Sesame Street Party!

Had a great time Sunday celebrating Benny's b-day with a Sesame themed bash. Even though I was scrambling at the last minute to get things ready, it all came together and the sun came out. Hooray!

I didn't get great pics because I didn't do it myself. (Not that mine are great, just that my sister isn't familiar with my camera and missed some things I would have liked pics of).

First, the invite:


Daddy's Elmo cake! Also, you can see the signs for the homemade ice cream flavors he created. Grouchkateer junior Mint Mash and Cookie Monster and Cream ;)



Some pics of the food:

C if for cookie!

We also had a jar of oreos for people to guess how many were inside. My friend's 5 year old son won it to take home and he was so excited!

Fruit pops and Elmo's goldfish



Eat your Veggies!


This party is brought to you by the Number 2 and Letter B
(unfortunately some toddler ran off with my B cookie cutter, so we only got 2 shaped cheese)
Rosita's chips and salsa


A few decorations:
Daddy used window crayons to draw Oscar and Elmo to greet guests

Then we added some monster and bird feet and Sesame street signs (they say Benny's Street)




We are lucky that our friends and family get in on the fun and show up in themed shirts!




Activities:

The usual silliness ensued with a yard full of toddler toys and bounce house. The kids are so young we didn't plan any real games. But we did hide Ernie's Rubber Duckies all over the yard. We told each child (and parents) to find one. When they did, they got to redeem a favor box and sesame street book. It was a fun way to pass out favors and the kids loved hunting all over for them!






We had a coloring station set up in the house where kids could color sesame street pages and these mats. It was a good alternative if kids felt overwhelmed outside.



Thanks for stopping by and Happy Birthday Big boy!

About a Boy

Happy Birthday to my sweet Benny bear! You are two today!
This morning when you woke up, you called for daddy as usual. When I came into your room you glared at me "NO mama, DADDY do it!" Again, per usual.

I happily ignored you and kissed your head. I sang happy birthday as we picked out some clothes to wear. We could hear your brother and sister making noise in their room so we went to get them. You are liking to do more and more on your own and opening the door to greet them in the morning is one of them. You say "Goo Morneeeen!" and hold 3 binkies in your hand. It's your birthday so I didn't snatch them away like I usually do. ;) I reminded everyone it was your special day and I was so happy when G and T started singing Happy birthday to you on their own. Even though Tate insists today is actually his (imaginary) doggy's birthday, I'm glad he gave you some special attention.

We brought cookies to the sitter's house for your special snack and I wished daddy and I didn't have to work on birthdays. I know you're happy with your little friends, but still.

When we get home in the afternoon daddy makes smoothies and you walk around saying "Happy boy! big boy!" We sing again.

We went to frozen yogurt after dinner and a nice walk. At bedtime, daddy and I thanked God for you when we all prayed together on the floor in your room. We sing the "night, night Benny" song that I made up when you were just weeks old. Even though you are a big boy now, we still feel like you are the baby of our family. Maybe you always will be.

Some more things about you:

Fav color: green or yellow
Fav food: waffles
Fav toy: any kind of ball or recently, babies you can cuddle and put in a stroller
Fav show: Sesame Street!
Fav sayings: "Don't want to!" "walk walk walk" "Are you?" (where are you?), "You doing?" (what are you doing), "my daddy!"
Fav person: Daddy or your brother
Blankie: blue with elephants
Song: Justin Bieber, "Baby song"

You are generous with hugs and kisses, have an easy smile, and adore anything your brother is doing. You also love, LOVE your big cousin Caleb. You like to sit on the potty lately and pretend to go. Then you pretend to pour it into the toilet and flush. Pretty funny. You've started singing your own songs like your sister and playing her guitar (when she lets you). We love watching you become more and more of yourself every day.

Thank for surprising us 2 years ago and joining our family. We couldn't imagine life without you!

xoxo
Mama

Can You Tell Me How to Get...

some sleep to Sesame Street!

Now that the madness of July is behind us, I am pulling together Benny's Birthday party that is (gulp!) this weekend.

