10 posts tagged “birthday”

So, a couple of months ago I asked Brianna what kind of party she would like to have this year.  She knew she wanted an outdoor thing, so we brainstormed some themes.  Beach party at the lake was a contender, but then we thought of clowns and a carnival theme.  Y'know, cotton candy, popcorn, clowns, balloons, piñatas, bouncy castle, games for prizes.... the whole shebang!

When we came down from La-La-Land -- and checked the budget -- we decided to go with the carnival theme at home, but slightly... uh... smaller.  It wasn't just the cost of all the activities, but her guest list usually rivals that of an A-List Hollywood party (we were expecting about 35 kids) so I knew I'd already be spending a lot on food and goodie bags! 
Much to her dismay, we said no to the bouncy castle, but we did book an excellent clown to face-paint, sing songs, do magic tricks and make balloon animals for 2 hours (not cheap, let me tell you)!  I didn't rent cotton candy or popcorn machines, but I did fill up 3 (yes... THREE) piñatas so that there would be less pushing and shoving, and everyone would get a good amount of candy.  

We also found some great games at Wal-Mart -- horseshoes, obstacle courses, basketball, soccer.... all for under $10 each (the horseshoe sets were less than $4 each!!).  I also bought fantastic cakes from a wholesaler here in town -- one chocolate upon chocolate with chocolate on top and then drizzled with chocolate... and one yummy berry burst with raspberries and blueberries on top.  Expensive, but a nicer alternative to a Safeway slab cake, and I didn't have to spend a bunch of time baking one myself.

I thought I had everything under control until the weekend approached and I realized that it was going to RAIN!!!
#%$^&*@ !!!!

I had pushed her birthday party to July 5th because her actual birthday is always cloudy or rainy (it was beautiful this year) and since it fell on Father's Day this year I thought few people could make it.  That day, I joked that Mother Nature would feel my wrath if it rained during the party, so my sister suggested that I increase my carbon footprint by buying Hummers for everyone in my family, throwing out all my recycling, etc.  Mother Nature must have known I was not happy because she held the rain back just long enough for the kids to play outside for a couple of hours!  All in all, I'd say it was a successful party!  Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do next year!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On June 15th, Brianna turned 5 years old!  Forgive the late blog entry... you will soon be inundated with entries as I get caught up over the last 2 months!

 She was hoping for a Barbie Mariposa doll, or some My Little Ponies, but we decided on something much more fun!  We looked at a few ride-on jeeps, and chose this one on account of the lower price tag.  Rather than decorate it with the included flame decals, we bought some cool skater stickers to make it more appealing to a mature 5-year-old girl!

The twins gave her some I-Spy books since she likes them so much! 

Mike would like the manufacturer to know that their estimated 15 minute assembly time is off by about AN HOUR! 

 

 

 Just like last year, Brianna was given the choice of where to have her birthday dinner.  And, just like last year, she chose Choo Choo's Restaurant.  She likes the toy trains they give the kids to play with at the table, and everyone loves the train that circles the restaurant on a track near the ceiling!  There was about 15 of us there -- friends and family -- and we all had a great meal and yummy desserts. 

My major regret of the night: we forgot to sing Happy Birthday to Brianna when she got her ice cream!  To make up for it, Mike and I sang to her as we tucked her into bed for the night.

 

 

 

 

  Despite the fact that it was not at all what she expected, she sure does love to bomb around in her new wheels!  There's even enough room for a friend to hop in!

Monday was Mike's birthday, but we had a family dinner on Sunday.  I made roast 'beast' dinner with all the fixin's and my MIL brought Death By Chocolate for dessert!  Yum! 

It wasn't what you may consider a rockin' birthday bash, but -- hey -- we have 3 small kids and (as a result) no life!

Brianna and Ainsley posed for Grandma's camera.  It is a good thing both Grandmas take a lot of pictures when they come by.  I just didn't have time to take any that day.

The twins and I had a cuddle after dinner.  This is a familiar pose for us lately.... neither will let the other have alone time with me!

I love this shot!  Kudos to my Mum for taking this one!  The dessert looks like it's on fire, but it's really a bunch of letter-shaped candles that spelled 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'.... I don't think we could have wedged 38 candles on there!  The dessert was delicious!

September 23rd was the twins' 1st birthday, and we had a great celebration.  About 60 people (adults and kids) were in attendance, and the twins seemed to really enjoy themselves!  Since their birthday was on the Autumnal Equinox this year, I decided to play around with a fall theme.  Very fun!

 

Happy Birthday To Yooouuuu!

I made Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese icing (from scratch, thank you), and the twins gobbled them up!

 

 

Oh, the chaos!  Considering this was right around nap time, the twins really got into the whole gift opening thing.  The blue t-shirts over their dresses was not a fashion statement thing... they were gifts from their Auntie (they say "This is my birthday t-shirt").

