Our Little Cupcake Turns 2! {Ilah's Birthday Party Recap, Part 2}

Yesterday I began posting details of Ilah's cupcake themed birthday party - if you missed it, just see the post below this one.

Ilah's birthday party started at 2:00 p.m. That gave me the entire morning to get the house party ready and prepare the food that I planned on making. Starting on my "diy" crafty stuff a few days ahead {party hats, Ilah's first name initial wrapped in yarn, prepping the floral arrangements, doing the goody bags, wrapping her gifts, etc.} - and also laying out my serving dishes the night before and putting a post-it note on each tray [labeling which food would go where], meant that I was relaxed and not running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to do last minute things the day-of. I'm telling ya - early prep is key! I breathed easy the morning of Ilah's party since there wasn't anything to really do other than hanging tissue pom-poms, putting tablecloths in place, laying out food, filling drink dispensers and putting final touches in place {while the hubby picked up the cupcake order!!}.

Do you remember these pieces that I purchased over the summer and posted about here....

They were all used to hold the delectable treats on Ilah's special day....

When everyone walked in, they went for a party hat! Us adults were more into them then the kids! Ha!...

Ilah's special birthday hat that I fancied up a bit to stand out from the rest....

There was lots of food, lots of cupcakes, and lots of cookies!!...

Ilah had her own special cupcake set aside {do you see it below, sitting inside of that dome with a ribbon wrapped around it?}....

We had big cupcakes as well as mini's!!

Dessert plates....

We had so many different cupcake flavors! All from my favorite cupcakery!!

More mini cupcakes!!....

Strawberries n' Creme, Birthday Cake, Ultimate Chocolate, Cookies n' Creme, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Black & White. YUMM!! We also had large cupcakes in all the same flavors!! I was in cupcake heaven that day!!

And as if cupcakes weren't enough, I made cupcake cookies!!....

Cupcake anyone?!....

In another area of the kitchen I placed the plates, napkins and utensils....

And MORE food!! Chicken Spring Rolls and Vegetable Simosa's....

And Meatballs and Green Beans for the kiddos....

Ilah greeting her first little guest!....

Here's our friend Michelle with her daughter Kaylee; the party hat fit her so perfectly!!...

Soon after, Ilah's little buddies showed up!! Adorable brothers Rhett and Riley....

And they got right to playing!! No time wasted!!

Ilah had SO MUCH fun playing with them!!

Rhett is such a GREAT big brother!! He naturally assumed the role with Ilah too....

They went up and down the house pushing their strollers and shopping carts. Cutest thing!!....

Those adorable boys belong to these great friends of ours!....

Can't you tell just from that picture how much fun they are!?!?

Dele and I didn't manage to get a picture together with Ilah - or even one with just the two of us. Woops! But here he is chatting it up with our friend Rishi {you saw his wife Michelle & daughter, Kaylee in a photo above}....

After some play time, the little ones sat down to eat....

How adorable that little Riley wore a tie for the special occasion?!?! Ha!....

Pretty big utensil you got there Riley!...

This will always be in my mind Ilah's first date! ; )

And under parental supervision!...and at home! Doesn't get any better than that. Can the one at 18 be under parental supervision and at home too?! ; )

In the next {and last} post...a cupcake craft, the birthday girl blows out her candles, present time, take home gifts and a late game night with friends!