Annaliese's Easter themed - 2nd Birthday Party (March 31, 2012)

We decided to have an Easter themed birthday for Annaliese since her birthday fell close to Easter this year (Palm Sunday weekend).  We borrowed Easter decorations from many family members for the birthday party along with using lambs, chicks, ducks, and bunnies.  We decorated each room of the front of the house with Easter stuff and even had Easter themed food.  The children all came dressed in their "Easter Best" to get their picture taken with our Easter Bunny and to take part in the Easter Egg Hunt.  We decorated the backyard as well.  We had children 3 and under hunt in the backyard and children older than 3 hunt in the front and side yard.  Since many of Annaliese's friends were too scared to see the real Easter Bunny we decided to stage a large stuffed bunny in a rocking chair for the children to pose with.  They were able to take a copy of their picture with the Easter Bunny home with them.  It was a big hit and the pictures turned out great.  The staged our dining room table to look like Mr. McGregor's Garden (from Beatrix Potter) and even had food named for various Easter ideas.  We had bunny sandwiches, veggies with an Easter bonnet spread, deviled eggs, and many other goodies.  Aunt Erlinda made over 100 cupcakes of different Easter animals along with a fabulous Cabbage Cake for Annaliese.  The weather turned out well even though it sprinkled for a bit in the morning.  We had the birthday at 11:30 so that all of the 2 year olds would be in pleasant moods before nap time started rolling around.  Annaliese was rather quiet most of the party.  She enjoyed playing outside with her friends (although she played mostly by herself) and hunting for eggs.  She also took the opportunity to go around to the kids' tables and take a sip from all of the juice boxes that she could find!  She wasn't very interested in opening her presents but did enjoy blowing her "2" birthday candle out while everyone sang to her.  It was an awesome party and turned out so well thanks to the help of everyone.