two.

14 October 2014


So I never thought a few years ago, my mister and I would be organising a toddler party, it just goes to show you never know whats around the corner! I'm also in disbelief that our daughter is now two. 
Two years of exhaustion, nappies, tantrums, getting up every 5 seconds, wiping food off the floor and generally being someone's staff. The prime point of our day is when she goes to bed and we can relax. BUT, as soon as we let out a big sigh and collapse on the sofa, we start talking about her, what funny things she did that day, what new words she said, comparing videos of her on our phones or looking at photos of when she was a baby, saying over and over 'ahh she was so small!'. And before we know it, its time to go to bed. I guess at the end of the day, that how all parents feel. It's all really worth it, it really is.

So with all that in mind, we felt it only right that she should have a party to celebrate her second birthday. Although she's still really young, this is the first time of her life when she's been able to communicate verbally and make friends and enjoy other's company. It also happens to mark the anniversary of when we moved to the Isle of Wight from London, and we thought it would be great to get all our new friends together.

I was commissioned to make some invitations like thus...


 We went to our local post box...


and some locals had them hand delivered...


My mister and I tried our best to make some pressies too, I made (or rather 'collated') a mock-up kitchen, I bought all the bits separately as I wanted it to be realistic but that she also has to use her imagination a bit. I made a stove top out of felt which can be put on top of the box...

and it can also be set up for tea (as she is obsessed with pouring and stirring tea for some reason). I found some little enamelled coffee cups and a childs cutlery set (which I made a felt roll to keep them in)



I thought she could do some pretend cooking too, with some animal cutters, fondant icing moulds and textured rolling pins for playing with pastry or plasticine.

 I also made an elephant with a sqeeker in it.


Nao made this little bag, which I nearly fainted when I saw it, so beautiful, and I love all the details.
He hand stitched it in his shed.


We made these things in the few hours when the other was child minding for the day.

I'm not a very sociable person actually, I get a bit anxious when people come to our house, if they will enjoy themselves, and I clean the house thoroughly, so a party with kids plus their parents felt a bit daunting, add to that the fact that I don't generally cook, whoooaa!! Anyways, we got on with it and it all went to plan amazingly!

All the table flowers were from our garden, incredibly there were still a few left after the summer, very handy.


 I made a cake, I made a cake last year too, baking is a very rare occurance.




Whilst all this was going on, the littlun started the party by herself. I don't think she quite understood that all her buddies were coming too.






we had an adult's table, and a kid's table.






I decorated the cake with figs, physalis and pomegranate seeds. The littluns seem to really go for the pomegranate, I suppose they look like sweets. The cake was a vanilla cake with cream cheese icing, like the one from last year...I can only do one type of cake ; )

She was given so many lovely things.


I had a really good time, it was kind of weird to see so many people in our little house, but everyone was fantastic, I was very rosy cheeked by the end of the evening...not sure quite how much I drank!

The next day we tried to recover, and the littlun played with her new toys. 
This chair was given to her by a friend of our's who lives nearby. It used to be his when he was a child, and he painted her name on it! It's so amazing, and she loves rocking on it as fast as she can.
She can relax in front of the fire with her blankets this winter.

The day after that was her actual birthday (yes, I know) she had more pressies to open, from us. By this stage, she thought the party was a permanent fixture, and was the first thing she said when she woke up 'see party? see party?'

she found pressies from her dad in the tent...




 vintage cash till

two brass hooks, one with w 'P' on it, the other was an owl...
and her new bag, made by her dad!

and pressies from me in the living room...







10 out of 10 for the present receiving face! she said ' Elephant!! mummy make it!...ahhhh  sniff sniff...

a funny robotic panda I found second hand on ebay...


 lots of books, too...


 and her new kitchen...






I forgot that we actually have a (really crap) Halogen hob, so it doesn't look like this, so I'm not sure she understood the concept? It's maybe more similar to our camping set up!




From her Granny and Granddad in Japan, she received lots of goodies, including these amazing vintage cotton fish windsocks, and a Japanese silk jacket (which I was trying to model here)


She had pancakes at he local cafe and then we went to a Farm Park with her little cousin, aunty, uncle and granny.





she loved watching Mum get covered in goat gob.


we saw lots of animals and played in the play barn, rolled about in straw, and went on a tractor ride...it was really good, such a well organised Farm for the littlies!







So, I don't think we will manage a party every year, but it was such amazing time, nothing beats seeing your kids with happy excited faces eh? Now, I need at least three years to recover ; )

43 comments

  1. Wow what an incredible birthday! Pretty sure you guys are in the winning for a parent of the century award there! Her presents are just so creative and thoughtful. I was wanting to get/ make Ayana (she turns two in Feb) a little kitchen too. She's absolutely obsessed with cooking. Anyway nice jib on surviving TWO years! You got the parenting description bang on at the beginning of this post :). x

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  2. Wondrous, crazy creative, magical, and her expression also - what joy. Love your blog.

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  3. What a beautiful and fun celebration! Happy birthday little Pehr!

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  4. This post is like a page-turner all the while I grin ear to ear!! I can feel the joy and the love. Many blessings to Pehr on her second birthday.

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  5. Wow! Thank you for sharing! I thought Pehr's face looking up at the bubbles was priceless, until I saw her hugging her elephant, I melted. You are such generous parents and while Pehr might not remember everything, this blog will keep the memories of how much fun she had!

    Rowena

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  6. what a sweet post! tho not too surprising, with a japanese dad and english mum that little pehr is in love with the rituals of tea!

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  7. Happy Birthday, sweet Pehr! Many, many more to come - such fun for all of you!!

