Celebrating Emme's 7th Birthday!

Photos by Sara Magnolia

I think we can all agree that the past few months have brought on a laundry list of ‘first’s’ for all of us. Adjusting to a new way of life as we steady ourselves in the midst of so much uncertainty is a full time job. But as the days and weeks lead to months, life seems to chug along and birthdays and milestones still need to be celebrated! And here at The Happy Place we don’t miss a chance to celebrate. But how we do that safely and creatively is really the question.

May and June are big months for us because Emme and Sailor celebrate their birthdays. I always take their lead in terms of themes because planning their birthday parties seem to be a yearlong brainstorm for them. So I was surprised when Emme asked to host a drive-thru lemonade stand to raise money for a local charity that was very near and dear to my Father.

Nick and I were so proud of her for focusing on the world outside of the little safe bubble we have tried to create for them. And as I spread the word to our close friends and family, it was all hands on deck. Nick was tasked with the Lemonade stand. And with A LOT of help from our dear friend, Marcy, they erected a giant stand that has now become a part the neighborhood as charity lemonade ‘drive thru’s’ seem to be a new, fun activity  for the kids as we head into the summer months.

I made a last minute call to local cake maven, Elise Garcia, of Elise’s Pieces and she whipped up Emme’s favorite chocolate on chocolate cake that truly melts in your mouth!

She also made the most gorgeous individually wrapped cookies that Emme offered as party favors!

I pulled out some pretty little mason jars from my backstock and asked, Sasha from Social Set Events to help bring the stand to life. 

She has been responsible for some pretty magical front yard drive thru birthday celebrations in our neighborhood. 

Emme also made a special request for lots of balloons and Flourish Tampa really brought it! 

Thanks to our friends and family, Emme’s lemonade stand was a huge success and Nick and I are matching the money she raised to benefit Metropolitan Ministries. 

As I look back on these pictures and how happy Emme was on her special day I can’t help but feel emotional. We can learn so much from our children. How they adapt and how the experience the high’s and low’s that life inevitably brings our way. The past year has certainly brought a lot of that to our family. The beautiful hawk that has been ever present since my father passed away was nestled in the oak overlooking our home and I know my Dad was also looking down with so much love. He was so proud of Emme for taking her birthday celebration as an opportunity to give back, he was so grateful to our village for rising up and supporting her, and he was happy to see that in the midst of all the uncertainty and chaos our world is experiencing...we were together and smiling and finding the happiness in spite of it all.

So what do ya say??? When life gives us lemons, let’s makes some lemonade.

Xx,

Jo