Rachel's Rainbow Second Birthday

idea from here

So a few months ago I was browsing Pinterest (of course!) and saw that a friend of mine was pinning ideas for a rainbow-themed birthday party for her daughter. And suddenly, ideas for Rachel's birthday just started popping up everywhere. (Mostly because I searched "rainbow parties" on Pinterest and got nine million ideas! Ha ha ha!) But Rachel brings so much colour and fun to our life it just seemed like an awesome theme.

Dave, as is the tradition, hung streamers in shades of purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.

 

I replicated the flowers in the lower left of this pin on our piano.

And Dave recreated this pin for a fruit tray. We had it on our counter with extra fruit in my Fiestaware bowls. So pretty and colourful!!!

 

My last Pin-spiration was this, Rainbow Pasta Salad, although I did change a few things. I put in cherry tomatoes, yellow peppers, cucumbers for green, and purple cauliflower. I made a oil/balsamic vinegar and basil dressing to go with it and I loved it! This just might be my new favourite pasta salad. Good thing too, since we have a ton left :)

While Dave and I were getting things done this morning -- making cupcakes and the pasta salad, eating breakfast, doing dishes, etc -- the kids were playing together very nicely upstairs. But then Dave discovered  this:

After adding "clean the upstairs" to our list of things to do, Rachel went down for nap, Dave hung the streamers and Sam and I went to pick up some brightly coloured flowers for the centre of our birthday table. Sam thought this bouquet would work, and so did I.

Then I assembled and iced the cake, after making a bunch of different colours of icing.

Rachel licked the beaters. It's the birthday girl's right to do that, you know :)

Then Dave's family and Tim, Janice, Tessa and Willem came over and we got the party started. First on the list -- presents!!!

 

Rachel got an LLBean bag with her name on it from the Hedricks, a Melissa and Doug sushi set from Auntie Sarah and a Melissa and Doug cookie set from Grandma and Grandpa. Then Daddy (who is patiently waiting until Wednesday to celebrate Father's Day) BBQd burgers.

After supper it was time for birthday cake. Rachel did a great job of blowing out her candle but got fairly close to the flame which was concerning for Mommy!

Let the cupcake eating begin!

 

Rachel's party was very fun and colourful, just like our darling girl! And now I'm going to bed.