After Emma’s 1 year old party, Ryan and I collapsed exhausted into bed and decided Emma wouldn’t get another big birthday party for years and years and years. So over the next year we came up with the idea of mini parties with different groups of people.
There was the At School birthday party… with an ocean theme, favors, snacks and cupcakes because apparently that’s what the parents do at this school (geesh… I thought I just brought in sugar cookies when it was my birthday).

Although it was fun to see Emma fooling around and having fun at her new day care.


And then since we got out early we hit up the pool to spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the weather.

The next night was our first mini-party with my mom at one of my favorite restaurants, Ethiopian Love Restaurant. Emma may LOVE spam and vienna sausages like a true Hawaii kid but she also loves to dive into all kinds of mashed up veggies.


Although with her new present (a toddler purse with a fake phone, fake care keys, etc.) and her insistence to wear a necklace “just like Mommy” I’m having heart attacks of how she somehow skipped 2 and went straight to 13.

And then back to the house for candles in a brownie bite…. cause… low key.

The next morning was mini-party with Ryan’s family. Emma was raring to go.




But was a little partied out hours later… thank you cousin Sophia and Grandpa for entertaining her with the koi pond and leading to a VERY easy nap time.

The last mini-party was that night at my dad’s house. We were going to have a dinner at Buca di Beppo but after Emma pulled out all her most horrible tantrums and acts for father’s day… my horrified dad and step-mom offered up their house instead…. works for me.





Emma had one final celebration the following day before her 2-year-old doctors appointment at her favorite new bake shop.

And with that I took a LONG LONG nap and am back on the NO MORE PARTIES for a very long time.