When Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out to Socialize

"Wait, she's how old?" 

"Four? She wanted a Haunted Mansion birthday?"

I can't tell you how many times I had this exchange or some variation of it with people over the past month. It's been funny explaining my daughter's quirky taste in birthday party theme. 

Today was the day! A few adjustments and "minimizing" decor and we were ready to party. I decided it would be easiest to have the party at a park where the kids could run around, get wet and stay busy. The outdoors in August didn't lend itself to well to the Mansion, but it worked today. God liked Mae's party idea and made the skies overcast for the most part at Rio de Los Angeles park. We were joined by good friends from church & Mae was a happy haunter. 

Mae shows off her witch fingers while we put together goodie bags.

Here she waits for me to have my eyebrows waxed at Benefit. She loved it.
They even gave her a perfume sample as a birthday gift.

Here she acts melancholy to match her theme.

I am in love with this dress. It's from the The Webster collection at Target.
It was exactly what I was looking for- a little victorian and a little Haunted Mansion.
She borrowed my skeleton lady necklace that my friend Courtney made.

Mae & Josiah party in the water features. 

Queen of the Playground.

Little details: the napkins look like the wallpaper of the foyer in the Haunted Mansion, little "potion jars",
frayed cheesecloth. 

These fake grass planters were on sale at Michael's for $1.99.
They were the right color and were reminiscent of the gardens & burial grounds outside the HM.

My cousin gave me this suitcase as a wedding gift. It usually holds keepsakes,  but it worked perfectly holding
goody bags this afternoon. In the story of the Haunted Mansion ride, you are led through by a "guide crow". So of course we had to have our own! 

Grandma Turnbull's china & our own candelabra. Sadly this one does not float down hallways.

Let me give a shout out to Anna who came early, helped set up , had some really cute ideas
for making the table look great & even helped tear down! She was awesome!

We bought these little yummies at Whole Foods. It was the same price as a Von's cake
and was much better for us. 

Violet, Mae & Clementine.
Modern gals with old timey names.

It was pretty tasty.

 Are you all ready for some of the cutest pictures I've ever seen in my whole life?

Seriously.

These three need to be in GAP Kids ads. 

There is something perfect about this set of photos. 

Enjoy.

How about those handsome dudes? 

Three big brothers all about the same age!

Manly men and Violet's side eye.

Checking out Mae's stamp set.

Here's a view of the whole table. 

There you have it. Mae's 4th birthday party. We're on our way to The American Girl store at the Grove in a bit to get her Zooey doll a birthday outfit (it's a tradition). I hope you enjoyed our creepy little water park party. I know I have a grim grinning girl on my hands. 

Happy Birthday Mae-Mae!