Kelli Trontel of the blog, Kelli & Vanessa has the most perfect backyard for any toddler. It’s where her 2-year-old son Ezra explores all the curiosities there are to living in a woodland neighborhood in Montana. So she decided to create a theme around just that. Friends and family were invited to relax and celebrate his love of discovery with a “Little Explorer” themed outdoor party.

From Kelli: Teepees were put up and blankets were placed out on the grass for our guests to just sit and hang out with their families and eat together. We really wanted this day to be a time to relax and just be present……no games, nothing else planned other than hanging out, enjoying each others company, conversations and watching the birthday boy run around with his little buddies.

Doesn’t that sound like the perfect way to spend an afternoon with friends & family? Love that.

This make your own trail mix bar is the best. So inexpensive and a fun activity for the littles. They had a variety of granola, dried cranberries, Swedish fish, chocolate chips, chocolate rocks, bugles (because they look like teepees of course), M&Ms, yogurt covered raisins, peanuts, and pretzels to choose from.

Kelli had these teepees left over from her baby shower and Ezras 1st birthday, so they brought them out again. It’s the best feeling when you can make decor work for multiple parties, no?

Fruit pizza, folks! Watermelon, bananas, blueberries and coconut shavings- so fun!

The ladies below, who designed and planned this celebration, believe you can have a wonderful party with just a few special details to make a party fun and different, but not overwhelming. They totally achieved that, didn’t they? We’re definitely inspired… and envious of Kelli’s backyard!

Photographer: Kelli Trontel / Event Design & Planning: Carrie Rowe of Cue the Confetti, Kelli Trontel, Darci Greenwood / Cake: Made from scratch by Jessy Hanson of Arrow Leaf Baking