Birthday Parties

When I was pregnant with my first child, and shortly after she was born, I told myself, "Eh. You don't need to have a big first birthday party. She won't remember it." Though that's totally true, I realized that a nonexistent or small family party wasn't going to happen. Why? Because that's not who I am. I'm a celebrator. I throw parties. Do you know that for a few years in a row I threw an annual party for a holiday I made up? The party included t-shirts made for the event and everything. Of course I'm going to throw a big first birthday party! Then a 2nd, 3rd, 4th... until my kids ask me to stop. 

I LOVE a theme. I obsess over a theme. I start thinking of Halloween costumes for the next year while I'm still at the party wearing the current one. So when my kids chose a theme, I go with it. As far as I can. Whatever that means in my crazy head. 

So, because I really enjoy all these things does that mean I'm trying to show up anyone ? Trying to prove anything to anyone? No. Not even a little bit. I will full on admit I'm crazy about this stuff. I don't care how you throw a party. I don't take offense, or think, "Well they are trying to show me up with their minimalist ways." If I made a quilt for my bed you wouldn't assume anything about me just because you have a comforter from T.J. Maxx. I'm over the top. It's part of my personality. It's okay if it's not part of yours, but please don't think I'm trying to prove anything to anyone. 

Have my kids come to expect a crazy birthday party, with themed food, and matching costumes? Yes. Do I sometimes stress myself out to the max because of all the crazy projects I do for a party? Yes.  Does that mean I'm going to stop? No. 

Even if my kids can't remember their earliest parties, I will. The memory book of pictures will. It's something I look forward to talking about with them in the future. 

Does this all sound kind of selfish ? I listed a lot of things I like. Right now my kids like them too. If in the future they'd rather have a low key or nonexistent celebration, I may be disappointed but will totally do what will make them happy. I give a lot to my kids, and if throwing them elaborate parties because I like them makes me selfish, and some how a bad person, I'm okay with that. 

A rainbow party. 

My eye shadow must always match the theme. 

Guess the theme. 

Pin the bow on Hello Kitty. 

An Ariel themed turned mostly purple/teal under the sea theme. 

The birthday girl in her birthday costume. 

A tea party!

I had so much fun shopping local thrift stores for lace pieces and tea sets. 

This Wild West theme was chosen a month after he was born.

Yes. I even brought a horse. 

Pin the mustache on the cowboy. 

These will double as this years Halloween costume. If they don't change their minds. :D

Confession

Guys. I have a confession to make. Remember my posts about the hermit crabs? How they are gross and I hate them? So now I'm oddly obsessed with them. Our original crab (Penny Elsa) sadly didn't live very long. I ended up buying the other 2 because I read they like to have friends. Multiple friends. After Penny Elsa's time was up, I felt bad for Teddy and Anna Buddy Butt (yes, that's what my children have named them). Today I went out and got 2 more friends. I also bought some accessories for their habitat. I'm trying to read up on them as much as I can so I can take care of them properly. I also think they will be great for the kids to watch. Yeah...they're for the kids...

        This little guy (girl?) is called Elsa. 

Hard to see Feddy. (Rhymes with Teddy)

Fondue

So I'm hosting a slow cooker challenge on Facebook. This weeks challenge is to make a dessert in your slow cooker. On my quest to find a dessert recipe, I came across this one for S'mores fondue.  

 http://www.bhg.com/recipe/chocolate/smore-fondue/

And because I love a theme, I decided fondue for dinner was the way to go. Which then sent me on a search for a savory fondue. I searched Pinterest and ending up finding this. 

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/cheddar-beer-fondue-recipe-ghk0213

The thing is, I'm terrible at following recipes for the most part. I basically use them as a guide. Some suggestions, I guess. 

For the S'mores recipe I ended up using a 12oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and almond milk along with the marshmallows from the recipe.  It was kind of a last minute decision, so I threw my slow cooker on high to get it warmed up. Then I forgot to turn it down and some of the marshmallows got crispy edges. So our fondue wasn't totally smooth. The kids didn't mind. They kept yelling,"I got a piece of marshmallow!" Following this recipe and allowing my kids to eat more chocolate than they should have, we still had a bunch left over. So it would probably be a great recipe for a party. We used, graham crackers, chocolate animal crackers, apple slices and cherries to dip in the chocolate fondue. I ended up putting some in a bowl because the slow cooker would have made it awkward for my kids to dip into. 

       S'mores fondue. Super easy to throw together. 

The dessert dippins. 

 

For the cheese recipe I used an Angry Orchard hard cider in place of the beer. I also forgot to buy mustard so that got the ax. I did throw some sriracha in for the hot sauce, but I didn't want to make it too spicy on the off chance my kids would give this a try. (more on that later) I guess my reading skills were a little off at this point, because I started making the recipe totally wrong. I threw in the cheese and cornstarch before realizing I was supposed to have warmed the beer, and other ingredients first. It was okay. I just added everything at once and started whisking. For dippers I cut up a baguette, some onion buns I found at the store, sausage, hot dogs, cauliflower and tomatoes. 

       Cheese fondue and  dippins. 

My kids wouldn't try the cheese dip but , of course,  loved the chocolate. They did, however, love the idea of serving themselves off of the plates from the middle of the table. I have done this once before, without the fondue, and it was a major hit. These little things are what I need to remember when a food battle starts. I hate the food battle. It's such a silly thing that I let myself get caught up in. 

                       Ready for some cheese fondue. Hold the cheese fondue please.

Mmmmmmm. Chocolate!

I would for sure make both of these recipes again. There was so many leftovers that I may cut recipes in half next time or wait until I have a shindig to bring them along to. 

 A hefty amount of leftovers!

Meet Penny Elsa

So, I'm terrible. I get all these ideas about what I should write about in my head, but they never make it here. I'm working on that. I swear.

Anyway! We got a new pet! Friends brought us a hermit crab back from the beach. I'm working on getting "Penny Elsa" a larger habitat. We are learning how to take care of such a pet. The internet is our friend for this. Full disclosure: I'm afraid of the thing. It's rather lively when out of it's current home. Jetta ran around yelling, "Now we have 7 pets!" all day yesterday. Making me worry a passerby would hear her and call Hoarders on us.

Here it goes! I'm going to be brave and touch you!

JK! JK! I'll check your sponge for you. 

We definitely need to get this guy (girl?) some more sand to dig in.  

It's moving! It's moving!

What's better than a creepy, crawly, crab as a pet? A creepy, crawly, crab with a creepy painting of Dora on it's shell. 

I am a ferocious beast!

So fascinating!

Wreck This Journal- Day 2

Today we decided to go with the page that told us to drip something, close the book and make a print. The girls were yelling, "COME ON! We are ready to wreck our journal!" It took me a few moments to think of something they could use to drip on the page. Luckily I never put my craft supplies away and some yellow acrylic paint was sitting on the step.

Journal's appearance at the start of today. 

Supplies

Dripping.

Big sister's turn. 

 

Those are some drips!

Closin' her up!

Seems like we have some extra. 

Turned into a giant yellow heart. Which the girls were happy about. 

Baby brother wanted in on the action. 

It was hard for me to not tell the girls to stop with the paint. My mama "don't make a giant mess, don't ruin this book" senses kicked in. I did stop myself though 

They were also upset that we were only able to complete one page today. I didn't think about doing other things with a bunch of yellow paint everywhere. We are currently waiting for the paint to dry. Hopefully that happens by tomorrow.