Third Birthday Party Recap

I know. I know. It seems like just yesterday that we were strolling down Sesame Street, hand-in-hand with Elmo, celebrating Emily and Andrew's SECOND birthday. How can it even be possible that their THIRD birthday has come and gone?

While Marty insists the last three years have been long, I argue just as emphatically that they have been short. How did we get from here...

to here...

Image by Lifelong Impressions

so fast?

Okay. Okay. I am going to stop with the sentimental, you've-heard-it-all before, time-is-passing-too fast blather.

This is a birthday recap post. Let's bring on the party!
***This year we decided to take a different direction with the party--one that played into Emily and Drew's natural energy, one that took us to one of their favorite places, and one that didn't require me to clean my house: an indoor bounce house!

What could make jumping at a bounce house even better? How about jumping in pajamas?? Here are my two pajama-clad monkeys (and three Minnies) ready for their big party!

We chose the early morning time slot, making us the first party of the day. What happens when you bring three year olds to a bounce house before it opens? They stalk the place!

But, eventually, watched doors do open, and we found ourselves in the "pre-party" room where we waited for our friends, completed our release forms, and dropped off our shoes.

There was so much action we didn't even stop to color our shirts.

Who has time for coloring when we can climb and bounce and slide (headfirst, if we want)??

Everybody was having so much fun, I wondered how we would round them up for the muffins, yogurt parfaits, and birthday cake that awaited us. Ms. Pickles, our party host, knew just what to do...a whistle and a line put all the little monkeys on the move!

All week leading up to their birthday, when I would ask who had birthday coming up, Drew and Emily would both yell, "ME!" Drew would then try to out- shout Emily, yelling, "NO! It's MY birthday!" Apparently, they don't even want to share birthdays.

Here Drew is telling Tamia, "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!" He makes me laugh!

On to the party room!

And, it looks like it's Emily AND Andrew's birthday!

More of our favorite things...

Like balloons!

Muffins!

Presents!

CAKE!

Surrounded by our awesome family and friends!

Happy birthday, Emily and Andrew!

Our Ship Has Come In....

Literally!

Today, the Babies' third birthday present arrived!

While their birthday isn't technically until Saturday, I knew there was no way we were going to be able to conceal the big ark banked out back.

Instead, I envisioned a surprise unveil, complete with the parent paparazzi to capture the oohs and ahhs.

Drew was easy. After his eye appointment, he fell asleep in the car and was out when I slipped him inside.

Emily was not so easy. She has eyes like an eagle.

As we pulled in, I came in on two wheels, hoping to whip in and thereby prevent her from seeing the big boat peeking out from behind the house.

"Mommy! I saw something!"

Ignore.

Louder-- "Mommy! I saw something!"

"You did?"

"YES!"

"What do you think you saw?

"I saw a blue slide!!"

You can't get anything by her...

She wasted no time in waking Drew up from his nap and dragging him, half asleep, out the back door.

A short walk up the gangplank, and the maties were on board for waves of fun!

There's a blue slide

and a rock climbing wall.

A forward deck for gathering with friends

and a deck below with a bench and a fireman's pole.

There are regular swings

and trapeze swings (aka "an accident waiting to happen").

All sailors need an overlook to spy the open seas-- or peek over the neighbor's fence for the first time ever. Emily exclaimed, "Mommy, they have a pool and DOGS!" Yes, baby. There's a wide world out there...

They have a ship's wheel to safely steer them through their adventures.

It didn't take them long to get into a pretend adventure, as they reenacted scenes from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Emily quickly assumed the role of captain, ordering Drew, her first mate, to check the treasure map. Like a seasoned sailor, he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. After a quick check of their location, Emily decided they needed to adjust their sails, and Drew assured her, "We're almost there!"

Something tells me the trip has only just begun!

P&C Week 16: The Better to See You With

The 16th week of this year was all about Drew, his eyes, and his new glasses.

We tried a couple of pairs before we found the right fit...

Close...


Closer...


Got it!


Well, sort of.

They fit--minus...

1. Thursday's trip to the eye glass store to repair the nose piece that broke off while at school.

2. Friday's trip to the eye glass store to repair the bent right arm that also happened at school.

3. Three calls and two stops to different eye glass stores to see if they carried flex frames for kids, yielding exactly zero results for flex frames in his size.

4. Drew chewing off nose piece on Sunday when all eye glass stores were closed.

5. Drew hiding the glasses and sending us all on a scavenger hunt through the house until they were found.

But, when they're on and in one piece...



They make me smile--like Peas and Cheese.

P&C Week 15: Floaties

There's nothing quite like being able to sneak away for the weekend, like deciding to take a spur-of-the-moment trip to the beach, to a beach with a hotel with a heated indoor pool and lazy river (and still offering off-season rates).

And that's just what we did recently when we packed a small suitcase (okay, only 1 big suitcase for the 4 of us) and headed to Myrtle Beach for the weekend.

(Oh, and we brought along Grandma, Papa, Kaelyn, and GiGi).

(And Kelly and Tanner were already down there).

(Yes, it was a family affair).


Emily, Drew, and Kaelyn loved it all, but the pool was definitely their favorite part.


It was their first time in floaties.



