The greatest cliché of motherhood: You blink, and another year has passed. Adie turns nine today and it's been a wonderful weekend. We've been so blessed to meet the greatest people here in Asheville and last night was a reminder about not only how happy we all are to have settled in this little patch of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but just how lucky we are too. Adie's friends - and thankfully their parents as well - are some of my favorite people on earth. We hosted a small sleepover for her closest girlfriends and it was our first such event. So can a group of girls really laugh non-stop for hours? Yes. Yes, they can.
We called the party "Camp DreamCatcher" - we grilled hamburgers, drank milkshakes from mason jars, hand-crafted dream catchers and friendship bracelets, slept under the twinkle lights of a make-shift tent - and laughed - a lot.
And a simple, but delicious dessert. I was inspired by the banana pudding served here in Asheville at Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack. They create theirs in - what else? A mason jar. I loved the idea of the layering here - I tried a quick chocolate peanut butter mousse that failed miserably and lucky had a back up plan - ice cream.
JARRED PEANUT BUTTER & CHOCOLATE LOVE
Bake these cookies (omit the oatmeal).
Set one cookie out overnight for each jar. When you are ready to assemble, crumble a cook in the bottom of each jar. Layer a thin topping of Nutella on top of the cookies; fill remaining space with vanilla ice cream (or chocolate!) and top with mini chocolate chips. Serve right away. You can freeze them to serve later, but the Nutella freezes into a hard coating.
This morning it was all about the homemade waffles with a plethora of sweet toppings - and more laughter. We are celebrating again this evening - quietly, just the family and Adie's favorites - more of that soon. Hope you had a lovely weekend.
Well, this is just the sweetest thing. Can't wait to throw parties like this for my own little ones...
Posted by: Jade Sheldon | March 2013 at 04:59 PM
This is just so lovely and well executed. Makes me wish I was a kid again and laugh for hours while in a twinkle light blanket fort.
Posted by: Inge | March 2013 at 05:24 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Jan | March 2013 at 02:49 PM
This is the awesomest party theme I've seen in awhile! As a nine yr old who loved girl scout camp in the summers, this would have (still does) blown my mind! The dream hut makes it girly and a little boho too :)
Posted by: Karly K | March 2013 at 10:38 AM
so cool. and really inspiring!
Posted by: michelle | March 2013 at 02:10 PM
Thank you Ladies! Adie is still talking about it ;)
Posted by: jen a | March 2013 at 04:39 PM
wishing i was 9!
Posted by: brenda | March 2013 at 06:16 PM
So so dreamy and way too adorable!!!
Posted by: Patricia | March 2013 at 10:03 PM
AMAZING job!!! Your kids are lucky!
Posted by: chris | May 2013 at 12:09 PM
As a veteran birthday party thrower (is that a word?), I applaud you! Seriously, the details in this one amaze me! I really love the theme. So lovely for the age too.
Posted by: sadaf | May 2013 at 04:13 PM
Thank you all - it was quite a party - the girls are asking when we'll do it again ;)
Posted by: jen a | June 2013 at 09:30 AM
you blow me away jen! this is amazing...truly :) you have inspired me. i have followed you for a bit over and ig and your photography and blog continue to inspire me for some time now. just wanted to come out of 'shy-ville' and say hello, and a thanks! this party blew my socks off and your girls are so blessed to have you to call mama. xoxo
Posted by: shelbi | July 2013 at 05:13 PM