The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry

This was the case today, for sure.

I spent two weeks trying my best to prepare a fabulous birthday party for my daughter.  Today was the big day.

Just about everything that could go wrong, DID!  Sigh...

First, our ladder wasn't tall enough for us to be able to reach the tree limbs so I could hang the pom poms here and there all over the yard.  So, we strung fishing line going across the yard in three places and hung the pom poms that way.  I hated it.

Then we tried to hang the sheets which went up fine but when we tried to hang the signs (Concessions, Games, etc etc) on the line with the sheets, the wind just whipped them all over and you couldn't see them, so we took them down.  Sigh...

I had planned for 80 balloons but the helium tank crapped out after about 18.  Huge sigh...

Then, another issue, the coupling I bought for the pastry bag was too small for the tip so I couldn't pipe on the icing for the cupcakes like I wanted too either.  Grrrrrr.  So, I just slapped it on with a knife.

The last issue, the cupcake sleeves that I spent hours designing, printing out and cutting, were too big for the cupcakes and looked ridiculous so those got thrown away.  Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

I was so disappointed and so frustrated and really felt as though I had failed my daughter.  I came in the house to collect myself before people started showing up.

I heard voices and giggles so I told myself it was showtime, sucked it up and put a smile on my face.  When I walked outside I saw my daughter and realized from the smile on her face that she thought everything was perfect.

We played games, ate a bunch of Carnival food and attacked my daughter with silly string.  The party went an hour over the scheduled time and at the end of it, Jada walked up to me, put her arms around me and said, "Thank you so much, Mom!  This was the best birthday ever!"

And that my friends, made all of the frustration and disappointment go right out the window.  It also made every single minute I spent cutting things out and hours of painting and planning worth it.  This little face....

made me realize that I was being way too hard on myself.  She loved her party and I love her, to pieces.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JADA!

Here's a few shots of what went right... lol

Next year?  We're going somewhere where we can just show up with a cake.  I'm going to leave party planning to the professionals from now on.  :)

Now it's time to get back to work!  I have a commissioned ornament to finish up as well as a few commissioned pendants.

XXOO
Moriah