Clara’s second birthday was a joyful, colorful celebration filled with family, friends, plenty of food, sunshine—and worms. Yes, worms: she chose the theme because she loves looking at, drawing, and even dreaming about them. The whole day felt warm and playful, with about 30 guests enjoying 75-degree weather and bright skies.
We used the sunroom, the patio, and the carport so guests could spread out and kids could run around. The sunroom served as our main food and drink area, which kept everything tidy and meant we didn’t have to worry about real bugs getting into the snacks—fake gummy worms only, please.
The decorating was intentionally simple and cheerful: balloons and streamers from Target, a bright tablecloth from HomeGoods, and a collection of worm-inspired dishes. Nothing too elaborate, just a playful, kid-friendly setup that made the sunroom feel festive.
On the table we placed labeled dishes that matched the theme—“worm crudités” (long, skinny carrot, cucumber, and cheese slices), “puffed worms” (white cheddar puffs), “salted worms” (pretzel rods), and “worm dogs” (hot dogs cut and boiled to curl into worm-like shapes). The labels were homemade and printed at home, which added a fun, personalized touch.
Fresh flowers from John made the table look extra sweet—small, thoughtful touches like that go a long way.
The worm dogs were a hit with kids and adults alike; we served more of those than we had attendees. Most of our serving dishes were everyday white pieces from the pantry. The varied shapes worked well with the busy tablecloth because the neutral color kept the display balanced.
We also offered little cups of gummy worms, some hanging over the rim so they looked like they were crawling out—an easy detail that got a lot of laughs.
A small side table held pizza, including a couple of worm-themed pies with peppers, onions, and even one topped with cooked spaghetti to mimic a wriggly look. The more conventional cheese and pepperoni options earned a “dewormed pizza” label for a bit of humor. Napkins with birds on them were a fun nod to the theme—after all, birds eat worms.
Drinks were arranged on another table—glass bottles of soda for adults, Izze, sparkling water, regular water, and apple juice for the kids. We added a playful touch by popping a gummy worm onto each apple in front of the beverage tin. Pink, worm-like straws completed the look.
We taped Clara’s monthly photos from the past year on a blank wall and added a set of fun worm facts on 4×6 cards. It was a simple, personal backdrop that doubled as decor and a conversation piece.
The carport was decked with pink and orange streamers swagged so they looked wiggly and worm-like, plus three paper lanterns and playful swirl decorations. We arranged a small play station with bubbles, a bug-and-worm themed puzzle, crayons, and coloring pages I sketched of happy little worms. The kids loved coloring their own worm creations.
For the little party favors, we used tiny watering cans filled with bubbles, small shovels, and stuffed “worms” (modified inexpensive plush snakes). Lined up on the wall, they made a cheerful display and were a hit to take home.
The dessert highlight was our dirt cupcakes: simple vanilla cupcakes pressed upside down into crushed Oreo cookies with a gummy worm on top. We also offered plain frosted versions with a worm pressed into the icing, but the Oreo “dirt” ones stole the show.
When it was time for Clara’s cupcake, she chose a green gummy worm and sat in her favorite yellow chair while we sang and lit two small pink candles. We blew them out quickly because she’s still cautious around flames after a past experience, but she dove into her cupcake with gusto.
We captured a few candid family photos—nothing perfectly posed, but plenty of genuine smiles and little moments, including Clara feeding gummy worms to me and sharing a playful plate-licking “Lady and the Tramp” moment with her dad.
During present time in the carport, Clara received a wooden snake-turned-worm toy that she adored. It was especially funny because we’d played with a similar craft ourselves in the past, long before Clara discovered her worm obsession.
As the afternoon wound down, Burger the dog surveyed the leftovers with dreamy eyes and even scored a cheese puff under a table. Little moments like that—kids laughing, family catching up, and a tired pup enjoying scraps—made the day feel warm and complete.
We also put together a seven-minute video compilation of Clara’s last year to enjoy later with her—the kind of keepsake that makes these milestones feel even more special. All told, it was a lovely, low-key party full of laughter, creative worm-themed details, and moments I’ll always remember.
The end. Thanks to everyone who helped celebrate Clara—and for joining our little, wonderfully weird worm party in spirit.