Lanterns and Ladybugs Party

On Saturday, March 15th, we threw Ava a Lanterns and Ladybugs party to celebrate her 2nd birthday. It wasn't until I was making up the invitations that I realized the date we had chosen coincided with her finding date.  I was so emotional knowing that while we were celebrating her, two years prior her parents were making the hardest choice of their life.  To selflessly sacrifice their own desires so that she could get the medical help she needed.  Additionally, we had planned to release Chinese lanterns at the end of the party to honor her birth parents so this also took on a new significance.  I was once again reminded of the amazingness of God and His perfect timing.  

I had so much fun coming up with crafts to keep the kiddos busy during the party.  I made paper lanterns ahead of time to decorate the upstairs, and thought the kids might enjoy taking their own lanterns home.

lantern making station

making lanterns

 We also made ladybug magnets from felt ladybugs.  Such an easy and quick craft.

The birthday girl decked out in her lantern top! How perfect that Gymboree's spring line featured lanterns!  Thankful for the heads up from other China mom's that these were in the stores since I rarely go to the mall any more.

While some of the bigger kids played outside after our first craft and dinner, Ava enjoyed playing in her new ball pit that Nana and Papa Dennis sent her while the adults finished up our Asian inspired meal.  

She also showed off her new lifebook to our friends.  It is amazing what she has picked up in the short of amount of time that we have had the book.  She can now tell you where she is from (city, province and country)!

Soon it was time for cake.  But before, our friend's attempted to get a picture of three of us....this sequence is pretty funny!

These people are funny!

like mother, like daughter!

Take 31

This is the best we got....take 32.

Ladybug cake

Singing Happy Birthday

Blowing out candles

Slight smile at her accomplishment of blowing out TWO candles!

Who wants cake when you can have a Popsicle!
Ava LOVES Popsicles!

mmm...yummy!

After cake and DQ ice cream cake, we headed back down to the basement for the final craft.  This ladybugs were a lot of work, but turned out soooo cute!  I have no idea how many hours I spent making them.

Adding dots, eyes and antennas to the ladybugs

finished ladybug;
I thought they would look cute with a small LED votive inside them;
which makes them a ladybug lantern ;)

Parties are fun!

As our party drew to a close, Ava opened her presents. She has figured out present opening pretty well!

Most everyone was able to join at the end to light two lanterns.  We all drove to a nearby softball field to release them.  We had some issues the previous weekend with a lantern getting stuck in a tree near out house, and didn't want a repeat of that performance!  We were only able to get two lit because it was so windy, but the kids loved it!  The lanterns were beautiful and traveled a long distance!

 



And one final God wink on this amazing day, was a bright full moon just like the night we were matched with Ava.  Thank you Lord for orchestrating all these tiny details that point right back to you. We thank you and praise you for Ava's life, and pray for her birth family who has suffered unimaginable loss.  We pray for their comfort.