Declan's First Birthday Party

I don't know what I was thinking when I had two babies with birthdays only three weeks apart. Clearly I was not thinking about planning birthday parties when I got pregnant. Totally kidding. I would never plan my family around a party. Maybe. I had Edison's party before his actual birthday and then Declan's after. I think we might combine parties in the future if they are up for it but I wanted Declan's party to be his own for his first birthday.

One-year-olds are not interested in playing party games so I invited friends over to watch Declan dig into his cake. Very simple party. I designed the invitation in five minutes and it was a pretty good representation of the low-keyness that would be the party.

Sam blew up 80 balloons for the party. Declan loves balloons and he was so happy to play in them. Although he doesn't look very happy in this picture.

I like evening parties. I felt like I had plenty of time to get ready during the day and I even got to snap some pictures before guests arrived.

The cake was a yellow cake with whipped chocolate buttercream frosting. The cupcakes were chocolate with delicious magic frosting (made with flour and tastes like heaven). I pulled off the top layer of the cake for Declan and cut up the rest for guests.

The kids walked in and immediately everyone went crazy. It was a mad house. We have had a lot of people at our house before but it has never been like this. Sam attributed it to the balloons. All kids love balloons. I think it could also be that we had twelve adults and twenty kids in a small house with balloons and cake.

Some of the moms had to hide out in the kitchen. It was the only safe place!

Larissa, Maggie, Olivia, Nikki, Karen

Declan actually got into his cake. I was very pleased.

He was such a mess!

 After a costume change, Declan opened his gifts. I really wish I had asked people to not bring gifts. We have so many toys! I am so grateful for all of our supportive and loving friends though.

The photo wall was my only decoration. The kids thought it was hilarious. They were pointing and taking the pictures down and moving them around.

The party started in the evening so it didn't last long. We were left with a big mess!

It was still a big mess a few days later. We played with balloons for two weeks. Every time people would come over, their kids would take a balloon or two home with them like a parting gift.

Declan got a cute outfit from Grandma Neil that my brothers wore when they were young. He also got some money from Great Gramma and Papa Neil. I put that in my wallet and it will be used for diapers. Too many toys!

Declan loves the bubble machine he got for his birthday. It is no joke. That thing makes bubbles like a machine. Oh boy. I am so punny.

Declan had no idea what was going on but I am still glad we partied it up for his first. Declan is an amazing baby. I am a lucky mom.

Earth Day Celebration

I don't think I have ever done anything for Earth Day before this year. I am kind of a bad person. I am changing my ways! Williston Toddler Days toured Handy Andy's, a nursery here in Williston. I loved it. It was so beautiful. The owner gave us a tour. As we were gathering a few minutes before the tour was supposed to start, I heard a customer ask him a question and he said, "Let me find someone else to help you because I am about to start a tour." It made me really like the guy! Most people wouldn't care about a bunch of toddlers. Andy took us to every area of the nursery and Alex and Edison were busy sniffing, touching, and pointing to everything. Andy never flinched. Not even when some kids were doing "He loves me, he loves me not" to the petals of Andy's flowers.

Alex was so silly. He kept saying, "Mom, you've got to smell this flower! It smells spectacular!"

We got home and everyone took a nap, then we went outside to pick up garbage around our townhouse. A few neighbor boys saw us and went to get their own garbage bags to help. It gave me the warm feelies.

When Sam got home from work we walked to the park. The weather was incredible. I love the summer in Williston and look forward to many days spent outdoors in the next few months.

Easter 2014

Sam and I made a concerted effort to focus our celebration of Easter on Christ's resurrection. I feel like these are critical years for the boys and making holidays about the true reason for them and not about the worldly holiday. Each day from Palm Sunday to Easter we read from the scriptures about the life of Jesus and talked about His resurrection.

We kept the focus on Christ but I am all about a good party. And there were a lot of opportunities to party! First we went to the Williston CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau) Easter Egg Hunt. The boys got to find 10 eggs each, take pictures with the Easter bunny, and eat some snacks. I don't know why I didn't stop by the CVB when we first moved here. I am glad I went into the building finally and got some good ideas of things to see around here.

This series of pictures makes me laugh so much. Declan gets one egg from Alex, one from Edison's basket, and then takes off.

 There was a lot of candy on the floor and Declan thought it was his birthday again.

Almost all of the eggs were filled with m&ms.

I planned an Easter egg hunt for our ward playgroup. I asked each person to bring 12 filled eggs per child. Then each child got to find a dozen eggs. It was all fair and happy and I only had to fill 24 eggs. It worked out splendidly.

Kara and Jenn

Alex convinced my friend to lift him up.

I made these super cute gifts for the ladies I visit teach, Alex's preschool teachers, and a few friends. The eggs are eos lip glosses.

The library had several egg hunts/storytimes. First we listened to a story then the boys got to make their own bunny ears.

Edison, Leta, Alex

 

There were 600 eggs hidden throughout the library. They were all empty. The kids went to town finding eggs then turned them all in and got a gift bag. It was brilliant.

Williston Toddler Days had a huge Easter egg hunt last year. We did it at the rec center and there were so many eggs in such a small area that the kids were stepping on them! We decided to have it at a park this year. We didn't count the eggs, but Kirsten and I spent over an hour filling eggs and I think we went overboard. It was a very cold day (around 35°F) and not very many ended up coming out to the park. The kids were circling the park and choosing the eggs they wanted. Then I would dump the eggs from the boys' baskets into our car, and they would circle around the park selecting their eggs again. The hunt took quite a while before all of the eggs were picked up. I was so happy that most of the eggs were filled with stickers, bouncy balls, and tattoos instead of candy.

Dahlia and Cael

 When we got home and opened the eggs, Alex took all of the chocolate from his eggs and put it in Edison's basket because Alex apparently "do[es] not like chocolate at all." It is bizarre how much that child is like me.

On Easter morning, the boys ran upstairs to find their baskets. Sam listened to me this year and only put one jelly bean in each egg. A big improvement over that one year where he filled both halves of every egg and somehow still got them to close. I am glad there was only one candy per egg because they had mastered egg hunts by this point and were opening the eggs and eating the candy immediately.

We went to church all matchy smatchy.

After church we went to the McBride's for brunch. It was delicious and I took one picture. The kids had a blast playing outside. It was such a beautiful day.

We got home, I made dinner, then we ate again. So much food!

Of course I made the au gratin potatoes. I think it is a tradition now.

We finally dyed Easter eggs. I planned to do it earlier but we were too busy.

It was a great Easter. I love teaching my kids and learning beside them. We are so grateful for our Savior's sacrifice and resurrection in our behalf. Happy Easter!