Meghan’s Paris-Themed 6th Birthday Party

Meghan’s birthday was over a week ago and I still can’t believe this baby girl is 6.  How did that happen?!

Her birthday party was planned for the day before her birthday, but the poor girl was sick. She tested positive for Enterovirus D68.

This was her for almost a week straight.  Fever, no appetite, no energy.  Lots and lots of sleeping.  Luckily, she didn’t have any of the breathing complications that landed so many kids who got this virus in the hospital.  It was still quite sad to tell her we had to postpone her birthday party.

Despite being a week late, her party was a great success.  This year was my favorite year planning her birthday party because she was 100% involved.  She picked the theme and helped plan the decorations, the games, and the food.  My goal was to keep things simple, yet cute, and I think that happened.

I am a bad photographer when it comes to parties (I’m too busy being the hostess!) so I didn’t get pictures of everything, but I thought I’d share the photos I do have.  The party wasn’t during a meal time so we had some small snacks for food.  Guests chose from grapes and strawberries that were served in small pink cups, croissants from our local bakery, and a selection of cheeses.  
Dessert was chocolate cake and cupcakes with a strawberry buttercream frosting that were covered in mini-chocolate chips.  I used this chocolate cake recipe from Ina Garten. Warning: it’s white flour and full sugar.  A special treat reserved for birthdays.  You can’t go wrong with this cake.  It’s fabulous and totally worth the effort. {I have also made it with xylitol instead of sugar and it does work!} The frosting was this strawberry buttercream made with a reduced strawberry puree.  A little too sweet for me and Tim, but the kids loved it.

For a game the kids played Pin the Butterfly on the Eiffel Tower.  A classic!  I found the print here and had it printed at Staples for $7.00.  

Another activity was an Eiffel tower piñata that I filled mostly with toys.  I don’t have a picture of it, though!  Whoops.  The kids also put on a fashion show for the parents.

This is the table where they chose their accessories.  The fashion show extravaganza was in the yard.  I used plastic table cloths to make a runway. Easy peasy.  This was such a fun activity and took hardly any money or time to do.  Most of the accessories we already had from Meghan’s collection of dress up things. The Paris trunk was a birthday gift from Meghan’s aunt and uncle and was perfect for holding tutus and boas.

This couldn’t have been more perfect for Meghan, my little fashionista.  She loves all things fancy, sparkly, and girly.  Her Paris birthday party was everything she wanted it to be. Just yesterday she asked when she would be able to take a trip to Paris and see the Eiffel tower in person.  Umm…let’s see I’m 36 and that still hasn’t happened for me.  I hope to bring you someday, though, darling daughter! Happy 6th birthday, sweet girl!