I’m a FREAK when it comes to planning my kids’ birthday parties.
They really aren’t as extravagant as many I see on all the darling party blogs out there, but I try to keep them fun yet frugal.
I usually have a “theme” about a year ahead of time. I get an idea and build from there…over the course of about 12 months…I gather little things here and there that I find on sale or for cheap. I stow them in a “secret place” away from the kids (& Jay!). I also cruise around the net and pick up ideas from this site and that site, jot things down and get the creative juices flowing early on.
Elliott’s birthday is in May and I just found what I think are going to be her invites.
I had something in mind and when I saw these on my TJ Maxx excursion yesterday, I knew I had to grab them since they’d be long gone if I decided to go back down the road and look for them again.
They fit the color scheme that I had in mind and reflect the party’s venue.
I am so excited that I crossed paths with these.
Here’s a sneak peek…
I think I need help.
Because there are a million and one things that will take place before her 6th birthday that I need to think about, but I just couldn’t pass these up.
If I can give my unsolicited party planning advice I would say to start early {obviously}.
But is 9 months to a year TOO early?
I find that when you have an inspiration far enough out, you can pick things up bit by bit and won’t have to shell out a grip of cash all at once. I save receipts in case I need to make returns or exchanges.
Even if it was “off site” this time around, I am beat!
It was a great time, though and the little gymnasts had a blast ~ which is all that matters in the end!
…and one last celebration at home with Emilie…
Happiness is writing this post, sipping on some Chardonnay and knowing that I still have tomorrow to relax at the pool, grill with family and friends and know that my sweet girl is tumbling her way into FIVE with a big smile on her face!
Now a break from party planning for a bit, but since I am a freak and already know the venue and theme for both kid’s next festivities, I will be on the lookout for goodies here and there.
Your First Year was filled with so much…both literally and figuratively. Here are some highlights:
You visited the San Diego County Fair at just a few weeks old. You took your first plane ride at 3 months. You and Rascal kept Mommy company on our drive to Nor Cal (your new home) when you were 5 months old. You were the sweetest Monkey while trick-or-treating in Menlo Park on your First Halloween (also 5 months). You were baptized and celebrated your First Thanksgiving at Lolo & Lola’s house in South Carolina with the whole family at 6 months. Of course your first Christmas, New Year’s, Superbowl, Valentine’s Day, St. Paddy’s Day and Easter were very special. You visited the grumpiest Santa at the SF Zoo, but later saw the “Happy Santa” at the good ‘ol Valley Fair Westfield Mall. You began swim lessons at 10 months and this is where you met your very first girlfriend, Charlotte! You moved into your brand new house in Gilroy at 11 months. I celebrated my very first Mother’s Day with you in beautiful Carmel, but had to get dinner “to go” later that evening because you had the HUGEST blowout in your darling little watermelon outfit (including your watermelon Robeez!) But, it was still one of the most special memories even with the package of wipes that we went through to clean you up in the tailgate of our old white Volvo wagon! Shortly thereafter, you celebrated your First Birthday with a Jungle themed adventure! I had SO much fun planning your bash and I think this is where I went into perpetual “party plannning mode”. Even though we had just moved to the area, you had SO many friends and family there to celebrate with you as you entered your Second year of life. It was a “wild” day and I a still dreaming of your fresh banana cake from one of my all time fave bakeries, Icing On The Cake in downtown Los Gatos. Oh how I miss that place!
Here you are in your cheetah print dress from Auntie Jeannie & Uncle Mark in Boston:
And your gorgeous fresh banana cake:
*****
Your Second Year was also action packed. Here are just some of the highlights…You quickly started meeting lots of fun new friends in your neighborhood (your BFF being, Logan) and by this time you and Charlotte were two peas in a pod and spent Wednesdays together after swimming lessons. You visited the Santa Cruz Boardwalk with your friend William when you were 13 months. You attended your first Gilroy Garlic Festival at 14 months. You flew to Vegas at 17 months to visit Lola & Lola and celebrate my 36th birthday. You did your first “apple picking” at Gizdich Ranch with Logan when you were 18 months old. You celebrated your 2nd Turkey Day and Christmas in your new home along with family. You went to the snow in Lake Tahoe when you were 20 months. However, the biggest milestone of your second year was that when you were 21 months old, you became a Big Sister. I will never forget you waiting (aka running) out in the halls with Gramma when your Baby Brother was born. You came in just minutes later and laid eyes on Holden and you have been a wonderful Big “Sissy” ever since (well maybe despite a couple minor instances!). You were such a patient girl for the first couple months while Mommy and Daddy got the hang of things. You shared your 2nd Birthday weekend with Holden with a back-to-back Baptism and your Western Cowgirl themed rodeo on Memorial Day Weekend 2007. Again, this birthday was filled with MANY new friends, family….and of course, fresh banana cake from Icing On The Cake! We also served mini sloppy joe’s, Auntie Bucky’s Ranch potato salad, Uncle Matt’s baked beans and your favorite, piggies in a blanket for all the little cowboys and cowgirls!