Lots of fun and lots of love.


Weekends away. Oceanfront views. Family. Water babies in floaties. Makes me smile--like Peas and Cheese.

P&C Week 14: Dressed in Our Easter Best

This wasn't my favorite picture from this Easter...




This one was...



Because it's not about the bunny. Because our new clothes are just an outward representation of the new life offered through Him. Because they are master egg hunters. Because they shared their peanut butter eggs. Makes me smile--like Peas and Cheese.

P&C Week 13: Pictures before the Pictures

As I have admitted before, I am a sucker for pictures.

I take lots of pictures (most of which are sub-par quality).

I buy lots of pictures (of much better quality).

Currently, I am getting pumped up (read--I am shopping) for our yearly family picture session.

With all of the pictures, I don't need to buy the kids' school pictures.

But I usually do.

Even if I don't buy them, I get them dressed like I am going to buy them, and I always make sure we take our picture outside before they leave for school.

Yes. I take pictures before the pictures.

Given this series of pictures, perhaps you'll see why I usually buy pictures other people take...

Take 1--Both kids are at least in front of the door although one is way more interested in the train car than looking at the camera.
"Drew, look at the camera!"
Drew's cheese face
"Now put your arms around each other."
We'll take it! Just one more!
Mommy wants just one picture with her in it. Sure, she hates getting her picture taken. She's way too self-critical. She'll notice her wrinkles, the dark circles, her roots, her crooked smile...


But only for a passing moment.

Then she'll smile.

Waking up for another picture day. Holding my babies in my lap. Real life. Real imperfections. Real beauty. Makes me smile--like Peas and Cheese.

It's My Party, and I'll ____ if I want to...

Okay, so it's not technically my party.

It's really Emily and Andrew's third birthday party I am talking about, but they are turning three. Their concept of birthday parties is limited to singing "Happy Birthday" (over and over) and knowing that cake is involved.

But, for me, birthday party planning is serious business.

Marty thinks I am insane.

"They're turning three. They don't know. They don't care. What a waste of money."

(blah, blah, blah).

What a party pooper, I say.

When it comes to their birthdays, I just can't help myself.

For their first birthday, we threw a backyard beach bash.

Last year, I outdid myself by baking and decorating the cupcakes and the cake. I was so tickled, I had to invite Elmo. Seriously, how are we going to outdo Elmo?

Before I give away this year's theme, let's stop for a minute and consider the question of guest lists for kids who don't even really know they are having a party.

---

Emily and Andrew have a limited number of friends outside of family. I don't think this is too odd at this age. Lots of my friends have children that are close in age so I consider them friends by proxy. Together, I consider all of those friends to be a pretty cool guest list.

Two weeks ago, Emily received a birthday party invitation from a little girl in her class. My first thought was, "Oh, wow. I hadn't really thought about inviting kids in her class." She is just now talking about her friends and school and calling them by name. Would it be odd if the kid showed up at the party and I don't even recognize him/her or the parents?

My second thought was, "Poor Drew. Since the room split, he isn't on the party list." Try explaining to an almost- three year old that sissy is going to a bounce house party and he's not.

I know. I know. Being a twin doesn't mean that you get to automatically share friends. But, this invitation was to the whole class--the whole class that Drew was in.

I am not that parent. I wouldn't show up with him uninvited or ask if he could attend. My plan was to take him somewhere special by himself while Emily went to the party.

Thankfully, we were busy this past weekend, and the whole issue became a nonissue since neither one of them could go.

But it did leave me wondering about the proper party etiquette at this age. Invite the whole class or no? In our case, we'd be inviting two classes!

---

Back to the fun stuff...

Like, where!

At this point, I must make a confession. This year, I am guilty of party plagiarizing!

Party plagiarizing?

You know, when you see a cool party idea and totally rip it off--with credit of course!

If I had found the idea on Pinterest, I wouldn't feel the least bit guilty. That's what Pinterest is for--taking other's ideas to make yourself look creative.

But I actually know this mom! Granted she doesn't even live in this state, but still. I feel kind of shady.

Mandy--you know what they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

In January, Mandy threw her awesome twin girls an amazing fourth birthday party at a bounce house. The theme? Monkeys Jumping on a Bed!

What's better than jumping monkeys at a bounce house? Jumping monkeys at a bounce house--in pajamas!

A pajama party at a bounce house, complete with yummy breakfast food.

(For the record, I think a morning party for kids who still nap is the way to go! Without a nap, my kids are *crazy* by 2 PM--the time most parties start).

So, ta-da!

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed--
One smiled at the other and the other said,
"Let's call our friends and see if they're free
To celebrate the day we turn three!"
Pajamas. Breakfast food. Jumping monkeys, I mean, kiddos.

And, my gift to the moms--I promise we'll wear them out just in time for NAPS!

---

Marty says I can make any thing complicated. Stay tuned as I turn a simple party into a complicated affair. It's going to be fun making it hard!

---

I am so stinking excited about their birthday gift that I am practically jumping around like a monkey on a bed!

Anybody want to guess?

I'll give a hint. Then you'll just have to wait for a blog post--because this gift deserves its own post!

This year's present involves giving the monkeys a place where jumping and swinging are not only okay but encouraged!