Thursday, June 30, 2011

another spring party...

In April, we hosted a gender neutral couples baby shower for some friends in the neighborhood.  It was such a fun night that I took very few photos...didn't get a single pic of the parents-to-be, other hostesses, guests or the meal.  We wanted a simple, but elegant theme/feel to the party and I think we pulled it off nicely.  My friend, Katie, who was also a hostess, prepared a fabulous Italian meal: pasta, Caesar salad, and the best homemade garlic bread I've ever eaten.  Her family is Italian and she is a great cook.

I LOVE hydrangeas!!  I put white, spider mums in mint julep cups throughout the house.


Dessert...petit fours and adorable sugar cookies.  They both were done to match the invite.
The dress-me-up plate from Southern Living is one of my favorite pieces to use for parties.

I also used my boys silver rattles and baby cups.
Italian lemonade
     
Sweet baby Tyler was born May 17, and we are so happy for his parents!!

Monday, June 13, 2011

the apple of our eye turned 1...

I can't believe my baby is one!!!  How many times do you hear mommies say that?  It's true, I told Bryan last week that I wanted time to stand still.  Both of our boys are at such a fun age and I don't want them get one bit older!!!
Enjoy our celebration of sweet, sweet BENNETT....
March 1, 2011~Happy 1st Birthday

Both sides of our family came in for the weekend.  We all went to dinner Friday night at a yummy, local Mexican restaurant.  The party was Saturday at 11:00 and then we all headed to big brother's first t-ball game.  Busy, but fun weekend!! 


Birthday boy who wanted to walk and not take pictures with his mommy!!



Part of the crew...

And the rest of us...

Bennett boy and his Poppa

My talented friend, Rebecca, once again did not disappoint with this invitation. 
I ordered the hat from Etsy and it was the inspiration for the entire party(much thanks to my sister for finding it)!!

Love the color scheme of his party!!
~Fun 1st Birthday Celebration~
I love to plan parties of all kinds.  Details and such just get my juices flowing and really inspires me.  I love, in all of my spare time(HAHA), browsing party planning sites and searching for the perfect decorations, paper, napkins, etc.  I want the guests to feel like I put some thought into the celebration and to create a festive environment!!
Table full of goodies

Smash cake & cupcakes with toppers I made.

How cute are they?  My sister-in-law, Linsey, can do anything on the computer.  I told her what I wanted and she designed them.  They were super easy to make.  I emailed the file to Office Max & had them print on white cardstock, cut them out, cut out a slightly bigger circle on colored card stock, mounted them together with the foam scrapbooking stickers that make things 3-D, and taped the lollipop sticks to the back.

Smash cake...not what I had in mind, but Bennett didn't seem bothered.
Linsey is redoing the b-day cupcakes at 10:00pm Friday night before the party.  There was a slight miscommunication with the lady who made them and I was really disappointed.  So, L came to the rescue.  I wanted the cupcakes to have green, red, & turquoise liners, which they did, and to be iced with the same gingham patterns.  She iced them white??


I bought an apple cookie cutter and made chicken salad, tuna salad, pb & j, & chocolate hazlenut sandwiches.

Also served, sausage balls, spinach dip, fruit & "apple dip"(recipe at bottom of post), cream cheese olives, and love dip from our local grocery store deli.
I had babies breath in a tall vase, red & green gumballs in one apothecary jar, red & green apples in another jar, & the invite as my centerpiece.  My sister had seen a picture in one of the Pottery Barn catalogs where they only used babies breath in the floral centerpiece.  I thought it was really cute and cheap!!   Thanks for the idea T.

Love how this turned out...Linsey helped me with this too.

Our sweet baby and his adorable hat!!

Adorable & REALLY YUMMY iced apple sugar cookies were the party favors.  I have a lady who makes the most amazing cookies and they were a hit!!  I had a red basket full of cookies for the kiddos, and apple scented hand sanitizer  from Bath & Body for the guests to grab as they were leaving.  Thanks for the basket and hand sanitizer idea  J!!


Adorable door hanger sign that Linsey designed for me.  I decided to hang above the party table.  Super easy to create...Office Max printed it for me and I backed it to gingham scrapbook paper, red cardstock, and a green foam sheet.

Close-up of the centerpiece..love the red gingham ribbon!!

My sweet family

Big birthday boy

My friends and their precious babies:
Katie & Carter, Rebecca & Ella(pregnant with Adeline), Crystal & Cassidy


Mom, Evie, Nella, & Greg having a bite to eat

Linsey, Davy, & Corbin

Bryan, Brooks, MeMe, & Pop'O

Bennett with his birthday gift(that Uncle Davy put together right before the party)...what's the saying, "It takes a village to raise one child!!".  He loved it and so did all of the other kiddos.

Evie taking it for a spin...I love this precious girl so much!!

"Mommy, what are you holding?"

He is just a big bundle of cuteness.

"OOHHH, I like this!!"  That is about the extent of his damage, he lost interest quickly.


Stripped down to open gifts with the help of big brother.

All dressed and ready to head out the door for Brooks' first t-ball game.  Somehow E's pink bow managed to get into his hair...there is no pink in my home, & a girl can dream, right??  Maybe one day...

Cutie pie all dressed & ready to play.

~Apple Dip~
3/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C powdered sugar
1 8oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 C Heath toffee bits
1/2 C pineapple juice(slowly add this until you get a good consistency~may not use it all)
~I served with sliced apples, strawberries, & grapes~
ENJOY!!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Bennett Months 6-12

A few more pictures of our sweet baby boy.  This first year of his life flew by and it just makes me sad!!  He is the happiest baby and such a go with the flow type of personality...
We call him "The Dictator" because he walks around with his big ol' belly barking orders.  He adores his big brother and I look forward to watching their relationship grow over the years.


6 Months: 1st time to have cereal..cute!!

6 Months: Happiness

7 Months

I am a thumb sucker!!

7 month trip to big brother's favorite place:Bass Pro Shop

Loving his Sophie

7 Months: 1st trip to the farm

I have boys...I now own camo!!

7 months: 1st trip to the pumpkin patch

Such a lovie!!

8 Months:Christmas pictures/Thanksgiving weekend

One of my favorite pics

8 Months: 1st Thanksgiving
9 Months: 1st Christmas...hmmm, what should I do Mom?

10 Months: Oopps, Mom forgot to let me wear this cutie pie hat a few months ago.

11 Months: Big Brother's b-day party(sitting on home plate at the Houston Astros field)

I do love to eat, and it makes me happy!!

Could he be any cuter?