Barrett's Bowling Party

Kyle's Birthday Party

On Saturday, the County Fair came to our backyard in celebration of Kyle's Fifth Birthday! We had a ball tossing game, a bean bag game, a cake (actually cookie) walk, and blue ribbons for all the kids. There was popcorn, and corndogs, and Walkin' Tacos like at the State Fair of Texas. Of course we also had birthday cake, and a strawberry shortcake trifle.


the invitation


See that "popcorn?" It's actually cupcakes! I spent a lot of time working on that and then I forgot to put it out during the party! ugh. At least it will live forever in this picture.





This picture cracks me up!
Side note: Kyle told me the other day that Avery (the girl in purple) is his girlfriend. He said that means they are going to be friends forever and never change their minds.


Barrett got the blue ribbon for Best Scary Face












Annabelle got the Blue Ribbon for Best Pigtails. No suprise that she's swinging...again!


These two brothers sat down together with their fair food and they were even wearing the party colors!


the party favors--in all the excitement, I didn't get a picture of this until almost all the guests were gone. There were also horses and ducks in the "petting zoo."

Walking Tacos:
Cut a Fritos bag on one side and hold like a taco shell. Add taco meat, cheese, chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, sour cream , guacamole...whatever you like on tacos...and eat with a fork while you walk.


And lastly, (maybe I'm hoping no one will actually scroll down this far) I have a family picture. I was noticing in our albums that we have very few pictures of the 5 of us as a family. Probably because it's so difficult to get all the kids wrangled, and partly because I take all the pictures in this family. So to remedy the situation, I decided that from now on, we will take a family picture at every birthday. That way I'll have at least 5 family pictures a year and maybe one of those will actually be good. Here's hopin' we all feel a little more photogenic at Cody's Birthday!

Kyle's Lego Party

For Kyle's fourth birthday party, we had a little Lego themed get-together with mostly family and a couple of friends. I made Lego block shaped cakes and the candles were held up by 4 little Lego men AKA MiniFigures to the die-hard Lego lovers. We had a Lego hunt where the kids hunted for Legos on the porch. I think they had a good time. Oh yeah, almost forgot, I made Lego Man Pops out of marshmallows and candy melts. I drew the faces on with food markers but it didn't work all that well.

When Kyle's teachers asked him about his birthday party, he said excitedly, "We had jellybeans!" Yup folks, that's right, I went to all that trouble of making Lego Man Pops, the Lego Block cake, a banner, etc, but the highlight for him was the jellybeans I bought on a whim. figures.




Kyle showing off his loot from the Lego Hunt.

Isn't it hilarious how other kids always try to blow out the candles? I know I have some pics like this from when I was little where my cousins are blowing out my candles.

Barrett's Superhero Birthday Party

Capes made by Gigi (I helped a little), masks, cake, and banner


Left to right: Evan, Barrett, Jack, Liam, Conan, Dylan, Jackson




showing off his best superhero pose


This superhero wears rainboots


Superbaby Annabelle had a cape too


Blake did a super job of showing off the cape and mask

Balloon Festival!

We had a wonderful time at the Plano Balloon Festival on Saturday night where we gathered with some friends and family to celebrate Kyle's third birthday. Even Nanny made the trek to see the hot air balloons up close and be there for the birthday celebration! Go Nanny! Before we got there, Barrett told Papa, "If you get in one, you will pop it!" I think they were very suprised about how big they were.







Let's take a closer look at Emma...nice. Oh and yes, she does have a shiner (she had a run-in with some playground equipment. I think the playground won, but I haven't seen it yet)









The birthday boy on his daddy's shoulders looking at the balloons. It reminds me of this Isaac Newton quote: "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

I can't wait to experience this next year of his life as his mother. I love seeing the world through his eyes.