Rock 'N' Roll 3rd B-day Party!

We were blessed with gorgeous weather and besides a few kinks (stuff I ordered online not showing up on time) it turned out great.

The invite:


I used a seller on Etsy and I liked the way it turned out, but other items (banner, etc) he was supposed to get me were late so that was a bummer).

Decorations:
I didn't go all out on this. I feel like I have spent too much $ on the last couple of b-day parties so I was trying to scale back on decor and food. :)
I went to goodwill and hit up my parents for old records.




I hung them on tacks to the walls with was a fun effect because they could spin on their own. Album covers were lining walls in different rooms and then I used records as plate chargers on the snack table.

Food:
The party was at 3PM so I didn't feel like we needed to do a lot beyond cake and ice cream. Just some snacks and treats to keep the parents and kiddos happy. I didn't get a picture of the refreshment bar, but there were sodas, organic juice for the toddlers, italian sodas and a few adult beverages for the real rockers ;)

Pop Rocks were a must have!


Rock star rice crispy treats


Snack table (with records underneath)


Cake:
Daddy made these cakes with a pan we found at Joanne's Fabrics. He did such an awesome job and the kids adored them! He even carved out Tate's to be an electric and made Gracie's pink one to look like her real life acoustic.




Activities:
We didn't have games going because most the kids in attendance were 4 and under, but we had our bouncy house set up, the swing set, random cars to drive, toddler play house and a picnic table with a bunch of instruments on it for the kids to try out. So glad the weather cooperated so we didn't have all that noise in the house!






The Band:
This is the part I was most excited about! My husband and two of our friends who actually have musical talent agreed to rock out pre-school style for us! They set up in the back yard and played 5 of our favorite songs, but with a rock n' roll twist. I have never heard ABC's or Happy Birthday sung better! Everyone loved it and the Gracie and Tate were in awe of daddy on the drums!






We also had a temporary tattoo parlor set up in the bathroom for guests to use, but I forgot to take a picture again! Here is a cute little brother rocking his tattoo though ;)

The best part for the kids was getting to try out the drums and microphones themselves! How cool!




Outfits:
Tate wore an AC/DC shirt I got from Old Glory and Gracie wore her Madonna shirt and tutu. I ordered her an awesome Joan Jett shirt, but it was late. I wore my mom's old Bon Jovi shirt and yellow netted gloves, and daddy kept it classic with Pink Floyd. He also had a black SECURITY shirt incase things go out of hand ;)
Friends an family got in on the fun too:





A few of my fav pics of the day:



I had to throw this one in so you can see Grace's super cute guitar hairclips! Got them on clearance at gymboree!



Last but not least, the swag for the kids to take home:
Blow up guitars, rock star sunglasses and their own microphone. I've heard one little boy has been using all 3 to make bath time more entertaining.

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was a fun and busy time and now we are full speed ahead planning the twins' 3rd birthday and my Seattle Families of Multiples Sale. I wanted to pause a minute to get it all down before I forgot!

Friday we took the kids to see the big bunny. Gracie has been wary of him since we saw him at the park last weekend. She was totally unprepared and it messed her up, but we talked it up as much as we could and she said she wanted to go. So we got all dolled up in our Easter fineries (obviously you dress up for holiday royalty.)

We got to the mall and as soon as we were in his court, she FREAKED out. It wasn't like a bratty tantrum, it was a terrified, shaking, scale up to daddy's arm kind of episode. We told her she didn't have to talk to him, but her brothers still wanted to. Thankfully the line was short and passers-by gave us sympathetic smiles while she screamed like a banshee. I hoped we could plop them all in EB's lap and we'd have a shot. Sadly, Gracie didn't budge and then Benny clawed up my side until I gave him to daddy as well. That leaves one sweet boy to make the trip worth while.

Tate had been carrying around this blue egg for a week and told us he wanted to bring it for the Easter Bunny. When the time came he walked right up and gave him a hug. Even with his siblings in hysterics, he wasn't deterred. He climbed up for a picture, all smiles, and then with another sweet hug gave away his prize egg! We were so touched at his sweet heart! Now we have this picture as a reminder:


We have praised him a million times for his kindness and bravery, but the down side of his gift is that he keeps waiting for it to come back. Somehow he thought the EB was returning it to OUR garden Easter morning?? We told him that EB loved the egg and left Tate all these toy eggs and a presents as a thank you, but he still wants his egg back.

I have been to 4 grocery stores hunting for this blue m&m egg. *sigh*
He is still checking outside for it every morning. I feel so bad!

