The months February, March and April bring the Birthday Season to our house.
To start us off, on February 3, Maggie turned ONE!! There were balloons, party hats, cake, presents and the best part......
Grammy Judy and my niece Nicolette were visiting!
We all wore the party hats, but Maggie wanted nothing to do with them. I think that is the way with a lot of things on a baby's first birthday. They really could care less, but we enjoy a party.
I made lemon cupcakes. Not a big hit for anyone - especially Maggie. She wanted nothing to do with those also. She tasted a bit of the frosting by force, but it still didn't entice her. Rachel who loves frosting (she usually "eats" cupcakes by licking the frosting off the top) didn't like them. Hey it was the only cake mix and frosting I had on hand. (And by the way, I liked them!)Is that a look or what?
She did do pretty good with opening presents and enjoyed tearing paper.
Poppa Bob sent some money to get Rachel and Claire something too, so Nicolette picked them out some gifts. They loved them! Thanks Poppa Bob!
Rachel and her basketballs.
Claire with her Little People bride, groom and wedding cake
Maggie carefully checked out each gift as she opened it and didn't want to give it up to open another gift. Hence Paul's idea that they only need one present anyway or even just a box to tear the wrapping paper off of.
She got a yummy gift of Baby Mum Mums. I love these treats for her because they don't crumble and make a mess like crackers do. Nothing like a practical gift.
Can you feel the excitement?
Nicolette and Maggie
Claire with a scary party face!
Grammy Judy and Rachel.
It's the Birthday Girl!
Showing off her new digs - compliments of Aunt Kari.
Maggie was a little distracted by the balloons making it difficult to get a good picture.
Maggie and all her goods! I can't believe my baby is ONE!!
Then came Claire! March 7 marked her 6th birthday. Preparations for the Pink Poodle Puppy Party began weeks before. I spent a few nights up late making game decorations, party favors, cake, etc. Paul always make fun of me but I really do enjoy doing it. I just am and have always been a procrastinator. So it makes for a few late nights.
First there was the cans to take home party favors. These are made from old formula cans. I was pretty impressed with my crafty self. With a little help from the cricut machine (compliments of Grammy Judy), scrapbook paper, and modge podge, I was able to make these.
Since it was a puppy party, I made puppy chow from cocoa puffs and scooby doo graham cracker bones.
I also have a ton of baby food jars that I have been trying to find uses for, so I used a few of those to make birthday snow globes for the girls. You can't see the sparkles from the glitter in these, but they were pretty cool if I may say so myself. I made the cakes and candles from aluminum foil covered by modeling clay and stuck with a paperclip for the candle. I then glued them in the lid and hot glued the lids on. I think they started to leak after a time, but they were fun while they lasted.
This along with fruit rolls and pink poodle puppy tatoos made up the party favors. I think they were a big hit.
Then came the cake. I ordered the cake topper and then made the three layers. I'm not a professional and it's a little tilted, but it tasted good. For the party, we took the top off for later and ate the bottom two layers.
Claire seemed to like her cake.
PARTY TIME!!!There were 9 girls plus Claire and Rachel. Balloons everywhere just brings, jumping, shrieks, more jumping and laughs.
They played pin the tail on the poodle and when it came time to open presents, they sat in a circle and passed a poodle around until music stopped and whoever was holding the poodle gave Claire the present they brought. It worked pretty good to keep the usual crowding around the birthday girl to a minimum.Paige, Rachel, Claire and Nina. (and back of Mia's head)
Claire showing off some of her goods! Oh the excitement of opening presents!
Lucy, Laken, Christian Anne and Kylea.
Caroline, Katey, Lucy, Laken, Christian Anne and Kylea.
The suspense....
Christian Anne, Kylea, Mia and Paige.
Then it comes time for the cake!
Make a wish!!
Claire made a wish, but wouldn't tell me what it was for fear it won't come true.
After cake, I had a couple more games for them to play, but it was such a beautiful day that they just wanted to go outside and play. Sounded good to me!!
Mia's mom pushing Laken and Christian Anne. (She and a couple other moms stayed and were such a big help to me because Paul was distracted by fixing the headlight on our car!)
Caroline
Nina
Mia
Rachel
Mia
Laken and Christian Anne
Kylea
The Birthday Girl!
Katey and the poster for pin the tail on the poodle.
Because her party was actually a couple days earlier than her real birthday, we celebrated again on her "real birthday" with our neighbors Bob and Esther!