 

The candy buffet (this one's for you Allison)!  I found fall-themed chinese take-out boxes and labeled them with each of the kids names.  The kids had fun scooping the sugary deliciousness into their boxes and they were very excited about the caramel apples I made too!  I'm sure the parents had fun scraping their kids off the ceiling later on!  Hmm.  I see the Skittles were a hit!  Brianna and her cousin (above) sampled a little of everything! 

One year ago.  This was taken they day the twins were born... Kaitlyn on left, Ainsley on right.  I remember watching them sleep, and wondering what they would really look like (newborns seem to have a 'generic' baby look), what their personalitlies would be, how Brianna would behave around them, and whether I would survive the first year.  Well, they are beautiful little girls (I have a biased opinion, I know), Ainsley is strong-willed and likes to do her own thing, Kaitlyn is very cuddly with me and would rather be in my arms (very similar to their behaviour in the womb, come to think of it), Brianna is a very loving and doting older sister and can make the twins laugh their gorgeous belly laughs when she plays with them, and I am very much alive. 

I can't believe how fast the last year has gone by.  I am so thankful that I was able to spend everyday watching them become the wee people they are.  I would rather spend my day sitting on the floor, holding Katie and watching Ainsley play, than sitting at a desk under foul flourescent lighting anyday!  Let see what the next year has in store....!

So, my 31st birthday was on Wednesday.  I'm not feeling so hot about this year. 

Last year, I was out-to-here pregnant with the twins, so I couldn't do much without suffering from brackston hicks, and it's not like I could enjoy a glass of wine... but I still had a good birthday.  Mike took Brianna and me to one of the most hoity-toity restaruants in town, and I gorged on really, really good food.  Our wedding anniversary happens to be 3 days after my birthday (rough week for Mike), so last year he took me up to Whistler and gave me a really nice watch (a combo present for my birthday too).

This year, I was taken out for dinner again, and was given really nice gifts from the kids and Mike, but I'm just not feeling like 31 is my year.  I really feel like I'm IN my 30's now (not just on the edge).  I never cared about my age before.  People would ask that stupid question, "So do you feel (age) now?", and I would just say I feel the same.  So, why should 31 affect me like this?  Is it because I have 3 kids now?  Or is it because I am finally focusing on my dream career so late in life?  Am I bored?  Perhaps.

Let's try to put a positive spin on this.  Maybe this is my year for change.  Maybe it's time to put me first on the list for the first time in years, and embrace the coming decade. 

Yes, I have 3 kids.  I know I am done in the procreating department, so now I can focus on getting my body and mind to a healthier state and encourage my kids to be active by being active myself. 

Yes, I am finally starting my flight training.  It has been my dream job all my life, and I am grateful I have the chance to take the courses and get on my way.  I have supported Mike in his career for the past 9 years, so I think I deserve to start my own.  I have always thought I would prefer to be home with the kids (as a career) but I really feel like I'm not where I'm meant to be.  Don't get me wrong, I love that I have had the chance to raise my kids.  I have not missed one first step, first tooth, first word, or any other first since they were born.  Not many parents can say that.

For the rest of the year, I guess I'll focus on what I'm going to be when I grow up, and maybe in the New Year I'll feel like 31 and a half isn't so bad. 

July 1st, 2007 marks the 140th birthday of Our Home And Native Land!

Happy Canada day to all my fellow Canucks! 

For some reason, Canada Day marks the beginning of summer for me.  The weather here on the "wet coast" seems to improve, and the smell of BBQ in the neighbourhood is almost like a daily test of Pavlov's theory. 

So, to start the birthday festivities, I bring you a video from a hilarious fellow Canadian: Rick Mercer. 

PS: I'd like to apologize in advance to all you lovely Americans out there... I hope you see the humor, but to clarilfy: Canadians do not live in igloos, our country has provinces (not states), Ottawa is our capital city (not Toronto), and our Prime Minister (not President) was Jean Chretien at the time (not Jean Poutine).  Oh, and we do not have a five dollar coin called a "woody". 

 

Brianna's 4th birthday was on the 15th, and I think Mike and I were just as excited about the event as she was!  We bought her a new bike, and wheeled it into her room while she was sleeping.  We woke up to the sound of her deep inhalation and the sound of her feet climbing down the ladder of her loft bed.  I had my camera at the ready on my night stand, and Mike had the video camera on his side, so we jumped out of bed to wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

We were very surprised that she chose this one when we went bike shopping a couple of weeks before.  We thought she would have insisted on a pink one or something a little more frilly.  Nope.  This was the only girl's bike in the bike shop at the time and she fell in love with it.  Maybe she would have gone for pink if they had one.  We were so disappointed in the bikes we saw at Toys R Us and other department stores.  All the kid's bikes were cheaply made and seemed to have the pedals positioned in a way that made pedaling difficult.  Strange.  It's a wonder they sell any at all.

