Birthdays & Babies & Beads...

...OH MY! It has been a crazy busy weekend. It really started on Thursday with Reese's school party. I came up for air after being buried neck deep in cake pops only to jump right back in to prep for her birthday party the next day. I bake her a cake every year. The baking is the easy part but decorating took a while. You can't tell by looking at the final product but I did put a lot of time and effort into it. She liked it so that's all that matters! Here's the outcome: I also, with the help of Reese, put together gift bags for the kids. They turned out really cute. Reese decorated each one a "thank you" and artwork. She used a cheat sheet for the first two or three but by then she had it memorized. I was pretty impressed! The card says "Thanks for coming to Reese's 5th birthday party" and we filled each bag with a bunch of different Reese's candy. She was so excited for her party. She spent the day out and about with my parents and then played in the yard. It was such a beautiful afternoon! Although it looks warm it was still pretty chilly. She came in from this photo with goosebumps on her arms. The party was a hit! This is the third time she's picked a bouncy house facility. She really likes them and it works for us because we can enjoy the party too. The kids have a blast and wear themselves out and all we have to do is bring a cake. No hassle, no clean-up. Works for me!

Of course she got spoiled by all of her friends and family. She had perma-grin from the time she got there until 11 that night when we finally got her to bed. She was so pumped from the day and also insisted on helping us to prepare for our next party.....

On Saturday night we threw a Mardi Gras themed couple's baby shower for my cousin, Heather, and her husband, Eric. They are expecting their 3rd girl at the end of April. Talan is going to be surrounded by FOUR girls! Right now when these girls get together it's nothing but Barbies, purses, and high heels. Can't a brother get a train or a truck up in here? Hopefully he has a strong personality because he's in for it! Poor little guy!!!

Kevin & I, together with our close friends Jeff & Meilina, tried hard to bring a little piece of the South to the Great NW while living in Seattle. We had a few Mardi Gras parties complete with the food, drinks, and music. We've collected a ton of decorations and supplies over the years and Kevin & I inherited it all when we moved. It was so much fun to put it to good use. (Sidenote: Meilina, start saving now. You are flying out for a big shindig next year! The memories were too good to not recreate them!!!)

In addition to red beans & rice, "pastalaya", muffelattas, chicken cakes, crab cakes, and boiled shrimp, (and of course Pat O's Hurricanes & Abita beer to drink ) I made a King Cake:

We had a blast and hope that Eric, Heather, and their guests did too. Now we only have four weeks to go before Julia arrives. We feel so lucky to not only have our girls all so close in age, but that we'll now have two more who can grow up together. I am still just in such shock that we're living down the street from them. Really....what are the chances that we'd both randomly end up in the same town and same neighborhood? I love having family nearby.

Aunt Jean, Heather's mom, with Talan My beautiful Mom

Us with Eric & Heather

And now here I sit. The house is so quiet. Not because the parties are all over, but because Reese left this morning for Tennessee. I was in tears before they pulled out of the driveway. I didn't think it would be this hard to see her go. I was looking forward to having some down time but this just doesn't feel right so far. I miss her like crazy and I'm only six hours in. I know she'll have a blast and we'll be there on Thursday evening, before we all know it. She is a non-stop little ball of energy but that's exactly what we're missing right now. I love that sweet girl to pieces! In fact, I'm off to call her. Thanks for reading.