The kids' shirts arrived yesterday from my friend Sara at Peanut and Pumpkin designs, I LOVE them!


Characters on the front, name and age on the back! Gracie wanted Grover so Sara was so sweet to put a girly fabric on the back and add little buttons to the sleeves to jazz it up a bit. Thanks again, Sara!

Wedding Weekend Part II

The kids did great. It was tough with the wedding beginning at 6:30pm- the witching hour and the time we start bedtime around here.

I can't wait for the professional pictures, but here are a few I got.

The Bride to be (my mom)

Grace (a breadstick) and me

Tate spent a lot of time watching that cake so he could pounce the second it was cut

Daddy and Benny


Family shot

They were such troopers for the endless family photos and being herded around like sheep.
When it came time for the big moment, Benny wasn't having it. I had to run him up the aisle to meet daddy. He was just standing there staring at the audience. Gracie and Isabelle did great. I didn't get to watch her, but I'm told she threw petals with a vengeance. Tate was the show stopper carrying his "here comes the bride" sign. We told him to carry it high so he wouldn't step on it and he brought it right under his eyes for the whole thing. Adorable (though I'm a little biased).

They spent the rest of the evening running around with their cousins, dancing, and telling people they should go to bed because it's dark out. Great memories made.

Gracie's First Pedicure

After the rehearsal dinner all the girls in the family went to get pedicures for the wedding. Super fun for the little girls and a first for my 13 year old niece as well.

Sean dropped us off really quick and I didn't grab anything a mother usually does (extra clothes, diapers, etc.)
Gracie has been potty trained for awhile, but I guess I should know better by now.

Started out great

She picked blue for her color and I said ok because she was wearing closed toes shoes to the wedding ;)

Not pictured is 2 seconds later when she turned to me and said "Oh I'm peeing!"
All over the leather couch in the salon. Big puddle.
*Crap!*
I scooped her up and looked to see if anyone was on to us. One woman saw us and looked at me a little shocked (I'll take that over grossed out). I mumbled something and ran to a station to get paper towels. I wiped up the mess quickly and ran to the bathroom with with Grace and a fake smile plastered on my face so nobody would know what was going on.My mother would be horrified

In the bathroom we just started at each other. G kept waiting for me to change her and I just kept saying I don't know what we should do. Her underwear were soaked and she wouldn't keep them on (not that I blame her), but I wasn't about to let my 3 year old go commando in a nail salon. Germs aside, I don't think any lady wants to look up and see that when she's painting toe nails.
So.
G was wearing some bloomers over her underwear that matched her tutu. I lied told her those were still dry. I stuffed them full of paper towels and created the poor mom's diaper. It was ugly, but it worked. Later when she was sitting on my lap I felt her pee into it. I only got a little wet. *sigh* She just gets too shy to go potty in new places.

Moving on!

She did not want to sit in the special butterfly chair


but that's ok because her cousin did


So she sat on my lap and watched. It ended up being so fun this way! When she got the nerve she would put her feet in the tub with me and seeing that I was fine gave her the courage to get her nails painted too. She even switched from blue to my color :)




She ended up getting a flower "becuth I am a fwower girrrrrl!"

I think all the girls felt pretty that day



(lime green toes are what's pretty to a 13 year old, I guess)


So besides the major hygiene FAIL, it was a successful trip! (and yes, I tipped extra)

Wedding Weekend Part 1

Like a tornado, we were in and out in what seemed like minutes. Weddings can be crazy that way, months of planning and then DONE!

Anyway, overall Grammy's wedding went very well and the kids are still talking about what a good job they did. :)

Here are some pics from the rehearsal

Grammy explaining to the little ones what their jobs are. (The extra girl is my niece)

Grammy and her flower girls




Tate and Benny practice. That sign was so cute.



And some general silliness while we waited for the adults to do their thing...





Next up, Gracie embarrasses mommy in public...

The Kid: A Blogher book review

I reviewed this book for the Blogher book club (by the author of Push) and it was deeply disturbing! Click here for my review!