Happy 3rd Birthday, Jaeden!

You know how it is when you are a mom.  You want to give your child everything they ask for, you want to make everything special and you want it all to be perfect.  About a month ago, Jaeden and I sat down at the computer and looked through all of the birthday party themes at Party City (even the "boy" themes).  After much consternation and discussion, Jaeden decided she wanted a Barney birthday.  Sounds about right -- she's been fascinated with the purple dinosaur for...  about a year.  I am into making our own invitations (I hate the fill-in-the-blank ones at the store.  They are so much more work than printing them out and mailing them), so I used the image on the Party City website (do not tell any lawyers) and created our own invitations.
Invitations: check.
Cake: not a problem.  Jaeden does not like cake and does not like frosting.  She wants brownies.  Check.  Wait a minute.  How do I decorate brownies to make them "special"?  I can't write on them.  I can't sprinkle jimmies on the top (they won't stick on baked brownies that are dry on the top).  So I am thinking I might sprinkle purple and green sugar crystals on the top before I bake it.  I have no idea how it will turn out.  Then, I fount the Barney Logo (kids marching in line after Barney).  I am going to cut it out, lay it on the cooked brownies, sprinkle powdered sugar on the top, then lift the printout.  Dessert: Check?
The menu: What does Jaeden like to eat?  Noodles.  Plain noodles.  How do I serve plain noodles to our guests?  With chili, of course!  Other guest are bringing caprese salad, serloin medallion sandwiches, and corn bread.  We will have taco dip, chips and dip/salsa, and dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets ("Barney chicken" at our house) for appetizers.  Check!
Tableware: Yesterday I decided I should get going on Jaeden's party. (with 2 days to spare).  We went to Party city to buy the Barney cups Jaeden saw on the website and wanted to have so badly and dessert plates, etc.  I couldn't find them so I asked where they were.  I was told they didn't have them.  I said, "But you have them online."  "Yes," was the response.  I said, "Your store is always so disappointing." I put down my things on the counter and walked out.  I hate that store.  Do not get me going on it...  Anyway, I had already checked Target with no luck so we moved onto Bartz's.  Nope.  Nothing there either.  We called WalMart.  Nope.  DARN IT!  Lessons learned:
1) Party City's website does NOT say "Sold online only."  They want to you go into their store and be disappointed.
2) DO not wait until the last minute to buy party accessories.
3) Do not pick a theme that is (apparently) no longer trendy.
Anyway, after deciding I did not want to pay $25 for expedited shipping on $14 worth of product, we are moving to plan B: make your own decorations.  Here's what we are doing.  Cups: plain green and purple cups will have a 2 "x 4" white label put on them with Barney printed on the side.  The rest of the label is reserved for guests to write their name.  Dessert plates: plain colors.  Jaeden won't care (right?).  Check.
Other decorations: Balloons.  No one has Barney mylar balloons.  I guess plain purple and green balloons it is!  I am also printing a whole bunch of Barney images (thanks to google) to use around the house.

Yikes.  Why do I care so much?  Why is this so difficult??  The answers are summed up in:  Of course I can do that, I'm a MOM!