The Bike Party

 We gave Edmond and Charlie a big party for their birthday's this year. The tricycle image on the invite is a free printable.

 The boys loved delivering their invitations around the neighborhood. They took turns holding the card and they peaked in the windows of all the houses.

I really wanted to find some bike trophies like I'd seen at this party on Pinterest. And so I started searching craigslist and ebay, but couldn't find anything affordable for 35 kids. Finally, when I'd almost given up hope, instead of searching "bike trophy" I searched "bmx trophy", and I found a post on craigslist for 35 trophies for $40, and it was only 15 minutes away! Even though it was 10pm, I called the people and we set up a time to meet the next morning. I could hardly sleep that night, I was so excited.

Here is our loot. All the trophies were huge, which I thought the boys would love, but I found they were favoring the smaller ones that they could carry around. So, I decided to shorten most of them, and then spray paint all of them.

 Every day for two weeks Edmond would wake up early and find me in my bed and tap my shoulder. "Mom...Mom!" he'd say in a whisper voice, "is today my bike party?"

I was so happy on the morning of the party when I could finally say, "Yes!!! Today is the day of your bike party!!!" And then I watched him smile and clench his little fists and jump around the room. I love getting little kids all excited.

The breeze made my tablecloths and ruffled crepe paper look a little wonky, but they were cute at one point.

 All these pictures were taken in haste, since our guests had started to arrive. I wish I had gotten better photos of everything.

 All the kids were excited to see the trophies. Kids love trophies. They spent time milling around the table, pointing to the one they hoped to get.

 I gave each kid a bike decorating pack, with crepe paper and streamers and tape. And they each got one of the polka dot helium balloons. The balloons were my favorite part, they looked really cute when they were racing with their balloons floating above them. I wish I had a picture of that!

 After the race we fed the ducks with these little duck-feeding packs I made.

 The favors, B's kettle corn

 Red velvet cupcakes and lemon cupcakes, made by me.

 Sister in her dress I bought at Sam's club the day before because it matched our party and her eyes perfectly.

 The birthday boys, ready to race!

 After the race I had the kids make a line behind the birthday boys. Edmond had already picked his trophy the day we bought them. He chose for me to paint it blue. He likes it because "it has a bald eagle on it."

 Charlie also picked his trophy before I painted them. He chose for it to be painted green, and he liked it because it "has a piston cup on it."

 I loved seeing all these kids with their trophies. They were so proud.

 Presley raced around the pond a second time and when she came back she said, "Can I have another trophy since I went around the track twice?"

 The ducks had more food than they could eat that day, thanks to our generous party-goers.

And there was plenty of time for exploring. It was a pretty perfect day.

iphone photo dump

 While I was taking this picture, Edmond was saying, "Mom, I don't want to share with Scarlett. Mom, after this picture take Scarlett out."

 Will's superhero party was bangin'. Amanda made little masks for everyone. Edmond and Charlie were in heaven.

 And here is the Queen of the Swing. My friend Rachel told me that Scarlett was wearing the cutest baby outfit that she had ever seen. You have to see her little thighs showing between the sweater dress and leg warmers to really appreciate it.

 Charlie getting ready to feed the ducks.

 A sneak peak at our new built-in. I'll do a full post on it when I finally have it set up the way I want it.

 Edmond at preschool at Sabrina's house racing their cars

The Games

I never knew T-ball uniforms were the cutest outfits ever, until I saw my son in one.

This is his face as he runs around the bases. His feet kind of shuffle along as he runs, and he laughs the whole time like someone is chasing him.

Charlie and Anna-Kate run and play together.

And Charlie frequently tries to escape over to the playground, and I have to chase after him.

Even after I retrieve him, he runs ahead of me back to the game. He always has to be in front.

Papa comes to watch the games, and sometimes Uncle Ed too. Scarlett and Charlie love to play with him.

Edmond is the second kid on the left. Funny how they all look the same. T-Ball is so so cute to watch. I love it.

T-Ball, it's on.

During practice, Scarlett wanders around eating snacks and meeting people.

 

And Edmond smiles and loves it all.

I was excited at the concept of attending T-Ball games with B and sitting together with the kids on the sidelines. But, after the first practice he was asked by the coach to be the assistant coach. So, now he helps with the games and I chase after Scarlett and Charlie.

It would've been nice to do something as a family where I didn't have to share my husband.

Oh well.

Now That the Party is Jumpin'

Those trampoline bounce places are the best. It's fun to watch my kids run wild during toddler time.

Baby vs. the Trampolines.

Even I jumped for a while. It felt good to bounce as high as I could. Liberating. I was tempted to try to do a front flip, to see if I still could. But I refrained...there were too many witnesses and I didn't want to have an embarassing moment. Still, I wonder if I could.