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  8. The picture with the elephant is priceless! And your house looked just stunning all set up and ready for a party.

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  9. what a beautiful birthday treat! she's a very lucky little girl. my one is approaching two, and I too am in utter disbelief! it's exhaust in but they are so very worth it :-) x

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  10. Happy birthday! It looks like it was a corker of a day. Such lovely presents too. I've got a (very) littlun, and can't wait to make her xmas and birthday pressies. That elephant is spectacular!

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  11. You summed up parenthood so perfectly at the beginning there. And I teared up upon your description of the elephant opening! I am a little anxious just thinking about future birthday parties (our girl is not yet one) but am so relieved to see one that's not all cartoon characters and such. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. Happy bday to her! What a lovely celebration you had!

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  13. Happy Birthday Pehr! Such a beautiful photos of a beautiful little girl. I want all the presents and I'm 34!

    The photo of her hugging the elephant. Melt. So precious. Xx

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  14. All SO beautiful, I grinned from ear to ear while reading and looking and absorbing.
    You're totally going to do it again next year :-)
    I can't wait!
    Happy birthday Pehr!!

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  15. Happy birthday Pehr.......what special presents you have there, made with love! (There will be future parties I'm sure!) :) xxx

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  16. My little girl caught me reading this and then we had to go through every single photo while she said "look! Little girl have party. Look! Little girl has a tent." : )
    It looks like you all had a lovely time and made some great memories.

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  17. Thank you for sharing what looks like a lovely few days. Pehr is such a lovely little girl and I really admire all your handmade presents - I LOVE the little kitchen and love how there's no need to get plastic toys involved!

    And your home! I think it's time I redecorated...

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  18. She looks so happy in every photo - so do you! Love your present decisions too, very inventive.

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  19. She's such a dapper little person, it's lovely to watch.
    Wonderful glimpses of family life..
    Happy birthday Pehr!

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  20. I am in awe of yours and your husband's creativity and the way you have to make anything look so pretty! The party invites are amazing, the beautifully wrapped presents and wow the presents themselves, the little flags on the cake, all those little touches that make life for you and your little girl so unique and special. And that gorgeous smile on Pehr's face, she is just the cutest. Looks like she had the most amazing time and you are an amazing mum! Happy birthday Pehr!

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  21. Happy birthday to little Pehr!
    The gifts you made and found are amazing and so creative, precious times!

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  22. The photo of Pehr and her toy elephant is just beautiful. Made me feel so nostalgic for the days when my two grown boys were that small.

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  23. Please Please do a party for 3. I have so much fun attending her party online too.

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  24. So lovely, what a great post. I love your new dress too! Happy Birthday Pehr!

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  25. Beautiful birthday!!! Yours blog is always fantastic...

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  26. Reading through feels like joining in on the party and birthday goodness! So much happiness in your photos. Thanks for sharing – you are a true inspiration Artemis!

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  27. Lovely post and presents. Do you mind me asking about the box you used for Pehr's kitchen? Did you make it yourselves?

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  28. Yes , that face when she saw the elephant pays off! Do you know that when I need to see something nice and cheerful coming to your blog is the first thing that comes to my mind? And i love the new design!

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  29. Her face! That bag. Gah! Hand sewn by her dad. Yeah, how many children can share that. Your hand made gifts. Priceless and so gorgeous. Loved every single element you shared here. Beautiful. Happy Birthday Pehr! xo

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  30. Pehr's kitchen is fabulous! Love it. All those handmade presents are beautiful! What a lucky little girl ;)

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  31. Wonderful post - she is simply adorable and I really admire your approach to things. How refreshing not to see plastic fantastic stuff everywhere and the dreaded peppa pig type characters all over everything. The handmade bag and elephant are so so lovely, and Pehr's little face is priceless. Thank you for sharing with us x

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  32. Loved everything about what you did for Pehr's 2nd birthday. Just perfect. Lovely.

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  33. Anonymous16.10.14

    You, all three, are just precious. I ooohhhed and aaaaahhhed out loud seeing the purse, kitchen set and elephant, made with such love. Such talent between you, I can't wait to see what artistic directions Pehr will take. Thank you so much for sharing her birthday party. Happy Birthday Pehr!

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  34. Joyeux anniversaire Pehr ! Tes cadeaux sont magnifiques !
    J'adore votre blog. Bonne continuation.
    Marielle

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  35. What a wonderful birthday and party for Pehr! I always think she's the luckiest little girl in the world when I read your blog posts, Artemis :) Her presents are wonderful and creative (that photo with the elephant! I die), that cake decorated with physalis is completely stunning and she looks so very happy. Happy birthday to Pehr :)

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  36. What a wonderful party!! You should be giving parties as clever and talented as you are! I love everything and what a special gift to a daughter - a bag made by her daddy!! Thanks for sharing and making us part of the party!!

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  37. I don't usually comment but this post is so sweet and the handmade kitchen is genius! What a lucky little girl to have such a talented mummy and daddy, her face is a picture. Your blog certainly inspires.

    Congrats.

    Cicely

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  38. Two is a wonderful age, well a bit more tantrumy but they start 'getting' concepts etc! My favourite part of your post was that your sweet littleun just KNEW that you'd made the elephant! Honestly melted my heart a tiny bit!!! ��

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  39. AAAaaaaaaaHHHHhhh, please will you be my parents!

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  40. Adorable....and the party looks like yourself and Nao are party planning pros!

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  41. Lovely jubly kiddy party times! Wondering where you purchased the backpack you're wearing at the farm...looking for something just like it for an Xmas pressie. Thank you!

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