A SWEET Birthday

Still in recap mode from the Holidays...

Christian's 3rd Birthday

We invited just a few close friends for Donuts in their PJ's

We love morning parties around here...everyone is happy (usually) and the food is easy/fun to prepare and you and your guests still have the rest of the day free!

 

The Birthday Boy in his donut shirt and flannel PJ bottoms

I am so in love with all these wooden Melissa and Doug wooden food sets

these are the donuts...the kids had fun changing the "toppings" and stacking them all up!

(Kept the decor pretty simple (which was hard for me))...

The breakfast bar...with some pics of the Birthday Boy mixed in!

 

Hot Cocoa Bar

Also served little chocolate milks with cute red striped straws...did not get a picture though, shoot!

Mimosas for the Mommy's & Daddy's

 

Front Door...I love to do something really fun at the front door or in the entry...it makes such a statement but I ran out of time, this was thrown together quickly but it was cute!  A scrapbook page in party colors, attached with a big wooden "C" and lots of polka dot ribbons attached to a wreath

I about died when I spotted this donut ornament at HL earlier this Winter...I knew it would be perfect...it says "Every good day starts with Sprinkles" so fun!  It hung over the breakfast bar!

Donuts, fresh fruit, granola bars, muffins and quiche were served...not to self make sure all donuts have sprinkles...this helps avoid controversy!  The sprinkles were the Birthday boy's fav!

 

The Donut "cake"...

Make a wish sweet boy!

Christian and "Isa"...his very special friend!

Lisa is a very special friend to me too...so lucky to have she and her family across the street!

No games or anything since it was mostly little ones but we did have wooden color kits that were Gingerbread Men...cute and at $1 a piece a great deal... the 3 and up crowd enjoyed those too!

I also had the wooden donuts out to play with along with some other fun "sweets" in the form of puzzles and toys, and pretend breakfast food

 

One of the only family pics we got...I ordered donut iron-ons from Etsy and picked up some tees from HL...boys wore red and girls pink! 

I love to coordinate for parties!  :)

Friends...big and small!

Christian,

your 3rd Birthday

was just as sweet as you are...

We love you!

Christmas Morning

I am so behind...behind in blog posts, life, laundry, notes...etc.  But our Christmas was wonderful and I want to share some pictures!  Bryan was off for 2 full weeks...we stayed busy but had lots of downtime too.  We had some fun day trips, slept in, played games, lounged in our jams, shared dinner and football with friends, ice skated, skied, drank lots of cocoa and ate a ton...it was alot of fun. Christmas was magical...seeing their faces as the rush down the stairs is priceless!  Nothing brings me more joy!

Making cookies for Santa...

Santa has come...

for Charlotte Rose

and Campbell...

and Christian...

Stockings!  Always a favorite for me as a little girl and now for my kids...

Santa knows what we love!

FINALLY!  A pogo stick...seeing the goodies for the first time...

A Jellycat...a pink giraffe trimmed in velvet...do you know about Jellycats?

A "Cartoon" (what he calls "Cars") suitcase for Disney next month...

Mommy got a....

PINK Ipod...3s a charm!...

A Batcave...so fun! ..."Banty" or "Bantam" as Christian calls Batman...

A Notre Dame football...

  City Apartment for Barbies'... fully furnished...all wood...so fun!

Just a few highlights from Christmas morning!

A new Year

Happy New Year!

Hope your day was spent with your feet up...

relaxing

and contemplating your year ahead!

Friends, Fun and Family...

Happy Post Christmas Madness...

I feel like I have so much to recap from the last week...overwhelming...I am pooped and just finished a very fun day of skiing with my family!  We have had a wonderful break...filled with so much fun...we made so many happy memories.  A highlight was seeing some friends who drove-in for 24 hours for a quick visit.  They used to live here and moved about 2 hours away...we miss them aloft and were able to get lots crammed in the time...swimming and pizza at their hotel pool, girls shopping, adults only dinner out and I hosted brunch for a few of their/our friends...the kids were all able to play and were very excited waiting for Santa's arrival later that night...we just feel so lucky to have so many special friends that we spent the holiday with when were not able to be with family!

Be back soon to recap both my boys' birthdays, an overnight to Chicago, day trip to my parent's and Christmas Eve Nativity...then Christmas Day and the ski trip we took today!  We look forward to a relaxing last few days of break...

4 more days

The anticipation is building....

Do you feel the magic....?



Piano Recital

Charlotte and Campbell have been playing piano for about 6 months now...last weekend they had their very first recital and it was beautiful!  They were both nervous but so brave and played so well...we are SO proud of you both!  We love you so much and thank you for adding music and joy to our hearts everyday!

Leaving home...

 Charlotte went first of the two (#6 out of 19 kids)...other than a little hair in her face that slowed her start she was fantastic!

Campbell's turn!

Her Daddy and our sweet neighbor who attended gave Charlotte flowers...she loved it!

Then it was off to a reception...it was a very special day!

Let it Snow...

We are currently under a winter storm advisory...could see up to 2 feet of snow!  Everyone is excited and it feels like Christmas!  We have had a very busy first week of December...here is it is in bullet points!

• Tree bought and decorated
• House inside and out decorated
• Advent Festival and hanging of the greens at Church
• Class field trip to a local performance of Christopher's Christmas
• School fundraiser "Winter family Craft Night"
• 8 hour day spent Christmas shopping...95% done...wooo hooo!
• Charlotte's dance company's performance of the Nutcracker...next year she will get her first part !  :)
• Many mugs of hot cocoa consumed
• Secret Santa gifts purchased for school and Church for community friends in need
• Rehearsal for Church Christmas play niext weekend
• Piano recital today for Charlotte and Campbell...first one, everyone is nervous!
• 3 dozen "Rudolph" cookies baked for said recital

Still lots of fun and to do's in front of us...including Christan's 3rd birthday and party, Christmas cards, parties, wrapping, and hosting my ladies circle for brunch this week!  Of course this is all material....what really matters is the reason for the season, our Savior!  I feel especially blessed to have a warm home, a family that I adore, friends and so much to look forward to!  Hope your holidays are too, blessed!