This is one of my favorite pics of you EVER. EVER.:
…and again, the infamous fresh banana cake:
Only 2 more days, my Little Sugar Muffin, and you’ll be FIVE!
Now, off to celebrate with mini bagels & cream cheese at school with your classmates!
I am giving myself a gift in honor of her birthday and reliving the past 60 beautiful months.
“Baby A” was due on Saturday, May 28th, 2005.
The Curious George nursery was bright and welcoming, itsy bitsy Pampers Swaddlers, sensitive wipes & Boudreaux’s Butt-paste were arranged neatly in the little basket at the end of the changing table, gowns and onesies were bathed in Dreft and just waiting for a sweet little body to fill them…we were ready!
On my due date we got “dressed up” (for me that was a super stretchy black dress & some black flip flops!) and went out to a nice dinner ~ what would be our last dinner before becoming a family of three.
We decided on Thai food and went into Hillcrest to Celadon ~ right next to the hospital should my water break while enjoying dinner! We shared spicy curries and pad thai noodles. Jay drank wine and I sucked down not one, but two thai iced teas!
We got home close to 11:00pm and I went straight to bed. The next morning I awoke early and started to feel “some pains” around 7:00am. I started timing and sure enough we were on the 5-1-1 schedule. I timed them for a little over an hour and then we were on our way to Scripp’s Mercy Hospital.
They could not find my pre-registered paperwork so there I was filling it out again while Jay went and parked the car. I went into a triage room to be monitored and was admitted shortly thereafter.
I tried to go all natural, but after getting to 8 cm and being told this was my last chance for an epi, I caved and shortly thereafter had a needle in my back and was able to now enjoy labor and actually talk to those around me.
By 5:00pm I was ready to push and my crotchety old Jewish doctor was hurrying me along because he had two other women down the hall close to delivering, too.
I pushed for an hour and a half before he determined the baby was “sunny side up”. Dr. S wanted to use a vacuum to help with the delivery, but after I said, “Uh….NO you’re not!”, he manually “turned” the baby and by 6:39pm, Elliott Elizabeth Aspiras came into the world!
A baby girl!
6 pounds, 14 ounces and 18.75″ long
Sunday, May 29, 2005
I was thrilled either way, of course, but I now had a little one to dress in pink, ruffles, dresses, sequins, tutus, bows and patent leather mary janes ~ a little girl to LOVE.
After sitting under the bili-light for 8 hours (for jaundice), she was ready to come home:
{Tuesday, May 31st, 2005}
Birthday Countdown: Part II coming tomorrow!
Now, off to get ready to take the little one wrapped in the chickie blanket above to her Kindergarten assessment!
Ten years ago I celebrated my 30th in Vegas. Man, 10 years ago!
A lot has happened in that time…lots and lots of major life changes:
Traveled lots for work, met Jay, bought a house, got 2 dogs, got engaged, got married, had a baby, moved to Nor Cal, sold a house, bought another house, had another baby, moved to LA county….
Looking forward to what the next 6 months bring before I hit the big 4-oh.
Lord only knows what goodness will come in the next 10. Excited to find out!
Here are a few shots from my 30th in Vegas:
{Me, Alisah, Noreen, my sister Becky & Shannon}
Funny thing…about 4 years after this pic was taken, Jay bought me the same cheetah cowboy hat while we were in Vegas at a company function. How I would love the zebra cutie now, too. I wonder if it’s still there at The Rainforest Café almost a decade later? Adore animal print ~ but in moderation!
Anyhoo, in 6 months I look forward to celebrating 10 more years in some capacity like I did in Vegas in ’00.
Yesterday was gorgeous…we sat outside and enjoyed Chipotle for our V-day lunch. It made me long for warm (not HOT!) Summer afternoons…they will be here before we know it!
The words “No Brakes” are also ironic to me.
I look at Holden riding Elliott’s “big girl bike” and I feel like LIFE has NO BRAKES!
Wasn’t my baby boy just born last week? Now he’s riding a bike?
The countdown is on to his 3rd Birthday ~ 10 days from today.
I guess I’d better hang on because I don’t see things slowing down anytime soon!
May your week go by fast, but may you cherish all the special moments that come along with it.
