The Pixie turns THREE!

My status update on the Little Pixie's birthday is always this:
"November 3, 2009...The day the world met Darby."

I planned a big "Harvest Party" for the Pixie.  I admittedly go a little overboard on birthday parties.  I like to throw a good party.  Judge if you wish.  Anyhow, I made giant checkerboards out of burlap and used those miniature gourds and pumpkins as the checkers.  I made some rag top quilts and giant pillows and fleece blankets.  It was cute.  It was cold.  We had a couple fire pits, and it was still cold.  I made these chocolate pumpkin cupcakes for Darby.  She saw all the preparations that went into this party, but I don't think she realized it was all for her.  Well, I KNOW she didn't realize it was all for her until we sang Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear DARBY!!
(At this point, Darby was physically taken aback.  She took two or three steps backward and had a look of astonishment turned pure joy on her face!  A look that I caught on camera!  A look that is now ingrained in my memory forever!  All the work was worth it for that one look!  That smile can get me through the messiest of messies in the kitchen-you know, the "woops-i-totally-didn't-mean-to-dump-the-ENTIRE-box-of-cheerios-out" mess?  Yep!  The joy on her face even takes away THAT)
Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

It was a great birthday!
...a great party! 
...for a great little three-year-old!