Moving on.

Sunday we woke to a bunny-laid trail of plastic eggs all over the house. The kids were excited and took to the hunt right away.





Benny was thrilled with his doggy pull toy.


After jelly beans waffles for breakfast, we got dressed up for church! As any MoM can tell you this is the best/worst part. You have visions of how sweet and beautiful your family photos will look in an album someday and then there is reality. I think I took literally over 100 pictures that morning trying to get a precious few frame-worthy.



Sean had to drag us all out of the door in time for church.

After church was an egg hunt in the Seattle rain and then a low key dinner with friends. All in all it was a great holiday and I was reminded of our incredible blessings. Especially after watching this at church about the Spilling Hope campaign.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Inmates

Gracie and Tate's room is becoming much more prison than toddler haven these days.

When we first switched to toddler beds we quickly realized we would have to remove anything remotely entertaining or they would be up all night. As time wore on, we also removed things not intended to be entertaining, but were. Picture frames, stuffed animals, shoes, baby wipes, laundry hampers, hangers, bags of all kinds. Then escape plans were hatched and we had to start locking their cell room each night. You get the idea. When they are in a really wild mood, we have even taken away their beloved pillows and blankets in hopes that they will see we are serious about this bed time business and lie down (then of course we give their blankies back if they promise to stay quiet). A few weeks ago, we were so frustrated we even stripped their sheets and they were sitting on those plastic mattress covers with literally nothing to play with. That's when I first felt like they were our little inmates being stripped of their beds and worldly comforts. But as I imagine might be the case in prison, if you're cell mate is fun, you will find something to do.

Last night they learned a new feature of the room to be exploited. Their light switch. A non-issue due to the height requirement, has now come into play since Gracie has grown an inch. (I knew we shouldn't have kept giving her milk and veggies). So last night was a battle of who will have the last word: light on, toddlers laugh and play, enter mom and/or dad, light off, lecture. Repeat.

Fortunately, I am a crafty and resourceful warden. After about 10 or so cycles I remember a fellow MoM saying she had to remove her twins' light bulbs to get them to leave it alone and sleep. Victory! Daddy and I went into their room smugly and he removed them. Gracie actually grinned, like she was tickled we figured out a way to match her. She never even tried the switch again. Just sat there and they sang a few songs (prison blues?) until they gave into sleep.

Just another reminder that in raising children we can't get comfortable for a second. That's when they'll use a plastic spoon to tunnel out into the neighborhood at night. ;)

Banana and PB Pancakes

Making dinner is more often a family event these days, as G and T want to make a mess help with everything.

Here's how we made banana and peanut butter pancakes last night.

You start with an excellent pancake chef, we are lucky enough to have one on staff


Then you teach a toddler how to dice up bananas with a butter knife. (You better believe I was hyper ventilating the whole time)




If you have another toddler on hand you can have her spread peanut butter all over the pancakes with a baby spoon



Finally, we put it all together and Benny sprinkled 3 chocolate chips on each pancake for a treat. I literally couldn't take a picture fast enough before they were gone.



Enjoy!

Acoustic Set

Party Planning

G and T turn 3 in 4 weeks so we were talking about their birthday in the bath last night.

Me: It's almost your birthday!
G: Yay I want to go to it!
T: Yam! (means yeah)
Me: We're gonna have a rock n roll party and it will be so much fun!
G and T: *eyes wide*
T: I want a blue party!
G : Tate wants a blue party and I have a pink girl party!
Me: We can have cake and ice cream too!
G: I will eat it ALLL GONE!
Me: I'm sure you will
T: I want BLUE cake!
Me: and there will be some presents, too. Are there any presents you want for your birthday?
G: Wow! A present for tater and a present for gracie and a present for benny!
Me: Well Benny won't get a present until his birthday... but what KIND of present? Like toys or books?
T: toys!
G: I like books!
T: I want BLUE books!
G: Yeah blue books for Tate and benny and I have pink girl books.
Me: *sigh* ok mommy will just pick something out.

Family Garden

We have begun the process of putting in a raised bed garden to grow our on veggies. All in an effort to stick with this whole/natural as possible food plan. We went to the nursery today and the kids picked out rainbow carrots (they grow in surprise colors!), pumpkin seeds, lettuce, green and red tomatoes. We are starting these indoors in these cute little kits. Sean is out working hard in the rain as I write. He got a good hour of sunshine, but needs to just get it done. The kids are actually napping so we couldn't waste the chance!

Here are a couple pics of Gracie helping bring in the new soil. More to come!