A shit-ton of people didn't show up, and only two of them bothered to call. The smaller party size worked better, yes, but that's not the point. I mean, seriously. The whole reason I don't send out invitations, but call up, is to get RSVPs immediately.

I totally flaked out on doing a lot of the things I'd planned to do (like the eye spy bags), so instead of favors we had them pot their own basil to take home. This was the perfect favor and activity - it was easy, I could throw it together at the last minute (I had Michele pick up the stuff, in fact), and it makes me look like a rocking aunt who totally overachieves. (In some ways, I really do understand why people look at the childcare gig as a competitive sport!)

I made a lemon cake with a lemon-honey frosting, the second cake fell apart so my mother cut it up to make a 5 and we layered it on top like we planned it. (Hey, they do that on Ace of Cakes all the time!) Everybody at the party knew how this had happened, but if more people had shown up they would have been completely taken in. Remember that!

Ana, as per request, got lots and lots of dresses and skirts, so hopefully I'll never hear "Why don't *I* get a dress???" until the cold weather sets in. (Evangeline has all of Ana's hand-me-downs, and I often put her in dresses because, as she's potty training, it's a lot easier. That's why they used to put little boys in dresses too, isn't it?)

Nobody overstayed, the person who has a tiff going on with the other people didn't show up (I like her well enough, but she *is* a lightning rod for all kinds of drama), Ana behaved very nicely even when she got overwhelmed, it was great.

I just wish I'd had the foresight to take a picture of her when we all yelled SURPRISE at her!