As the end of the summer has arrived before we were ready, I'm finally starting to recap all of the fun we were able to have...which was a FAR CRY from the summer of last year. We wanted to start it off with a bang. A really big, fun, super-crazy, super-surprising BANG. One that had been in the works for a year. In whispers.
We wanted to surprise Camdyn with a GIANT, fun, Big Red Heartiversary celebration. When we had it in the works, we had NO IDEA how many people would be able to come. Like, NO IDEA.
Slowly, I had started to accumulate some party decor and ideas.
And as the RSVPs came in, our original plans shifted so we could make room for everyone who wanted to make Camdyn's special day even MORE special. We changed location from our own back yard to her grandma and grandpa's house, and asked some of our friends/family to bring dishes to share, potluck-style.
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| { Making cookies on the stealth...we were up until QUITE the wee hours...every.single.night } |
A play date with ulterior motives had to happen the day before, too (thanks for the idea, Lisa!).
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| { Sweet girls } |
And if planning the surprise party itself wasn't enough, we had to have a photo shoot to celebrate the occasion of her heartiversary, of course. So I MAY have ordered 3-foot-wide red heart balloons...that were really tricky to fit in the car. Because there were THREE OF THEM. You know, one for each open-heart surgery, naturally (#whatwasithinking).
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| { Hah, Camdyn looks thrilled } |
And as ridiculous as they may have seemed, they turned out to be pretty darn perfect.
We probably snuck in a little family session, too.
When the big day rolled around, we could barely contain our excitement. She awoke to a bedroom filled with red balloons, red hearts, and a fancy straw at breakfast (which she helped her daddy make) and then I kept her occupied for the afternoon while the boys went to set up the rest of the party "get some tools together" at grandma and grandpa's house (wink, wink). We did some shopping, made a stop for fro-yo, and attended her last dance class of the year.
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| { A new shirt (perfectly her), and pancakes and eggs for breakfast (heart pancakes for the kiddos) } |
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| { Crazy, brave, tiny, silly girl } |
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| { HAH! Unsuspecting surprise party recipient...thought she was going out to dinner with the fam! } |
When we finally arrived at the party destination, she saw lots of cars. Luckily, I had reminded her that it was graduation party and wedding season, so she quickly chalked it up to that (BAM. #nailedit). When her grandma opened the door, she looked through the tiny window between the entry and living room and saw everyone silently looking at her....wearing red. The shy girl came out and told me sweetly to pick her up (several times). Eventually, everyone said "Happy Big Red Heart Day!" (they didn't want to scare the poor girl).
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| { Such a sweet moment } |
Then her daddy joined us and gladly picked her up peeled her off of me.
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| { The look on her face says it all } |
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| { Precious } |
It's safe to say she was totally surprised...in the best way (and maybe a little sweetly overwhelmed for the first ten minutes or so). There were somewhere around 70 or more people that came (I stopped counting RSVPs after that). And we still wished we could have invited more.
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| { Party-goers in red } |
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| { A fun view of everyone waiting in anticipation of the guest of honor } |
Once she finally felt comfortable enough, she visited...or rather, was lovingly embraced by lots of her sweet little friends.
It was the best thing to watch as her proud mommy. And it was so much fun watching her take it all in, with a grateful attitude. Before we knew it, she was off playing and having a blast.
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| { It's safe to say all the boys had a "blast" } |
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| { "And though she be but little, she is fierce." ~ Shakespeare } |
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| { Party shenanigans...and guests } |
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| { Chalk artists } |
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| { More sweet moments and fun } |
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| { So proud of my big girl } |
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| { Red, red everywhere } |
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| { Wagon rides } |
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| { Water wars } |
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| { The water guns were a hit with the boys } |
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| { They did this for hours } |
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| { These two are so goofy together } |
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| { Hula hooping with a red heart cookie on a stick...from off her cake } |
We received the cake through an organization called Icing Smiles and the owner of BC Cakes drove nearly an hour to get it there. Dedication and generosity.
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| { Couldn't have been more perfect } |
It tasted as delicious as it looked for sure. And was an added "surprise" for Camdyn after the party had begun!
Several of our new heart family friends were able to come (and we missed those who couldn't make it!), so we heart mamas required a picture together, of course.
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| { Struggle and strength in these women. It's such a blessing to know them } |
Camdyn and Eli have the same heart condition. These shirts were made just for them by one of the heart mamas (Happy Heart Mail).
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| { They were instant buddies when they met...and are just too cute together! } |
The party was only more magical as the night went on.
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| { Sleepy, but still going } |
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| { Everything is more festive with buntings and string lights } |
And when the party gets late, the pants come off. Apparently.
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| { Still eating cookies and cake } |
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| { Sleepy sweeties and a festive heart } |
The kiddos were practically asleep before they even hit the car. So much fun, so many new memories...almost all of them and more captured by our heart dad friend, Jason (Wedehase Photographer). We will treasure these images always. Thank you so much.
Our hearts are full.
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| { Guests left their finger/thumb prints...but can you tell which one is Camdyn's? #outofthebox as usual } |
And our girl feels special and loved.
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| { Cookie leftovers for breakfast, of course } |
And grateful...
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| { This kid cracks me up and makes me feel warm and fuzzy } |
...even though a stinker ("mom and dad"...she normally calls us "mommy and daddy").
I asked her later if she had tons of fun because it sure looked like it.
Know what she said?
"It was better than Disneyland," with a huge, sweet grin.
Happy mama tears. The happiest.
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