Happy Birth-Baptism-Mother's Day!

Yes, you read that title right.

We pushed Camden's 4th birthday party back a few weeks so it would coincide with baptism day at our church, which also happened to be Mother's Day 2014.  It was a jam packed weekend of fun that all started when my family flew into town on Friday.

We picked them up at the airport and returned to Cam's favorite lunch spot du jour.  I love this picture because you can clearly see how much we love when they are in town.  Gammy and Gampy are always full of funny tricks and jokes that I remember from my own childhood.  It's a blessing to be able to watch my own children live some of my memories.  Whenever G + G have been around, my kids spend weeks singing old time cartoon theme songs, blowing their straw paper in your face, or telling you that you have a stain on the front of your shirt.  It's good times.


That afternoon we hung out in our backyard, shot some arrows at the target, and enjoyed a Baskin Robbins treat.  Baskin Robbins is Gammy's favorite.  Any ice cream is Camden's favorite.


The next morning, Gigi, Papa, and Lolo arrived, just in time for Cam's birthday party.  They came bearing awesome gifts like this new fishing rod from Aunt Lo.


Cam chose a swimming party this year which was a big hit with all the kids.  We just paid the general admission fee for about twenty people and then spent almost two hours splashing and playing.


Riley was our lone fearless water slide rider.


While we swam the Grandma's set up the party table. Cam chose a Dusty Planes theme this year. I actually took him to the party store at the beginning of April and let him shop for his own supplies.  The party favors were all swimming toys from the dollar store.  Have I mentioned they opened a dollar store in our part of town?  I love it.


I am fortunate to call some very talented women my dear friends.  One of them made this amazing Dusty cake for the party.   I loved that she put his name on the Planes logo.  It was perfect.


Double the grandma love before it was time to eat that cake!

He either wished for a Dusty airplane (which he got for his birthday already) or to go to the moon.  Either way it was his standard mantra for the first half of 2014.


We loved having both sides of the family in town for the big weekend - even though by this point I was already exhausted. We went to the mall after his party for more of Camden's favorite activity of shopping for things for himself. Gammy was too happy to oblige. I even got a new gym water bottle, after I lost the first one I purchased somewhere in our shopping travels that day (thanks Dad).


That evening we all rested after our busy day.  I made chicken and dumplings for dinner for everyone and then spent the rest of the night agonizing over the right words for the baptism of our babies.  At our church you speak words of encouragement for your children before they are baptized.  I already am terrified of public speaking, but to find the right words to tell these little people what they truly mean to me was overwhelming.  I gave up and went to bed before I could assemble my thoughts into something coherent.

The next morning we were up early to get everyone dressed and out the door.  Thankfully, all my jitters about speaking over my children melted away as they handed me the mic.  I used my notes and TG and I spoke from the heart and then our favorite pastor baptized each of them.  It was an emotional moment, but there were moments of laughter because our pastor is so good at engaging young children.  He asked both of them questions that they answered in a way that had the congregation roaring with laughter.

Riley of course, was born for the spotlight, she was right at ease with all eyes and attention on her and she knows how to make a joke.


We were worried about Camden, because he's generally more shy and wary of new situations.  However, when our pastor asked him how old he was, he firmly replied, "I'm 7."  When everyone started to laugh because clearly he is not 7, he interjected, "No I'm not kidding.  I'm serious." which of course made everyone laugh even harder.


It was a beautiful ceremony and we were so thankful to have our family, who love our children as much as we do, there to support us on an important day.  Not only that, but we were able to celebrate this event on Mother's Day with both of our mothers with us.
 





My family wasn't scheduled to fly out until Monday afternoon so we had some time to kill before we had to get them to the airport.  One of the things that I love about them is that they are always up for some adventure, whether it be snow tubing, laser tag at Thanksgiving, or this time a local farm that my kids love.  We ended up being the only people there and we had so much fun racing each other on the tube slides, posing in the photo ops, visiting the baby goats, and bouncing on the moon pillow.  We ran wild around there for hours, trying every activity, before it started to rain and we called it a day.








As usual, eventually the end came and there were lots of tears (mostly from me) when it was time to say goodbye.  I spend so many days looking forward to their visits and then we are so busy laughing and enjoying each other's company and it's over all too soon.  It's so hard to let them go when our time is up.  I always want more adventures and memories; just more time.  But I am thankful that we have the opportunity to be all together like this in meaningful ways no matter how short the days.

Her Monster High Birthday Party

Riley asked for a Chuck E. Cheese party this year which worked out perfectly because in past years she only had 5-6 friends she wanted to invite. Now that she's in kindergarten her list was near 30 kids! We obviously limited that to 15, but that's still way too many for a party in our home.