We let Brianna choose the restaurant for her birthday dinner.  She chose Choo-Choo's -- a family restaurant in town that has a toy train that circles over the dining area.  It's a fun place for kids, and the food is alright, so we thought it was a good choice... not to mention, the conversation around can get a little loud, so we knew people probably wouldn't mind if the twins acted up.  She decided to wear a new outfit her grandparents gave her, and she looked adorable!  Her birthday dessert?  Chocolate ice cream with a cherry on top, please!  The waiter followed her instructions to a tee!  This photo was taken as the wait staff (and some of the diners) sang "Happy Birthday" to her!

 A couple of days later, we had her party at The Little Gym here in town (Brianna goes to gymnastics here, and I highly recommmend it to parents of young children).  Brianna and about 30 of her closest friends sat and vibrated as they listened to the instructors.  They could not wait to get back to the equipment.  Brianna is the second from the left of the orange pole. 

Having a blast with the parachute.  I remember playing with one of those in school.  Isn't it funny how something so simple can please kids so much?  This is one of my faves of the day!

"Humph!"  She blew out her "4" candle, but was not impressed with her strawberry shortcake.  She doesn't like cake, so I tried to think of an alternative that everyone could have (a couple of her friends have allergies so they had a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream).  I had also thought of ice cream cake, but the gym is a peanut-free zone, and Dairy Queen is not at all peanut-free.  I had no desire to scour the city for a nut-free alternative, so this is what I came up with (I made almost 60 for the kids and parents while the kids were in the gym).  I thought it was a good idea, since she chose Strawberry Shortcake as the theme of her party.  You just can't please everyone! 

 "It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to!"  She had spilled her drink and some of it landed on her foot.  Not a big deal to you or me, but to Highness.... a tragedy!  She is so quick to tears for every little thing that it gets awfully tiring! 

We ran out of time at the gym, so we had to pack the gifts home to open.  This is a very obnoxious smile from Brianna as she sits in front of her gifts... I guess I was taking to long for liking and she was tired of hearing me say, "C'mon Bree... let me see your pretty Princess smile!  Show me your teeth!"   Just after she opened her gifts, we prepared to have extended family over for a casual BBQ.  We had a great time with aunts, uncles, cousins and our good neighbour friends, and it was a great way to end a jam packed weekend! 

Now... what should we do for next year??

PS: Thanks to my sister for the great photos at the gym... she took about 100 photos there, and totally saved my butt... I had no time to take a photo, and I actually thought I had forgotten my camera at home! 

This Friday (June 15), my beautiful daughter Brianna will be FOUR!!!!  ACK!!!  I can't believe it!

She and nearly 30 of her closest friends will enjoy gymnastics, pizza and strawberry shortcakes at The Little Gym on Sunday, and she is SO excited! 

I just can't wait to see the look on her face when she wakes up on Friday to see her brand-spankin'-new big girl's bike!!!  Nope.. not a hand-me-down, either! 

Brianna's class celebrates each student's birthday during the year, but for the kids born in the summer months, they have a Summer Birthday Picnic.  June kids are included in this celebration, so Brianna was one of the kids honoured today.  I'm sure they will acknowledge her big day on Friday too!

Brianna (in the stripety sweater) enjoyes some yummy snacks after a hard morning of climbing and swinging!

She's listening to the group sing "Happy Birthday" to her and the other Summer babies.

Group shot.  Lovely tongue, Brianna! 

Whoa... the days have just flown by and I am behind with my blogs!

Good Friday was my sister's birthday, so we crossed the river to have Chinese take-out and some yummy chocolate cake with her family.  Her husband's family has operated a dairy farm on the same property since about 1879, so Brianna loves visiting the barn.  It's more like a petting zoo with a horse, a bunch of chickens, sheep, goats, ducks, and of course many cows.  They also have a dog, a rabbit, a guinea pig and now a large turtle at the house.  Yikes! 

Brianna, my sister, and her daughter Nadine.  MMMMM... chocolate!

Brianna and Nadine feeding Jenny the horse.  Nadine's hat and boots are way too cute!  Brianna refused to wear barn-friendly clothes to the her Auntie's birthday ("I have to wear a PARTY dress to a PARTY Mommy!"), but she did very well staying clean!

Me with a baby chick.  The chickens at this farm are black, so the chicks are grey when born and turn black rather quickly.  We were discussing how Brianna is starting to clue in that chicken on her dinner plate was in fact a live chicken, beef was once a cow, and so on.  Brianna is fond of McDonald's chicken nuggets, so all the chicks at the barn were nicknamed "Nugget".  Sick sense of humor, I know.   

OK... Mike was pleased to receive a belated birthday present from my sister and her family.  He read the card and gave it a little hug!  Then he actually said "Your sister is just like you, except nice." 

"Oh, thanks," I reply. 

"To me," he says.  "You're nice to other people, but she's nice to me."