SIXTH Birthday Party!!!

January birthdays are hard.  We don't have many indoor play spaces in our town, and the indoor-outdoor places we love (like the orchard and the dairy barn) are closed this time of year.  I've toyed with the idea of taking my chances on a party in the park...but we've had to reschedule the girls' party at least twice because of snow, so that seems like I'd really be pressing my luck.

I've been kicking around the idea of a pizza party of some sort, inspired by a Curious George story.  (He's a big source of inspiration for us, no doubt!)  When I landed on one of our favorite restaurants -- one that makes excellent pizza, to boot! -- I fell in love with the idea of a Pizza Chef Party.

Pepperoni, olives, dough and cheese

Come help us celebrate, won't you please?

The girls knew they were having a party on Saturday, the 17th, but they had no idea what or where.  I waited until about an hour before showtime to tell them.  They squealed with excitement!

We all headed out together, and Daddy and the girls dropped me off to get the decorations in place.  We were very thankful that Miss Jenny could join us, too.  She captured tons of great pictures!

It wouldn't be a party without a party banner!

The table was set...aprons, chef's hats, and plenty of wipes!

The girls, checking out their invitation on the door!

Birthday party family picture!

The Birthday Girls!!!

Hugs for Miss Jenny!

When the guests started to arrive, they picked out an apron...

J was the first guest to arrive.  She's such a sweet friend from preschool.

 ...and started decorating their chef's hats.

Working hard!

 Building on the "Italian" theme, the kiddos had mustache straws.  Hee hee!

Guido was in the house!

 After all the aprons were adorned and the hats decorated, it was time for a tour of the pizza kitchen!

All the chefs lined up together!

Checking out the pizza oven!

 And then each kiddo got a turn to put their pizza dough in the flour and run it through the press.

Baby B!

Baby A!

Once the dough was ready, the kiddos put on gloves (which was an activity in itself) and decorated their pizzas!

While the pizzas were cooking, we played a rousing game of Pizza BINGO!

At last, it was time to eat!  I was amazed that most of the kids ate their ENTIRE pizzas!

Baby B with a mouthful!

Finally, the yummiest snickerdoodle pie was served, and we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY, first to Baby A...

...and then to Baby B!

What a fun party!  Full of friends and food...and relatively limited mess!  :) :)

BFFs!

What a perfect way to celebrate SIX for A&B!!!

FIFTH Birthday Party...The Sweetest Confections!

For the past couple of years, I've surprised the girls with the details of their birthday parties.  They've known they would have a party at some point following their birthday, but they didn't know when or where.  This year I asked them if they wanted to be surprised again, and they both emphatically agreed that they did.

As we got closer to their birthday, though, they started to get really curious.  "Is my party today, Mommy?"  "Will you at least tell us the theme?"  [Theme???  I am afraid I may have set the bar already!  Yikes!!!]  I reminded them they told me they wanted to be surprised, and I refused to give them any hints.

On Thursday they returned to preschool for the first time since the holidays, as the prior Tuesday was a Snow Day.  I got away with setting butter out to soften on Wednesday night, telling the girls they would be taking goodies for their birthday snack to school with them.  That was true.  ;)

I had invited all their classmates, as well as a couple of other friends (two sets of twins) who were available on Thursday afternoon at 2:00.  I hadn't told any of the parents that the girls' party was a secret, so I wasn't surprised when the beans got spilled at school.

[Thursday night I emailed the preschool teacher to say I hope the party immediately following school hadn't been too big of a distraction.  I know A&B were raring to go when I got to school.  B saw me pass the door and SCREAMED, "Mommy's here!!!!!"  Oops!]

I loaded up the girls (in the sleeting snow!) and took them to the yogurt shop.  They were tickled to see their daddy waiting for them in the parking lot.  That was a surprise!  We walked in to the party room, and I loved the look on their faces upon seeing the decorations.  I wish I had it on video!

They quickly found their place behind the A&B Sweet Shoppe photo booth.

They checked out all the decorations...