Chuck E. Cheese has birthday parties down to a science. I think there were five parties happening at the same time as hers. Her table was identified with her balloon guitar.

My dear friend made her this amazing Monster High cake that matched her invitations perfectly. Riley was delighted by it and every person who walked by ooh'ed and ahh'ed over it.

We passed out cups of tokens as quickly as we could and the kids wasted no time at all heading off to play. I was running around the whole time refilling cups and checking on party guests. I could not get a single picture of Riley out on the game floor, but I happened upon Camden at one point. He was hanging with TG and Papa.  Three generations of family men just playing some games.
 

After an hour of play we rounded everyone up at the table for the celebration.  This is most of her party crew waiting patiently for the Chuck E. show and pizza.  A bunch of girls and lone man Cam.

Our sweet birthday girl was so happy for her special day. I can't get over how much older she looks compared to last year's birthday party.

High - five Chuck E! After lunch they pull all the birthday kids up for a special dance and some air guitar.


Some of the other celebrants were a little timid, but Riley rocked out. She loves the spotlight!

They moved quickly to "Happy Birthday" and cake next.  Chuck E. keeps the ball rolling at their parties.  She wouldn't tell me her wish, but knowing her it was something fantastical - like sparkly pink fairy wings that actually fly so she can visit Neverland.  Just a guess.

After cake she received her special gift of the Magic 1,000 Ticket. Bless her heart, she was just a little bit excited about it.


All birthday kids get a turn in the ticket blaster. If you've never watched this, it is completely entertaining. I laughed so hard watching the mad grab for tickets. Goggles and game face on.  She was so confident that she was going to get "all of them".


But when she got inside and they shut the door she got a bit nervous. This picture cracks me up. She wears her emotions on her face just like her Mama.

Once the tickets started flying she was fine and all you could hear were shrieks of hysterical laughter as she tried to grab as many as she could.

Riley opened all her presents when we got home.  She was seriously spoiled this year and several of her friends gave her gift cards to her favorite stores (Toys R Us!  Go Bananas! Justice!).  My mom and I decided to take her out on a girls only shopping trip to spend some of her gift money.


Gammy is such a trooper!  I'm sure she was exhausted after arriving late the night before, but she happily accompanied Riley and I all over town on her second birthday shopping spree of the weekend.  We love you Gammy!


Somehow she convinced us to visit all three stores that were "conveniently" located on opposite sides of town.  I was surprised to learn that she is not an impulse buyer, especially when it's her own money.  She made careful decisions and bought things that only used up part of her money so she could save some for another trip or two later.  She's like her Tata in that way.

It was a wonderful day and she could not stop telling us how thankful she was for her party.  I looked back at her last four parties and I was just tickled to see how different her tastes and favorites are from year to year.  She's had everything from Toy Story to Monster High and in between.

We can't wait to see what you come up with next year Riley girl!

Barbie In Paris

This year Riley requested a Barbie Fashion Fairytale in Paris party.

Ask and ye shall receive.  To the best of my ability and with the help of Pinterest at least.


Pink lemonade with straws for ladylike sipping.

My try at a Barbie cake, and Riley's requested foods tomatoes and strawberries.

I made a tutu for every little party guest.


I had so much fun decorating and adding the little finishing touches like the canvas photo of her in full on diva mode.


That morning we gave Riley our gift to her - a surprise trip to the spa for a full on a pampering experience.  We started with a mani and pedi.  She looked so grown up sitting there, reading her Taylor Swift article.


She wanted curls, curls, curls.  Pageant hair with lots of spirals and hair spray coming up!


We finished up with a visit to the make up chair. She was charming everyone in the place.

She kept reminding the stylist that she wanted pink. Pink, pink, pink.

Her actual party was very laid back.  Her friends were dropped off, they played in her room for a long time while my mom and I just hung out in the living room.  Eventually they wandered down for lunch and glitter tattoos!


Besides glitter tattoos our only other organized activity was a fashion show.  Everyone dressed up in their tutus, necklaces and bows and walked the "runway".  Riley was a pro.




We rounded out the fun with a group dance party.

We had some cake and ice cream before moving to the gift bench to open her gifts.  My friend came up with this awesome idea of letting each guest sit on a bench or big chair with the birthday girl while she opens their gift.  It's the perfect way to let them share in the excitement of the gift they picked.


According to Riley she had the "most perfect best day ever Mom!" and that joy is priceless to me.
Happy 5th birthday sweet girl.  Mama loves you!