And of course they couldn't leave Rachel out and brought her birthday present a few days early!
"It's not even my birthday!"
Katey (from across the street) joined us for the festivities too.
We used the top layer of the cake for the birthday cake this night. Clarie got to make another wish!
And once again, wouldn't tell me what it was.
I love the excitement they get opening presents!
Claire with her "stash"!
She also is showing off her award she got at school for being the "Most Responsible Student". While I know she is a good girl, "most responsible"? It is amazing the personality that comes out at school vs. home.
She couldn't wait to try out her new Hello Kitty scooter. Her friend Paige came to check it out too.
It was a little different being on a "real" scooter, but she picked it up right away and was cruisin everywhere.
Next came Rachel's 3rd Birthday! We celebrated on March 12 with chocolate cupcakes for breakfast! ("Mom is great, she feeds us chocolate cake!" - just a little trip down memory lane for you Cosby Show fans)
Nothing like chocolate caked on your teeth first think in the morning!
mmmmm
"What's wrong, do I have something on my face?"
Now, I am a fun mom who will feed her children chocolate cupcakes for breakfast, but I did draw the line at feeding it to my one year old (she really didn't want any - I don't know who's kid she is).
Her hair is getting so long, I am able to put it in a ponytail in the back. It does give it a little bit a mullet look, but hey, we're in Kentucky.
Later that evening, it was time for Rachel's presents.
This is the look I got when I told her she had to wait for a few minutes....
And this is the look I got when I told her she could open them! (I wish I could just capture that smile and bottle it up!)
"It's just what I wanted! In fact, it's just what I picked out!"
"It's a box!!!!"
"Any more??"
She is my crazy, cute, funny birthday girl!
Rachel with her birthday goods.
Claire somehow got another present in all this mess too.
And if this one doesn't look like she's up to something....
Paul and our girls!
This was Rachel's "cake". When I asked her what kind of cake she wanted, she told me, "A purple and green chocolate cake with Dora, Boots, Tico, Benny the Bull, Isa the Iguana, Swiper and Fresh Beat Band." I tried to figure out how to put this all together and cupcakes seemed to bring them all together flawlessly.
Well, Rachel liked it! And that is all that matters.
She loved to blow the candle out - over and over.
And then came the old folks. Paul's birthday was on April 2. We got an ice cream cake for his party (wasn't that great, a real disappointment actually).
I can't believe I'm married to someone who is 37! How does he get older every year? According to him, life is pretty much over when you turn 35, luckily he has four amazing girls to live with to remind him otherwise.
Everyone wanted to help him get his wish by blowing out his candles for him.
Then it was time for presents. Oh the excitement again!
Claire decided to wear special bunny ears for the festivities.
The girls got him a present and it was so big, we had to be creative wrapping it up! Bet you can't guess what it is!
Even Maggie felt the anticipation.
Claire picked the present out herself.
Oh, the suspense....
It's a ball!!
On to the next one.
Rachel got just as excited at everyone else's parties at present time as she did at her own. I hope she doesn't lose that enthusiasm anytime soon.
All the partying just got to be too much for Maggie. Or maybe she is in a chocolate ice cream coma.
And, lest we forget...J.J. the Great's Birthday! I was in St. George, UT visiting Kari and Grammy Judy and my niece Emilia on my birthday so we of course had a big celebration! Rachel and Maggie flew out with me (suffice it to say Maggie does not like flying - actually I don't think it is the flying part so much as the having to sit down part - either way, it was a pretty long trip both there and back). Claire stayed home with Paul so she didn't miss any school.I was treated like a queen!!
Aunt Kari, Millie,Rachel, me and Maggie getting ready for the big bash.
Grammy Judy was ready to party too.
Everyone enjoyed the yummy chocolate cake - don't know why you would ever have any other flavor than chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Even Maggie was ready by then for more cake!
Millie love it and like everyone else, ended up with a bit on her chin.
Millie and Rachel did a few dances for us outside after the rainstorm. We came hoping for swimming pool and laying out weather and Mother Nature did not cooperate, so when we did get some warmth and sunshine, it was time for dancing!
We had chocolate cake for a few days! Rachel wanted candles on it each time to blow out again. Luckily I don't mind celebrating day after day - I wouldn't mind if we all celebrated a "birthday week"! (notice the "healthy" meal - this is what happens when it is just the girls)
I guess that's it til next year!