...and of the paint-your-own-frame craft table, they asked, "Is this for US?!!!"

Shortly thereafter, Miss Jennifer came to lend an extra set of hands.  The girls didn't greet her very warmly, unfortunately, but I explained they were still a little shell-shocked.  It didn't take them long to log some hugs from one of their first and sweetest friends, though!

All the kiddos had a great time playing around with the ice cream props...and it was pretty stinkin' cute, to boot!  Here they are with our sweet friends, A&E.

After a little run-around time, it was time for candles and cupcakes, which B had been eagerly anticipating!

It warmed my heart how all the kiddos gathered around A&B while we sung, first to A...

...and then to B...

...and a hearty cha-cha-cha was added to the end of each rendition by their eager friends.

Then it was cupcake time!

Following cupcakes, all the kiddos lined up for yogurt.  Our girls usually get vanilla yogurt with fresh fruit, but I let them pick their own toppings since it was their special day.  Both chose "birthday cake" yogurt, which was fitting, indeed.

I could not get enough of all the littles lined up for toppings!!!

Despite what had to be quite the sugar buzz, all the kiddos were excited to paint their frames.  (I primed the frames in white, which allowed them to use [virtually] no-mess paint pens...score!!!)

The afternoon concluded with a lot more playing...and a lot more pictures, of course...although some had to be bribed to cheese for the camera.  HA!

It was such a great celebration for our sweet A&B!  I just can't believe what BIG KIDS they are...

...our little family is so very blessed!!!

Our Weekend in Pictures -- Some Noteworthy, Some Not

Over the past month, I've found myself not writing as much as I'd like.  Typically I have my "computer / coffee time" right after breakfast.  The girls play [usually pretty well] together, and I sit, perched atop my bar stool, and enjoy the opportunity to warm up to the day.

Many days over the past few weeks, though, we've been up and running.  Either we've had morning swimming lessons...or we've had something to do with the house...or we've been off on an adventure.  It's all been good...but I surely miss my "quiet time" [RELATIVELY speaking] when I don't have it for a few days.  And I really miss my writing therapy, too!

I am trying to keep up with my camera, though.  I continue to try to balance the desire for a photographically good picture with wanting to capture the day-to-day as best I can.  I've definitely gotten better at that balance.  You'll see some "nicer" photos, and some that just had to be taken...no matter the lighting...'cause I had to capture the moment.

Even busy-busy-busy, life is so very sweet!  And even if I don't reflect that in words as often as I'd like these days, I'm thankful I have some pictures to jog my memory.  

Here are some of the highlights from our weekend!

On Friday my Baby B wanted me to take a picture of the "smile" she'd made with her necklace.  Baby A came up behind her for an impromptu hug.  L-O-V-E!!!

Saturday morning we went to a birthday party for one of the girls' sweet little classmates.  I'd climbed to the top of their play structure to try to coax A down the slide, and I snapped this picture of B, swinging below.  [Marcia, do you love the negative space?!!!]

Here's B, showing me some kind of nut (???) she found.  I love those baby hands so, so much!!!

Here are A&B, checking out the birthday girl's chicken coop.  They were talking in baby-speak, "Hey, baby chicks!"  So sweet!

On Sunday morning, Baby A asked for some white paper (NOT cream!), and she drew this house while I was making breakfast.  Perhaps we have an architect in the making???

The girls play "vet" very frequently, but to date they've always had a very humanitarian focus.  Sunday morning they got out both cash registers -- one for each of them -- in their vet's office set-up.  I guess they finally decided to cash in on the deal.  HA!

And Sunday afternoon, Hubby and I embarked on cleaning out the garage.  The girls played SO well while we worked...something I would not have thought possible, even six months ago.  At one point I found some puzzles that were mine as a child.  They were dusty and musty...but perfect for a driveway project.  The girls had so much fun!  And how fun it was for me to see them playing with something I last touched more than 30 years ago!  :)  :)

Pictures.  Some are pretty good.  Some are not.  But I love them all the same!!!

The Evolution of Birthday Parties

I remember the first birthday party the girls were invited to…M&C’s first birthday, when the girls were about 21 months old.

