Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Over two weeks ago, Harlow had her 3rd birthday party. I just got around to writing about it now, because this time of year is CRAZY. Not only do we have the holidays, we have ALL THE BIRTHDAYS. And the first draft of my book was due the week after Harlow’s big day. (I turned it in on time! Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!)

Mazzy’s birthday party is this weekend so I needed to get Harlow’s post up or else I was really going into run into a birthday backlog. Hashtag “birthday blog problems”.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow chose an Inside Out theme (specifically Joy) except there was one little glitch. She was having a joint party with her friend Giles (or more accurately, my friend’s son Giles) who is really more into Minions.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

When Giles’ mom Emily and I first started discussing the party, it seemed like a perfect match.

1. Harlow and Giles both don’t have many friends on their own but together we could put together a respectable gathering.

2. Joy and Minions are both yellow and blue creating a consistent color theme.

3. Emily and I have a joint friend named Pam whose husband Alex just opened a communal work/event space called Interface and volunteered to let us use the space for the party. Thanks, Alex!

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Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Then I tried to commission a Minion/Joy cake (both kids HAD TO HAVE the actual characters on the cake) and this proved to be a small fortune. Then Seri (aka Little Miss Party) advised me to forget the edible characters and buy the miniature figurines. Which were still a small fortune because they were sold out everywhere… except from an Amazon seller who is probably related to the guy who sold me the ridiculously expensive Disgust costume Mazzy wore for Halloween.

In the end, the cake came out fantastic. Here is it with the Inside Out characters— notice the fondant “memory balls” around the edge.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

And here it is once Emily arrived with Giles’ Minion addition.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

I think it all goes together perfectly.

Interface is really meant for adults but turned out to be an awesome place for a birthday party. Lots of seating that could be arranged in any which way, a speaker system, a bar (cocktails!), plenty of room for dancing and enough space to spread out the grown-ups from the kids.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

For toddler entertainment, we had a disco theme with lots of music, freeze dance, limbo and rockstar accessories.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

The only issue was Harlow.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow fell asleep on the way over and as always, was extra cranky when we woke her up from nap. She was mad we couldn’t eat the cake right away, she suddenly hated pizza and she had no interest in doing anything but being held.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Typically, Harlow takes at least an hour to warm up to new places and for some reason, I didn’t think that would be a factor at her own party. I was wrong.

This pic sums up her mood nicely.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

At least Mazzy was having fun.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow finally got it together and started having a good time about a half hour in, but then Grammy arrived and it all fell to pieces again.

Harlow adores being held by my mother, so as soon as she walked in the door, Harlow went into full-on victim mode so Grammy could play savior. This is their favorite “game.” My mom ended up holding and soothing her for the next hour, even leaving the room a few times to do the job.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

This got me down too because Harlow was so excited for her party in the days leading up to the big event and now wasn’t participating. As a mom, we have such high expectations for our kid’s enjoyment level at their own party, you know? Also, I knew Harlow didn’t understand her party was a limited engagement. When those two hours were up, we were packing it up and going home. The party was not going to wait for Harlow to warm up to it.

By the time she got back into the swing of things, her birthday party was more than halfway over.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

The last 45 minutes were really fun though. Harlow relaxed and got into the bubble wrap boogie.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

She was also very appreciative that I let her skip the pizza and feast on grapes and crackers instead.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

And she loved the cake.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

After cake, she put on all the disco accessories (purchased because Harlow loves accessories!) and rocked out with her co-birthday buddy Giles.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

And she danced on a leather couch which she called her “stage”.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

She also planted a big one on her boyfriend Luke’s cheek.

Harlow has an Okay Time at her 3rd Birthday Party

But probably had the most fun when we opened gifts back at home.

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Big thanks to Interface and Little Miss Party for helping me throw this party together!