl that requested them only licked the frosting, then walked away. i also made strawberry lemonade and cheesy herb popcorn. of course i was so busy making everything that i hardly took any photos, but i think these few captured the spirit of the day. i finished her scarf and she loved it. alas, she is in a contrary way lately and will not be in any photos, at least not with any of her new birthday gifts. 

it was a lovely low-key birthday party. it was exactly what we all needed this year. i had fun sewing a dress and dolly dress for her last year and hope to get back to that tradition next year, and maybe knit a sweater too! but this year with an energetic (and teething!) baby there just wasn't any time. and that is ok. we all had fun and i don't think she even missed having a birthday dress.