For Hubby and me, it was all hands on deck.

We played with the girls while we were there, and then got them set up for pizza and veggies – the first meal they ever ate picnic-style, sitting on the floor.

Birthday parties were a family affair until the girls were three.  I took them to K&S’s birthday party by myself, and I remember being SO proud of that “mommy milestone”.

Over the past year, I’ve mostly allowed Hubby to bow out of the birthday party activities, but I’ve still been really involved during the course of the party…doing crafts, fixing plates, and keeping my eyes steadily trained on playtime.

Yesterday I experienced my first party where I was purely a bystander. 

We were invited to J’s fifth birthday party yesterday, at a tae kwon do studio.  I had no idea what to expect…I didn’t know if there would be a tae kwon do component, or if they were just renting that as a party space.

As it turns out, the party was all about tae kwon do!  It started with the TKD master (I guess you call him???) introducing himself, and he began to lead the party.  He had all the kids go to the bathroom and wash their hands [we just wet-wiped…hee-hee], and then he passed out pizza on plates.  I sat with the girls and orchestrated the sharing of a bottle of water…but it wasn’t too taxing.  (HA!)

Then all the kids went into the TKD room for almost two hours (save for a cake-and-presents break) of physical activities.

I watched from the waiting room area, but the girls were fully engaged by themselves.  I got to drink a bottle of water – by myself – and eat an entire piece of cake.  And I talked with some of the other parents, in mostly complete sentences.

I have to say, it felt pretty weird!

But it gave me time to step back and think about the evolution of birthday parties over the past three years…and how much my BABIES are growing up!  I have to think about that in small doses...otherwise it feels like a karate chop to the midsection.

One Quick Pic

More to come, but I just had to share one quick picture from the girls' party this morning.  Here are our sweet baby girls, checking out the spoils ahead of their "pajama party" at the bouncy house.

We had a truly fantastic time!  I am so thankful everything went so well...everyone had fun, and ate well, and played well.

I am feeling a wee bit tired, but ultimately so very blessed to have been surrounded by such awesome friends who helped us cap off the girls' fourth birthday celebration.  :)  :)

Sneak Peek!

This mama is having loads o' fun working on the preparations for the girls' party on Saturday.

I just had to share a sneak peek at my "bacon and eggs" candy, in keeping with the "breakfast" theme.

I'm honestly not sure if the girls will understand it, but I think it's so stinkin' cute!  And if nothing else, they'll be tickled at the chance to eat a dab of chocolate and an M&M before lunchtime.

T minus 36 hours and counting!  I'm lovin' it!!!

I Love Surprises!!!

No doubt it started as this mama being afraid the slightest bit of anticipation would disturb the girls’ sleep habits…

Nothing to see here, girls! 

Those suitcases in the hallway???  Oh, just doing a bit of reorganizing. 

The scramble to wash every last stitch of laundry???  Oh, just getting caught up with chores. 

The extra snacks on the counter???  Oh, just cleaning out the pantry.

I have this horrific vision of the girls being too excited about an upcoming trip…a visit to the zoo…friends coming over…such that they wouldn’t eat or sleep (or that they’d ask me 1,759 times, “Is it time yet???”).  I rarely tell them anything until moments before liftoff.

While it wasn’t my original intent, I soon found that the girls L-O-V-E surprises.  And I have grown to really, really love surprising the girls!!!

I believe there’s little that compares to the absolute joy in a little one’s eyes…the squeal of excitement…the breathless anticipation upon learning there’s a surprise in store.  There’s magic in this wonderful age, and the element of surprise is just one way of really capturing it.

The girls’ birthday party is coming up on Saturday…and they don’t know it!!!

Actually, by now, they know they’re having a party, and it’s “in a few days”.

I hope I can keep the rest under tabs until Saturday morning.

I can HARDLY WAIT to wake them up that day with a sly gleam in my eyes.  “Mommy has a surprise for you!!!  Do you want to know what it is???”

