prettiest lil picnic you ever did see

on saturday we had a june picnic to celebrate our coming baby!

the weather was perfect, the lavender lemonade was flowing, the cupcakes were scrumptious and everyone was in a whirlwind of baby delight.

we had the baby party at Jack Russell Brewery because they have nice grassy picnic grounds, great fresh brewed beer, corn-hole toss games, plenty of room, and a brand new winery/meadery... plus they're kid friendly during the day!

here's the general scene:

 people brought the yummiest food ever, pesto potato salad, cheese platters with dried apricots, fruits, breads, homemade hummus, pasta salad, artichoke dips, melon slices, organic salsa. i had a hard time leaving the food table ;)

monique and chelsea brought an organic apple pie that just killed me.

addie planned the party for me and made the most adorable invitations.

rebecca, doniella, and carolann also showed up early to help set up.

and of course, em made the famous fresh strawberry cupcakes! people were saying they were the best cupcakes they'd ever tasted and i had to agree.

mary's husband ben of mama earth farm donated most of the flowers from his farmer's market booth that morning  :)

so many adorable guests showed up, young and old.

becca with milo, and chelsea:

ruebi and alissa came all the way from santa cruz! goddesses of the anthro department :) i LOVED having them here for the celebration.

doniella and carolann:

me and mama:

monique and bridget, always in the most delicious frocks!

here are some of our most adorable special guests: 

zillion

alowyn

sylvan (playing pregnant!)

olive

yarrow:

oliver:

darin gets in a little practice with tiny lincoln:

my friend sara is training to be a doula. she just attended her first birth, so we all gathered around to hear the beautiful story...

and chelsea got hold of the biggest strawberry in the world:

which we fed to zill...

 later, addie led us in a couple of the classic baby shower games....she couldn't resist!

but only the cute ones....we had everyone guess my belly circumference with a piece of yarn.

most people went waaaaaayyyy over! i must look enormous :)

rebecca won with just a 1/2 inch difference from my real measurement.

even the boys got in on it... 

 

and addie's personal favorite...the "bubble gum baby" game. pretty cute little papooses, don't ya think?

the red one in the bottom left corner was our favorite, but it was addie's! so 2nd place went to the little rounded green bundle, which was alisa's.

meanwhile some of the girls crafted me homemade prayer flags to take to the hospital with me. after i get them all strung up, i'll show the results. they are really lovely and special to me and i think they will bring me great energy and comfort during my childbirth experience.

monique hard at work in her darling hat:

needless to say, we got a bunch of amazing gifts...both of the organic, thrifted, handmade, and just purely thoughtful variety :)

we stayed past closing time. we just had way too much fun. i felt like a blessed queen, surrounded by the joy and beauty of these amazing spirits i call my friends, who joined me from near and far.

 the boys were happy too, with rousing games of corn-hole along with plenty of beer and good company.

and this is about how i felt by the time i got home that evening:

 after all the emotions and energy of our epic dust night and then this sweet gathering, i just could not feel more incredibly lucky and happy to live in such a great little tribe, and to (so soon!) be raising up a daughter amidst these crazy, creative, kind and wondrous souls!

thanks for following along, sweet bloggy friends.