They’ve been asking to go to the bounce house for weeks now.  How CrAzY will they go when…bit by bit…I reveal to them that we’re going to the bounce house…for their birthday party…with their friends???!!!

And to top it off, it’s a pajama party…and the girls will be surprised by NEW pajamas!!!

They’re going to flip, I just know…and I can’t wait to see it.

For the First Time

For the first time yesterday, we had a truly relaxing evening at a friend’s house.

Not even a year ago, I remember attending a birthday party for our twin friends M&C.  It was on a Saturday morning, a play date / party at their house.  Of course Hubby went with me.  We stayed pretty close to the girlies while they played.  And then when it was time to eat there was the passing of the baton…you stay with the girls while I fix the plates…you eat while the girls are eating…I’ll eat while you stay with the girls.  Whew.

I remember how proud I was the first time I took the girls to a birthday party by myself, late this past December.  The party was for our twin friends K&S, at their house.  The girls played so well in their playroom.  They followed directions when it was time to decorate cupcakes (!!!).  And they sat relatively tall and straight while they ate their lunch.  I was so proud of them…and of me!  I can’t say it was a “relaxing” time, exactly, but we all had a good time.

Yesterday we went to a family cookout, hosted by our dear friends, the parents of sweet little E&L, whom our girls just adore.  They are moving back to Australia in a couple of weeks.  Not only is Rachel one of my great friends, but our families get along so well…all the girlies, and the hubbies, too.  We are going to miss them terribly!

Our girls fell right into playing when we got to their house, and Hubby fell right into [deep] conversation in the backyard.  At first I was a little apprehensive…how do I fix plates and situate kiddos without the help of the hubs?  [His deep conversation apparently resulted in selective hearing and seeing…he seemed oblivious to my requests for backup.]  Taking into account how well the girlies were playing…and that two other families of friends were right there…I decided to make a go of it myself. 

I asked one of my girlfriends if she’d keep an eye on the girls, just to make sure no one made a beeline for the front door.  I fixed our plate – even taking time to assemble a traditional Aussie burger – and, to my delight, the girls were still playing right where I’d left them.  We all ate with minimal mess, and the girls continued to enjoy themselves.

As the night progressed and Hubby became involved in a competitive game of bocce, the girls continued to roll with the punches.  They played nicely with their friends and they shared toys.  Not once did they attempt to scale the open staircase…or climb inside the fireplace…or break any Australian national treasures.  No one escaped through the front door.

As Hubby enjoyed himself in the backyard, I had actual semi-coherent adult conversation with some of my friends, and even some people I didn’t know.  (I say that to say, it generally takes slightly more concentration to speak with someone who may not be accounting for my “baby brain”.)

The girls had a great time.  Daddy had a great time.  And even this mama was able to let her guard down and enjoy herself.

Of course it helps that Rachel’s house is kid-friendly…and that we were surrounded by lots of our friends…twin friends, at that.  Everyone is a well-equipped multi-tasker.  Everyone keeps an eye out for each other.

Despite those footnotes, I’m super proud of our progress!

Celebrating Our Little Ladybugs

We celebrated the girls' third birthday party yesterday at our local yogurt shop, one of their very favorite destinations.

The girls were ladybugs for Halloween, and not long thereafter we decided to celebrate our little "ladies'" birthday with a ladybug theme.

Here's a sneak peek at our decorations...bright pink, bright yellow, and lots of black spots!

Part of the birthday banner...

Sticker activity and goody bags...


The goody bags each had a little wind-up ladybug and a magnifying glass, for "real" bug hunting.

Here's the sticker activity, as displayed by Baby A. At the bottom, there were stickers for each child to spell his/her name, declaring, "I can count!"

Our ladybug cupcakes...a pink bug for A, and yellow for B...and mini's for all our guests...

Napkins and utensils in bright yellow and pink buckets tied with black polka-dot ribbon...and it wouldn't be our party without WET WIPES!!!


And here are Mommy, Daddy, and our precious guests of honor!


We had a great time, and we so appreciate our friends and family coming together to celebrate with us!