Birthday Party Fun ~ Super Mario Style!

June 14, 2011 By 7 Comments

For two years Nicholas has wanted a Super Mario Birthday Party. I didn’t get my act together it time for last year so Sponge Bob stepped in, but this year N got his Mario. As I tend to do for the boys’ birthdays, I stuck with solid-colored party supplies with a few of the theme touches to decorate. It seems to be so much less expensive that way (and the kids are still happy). William was so much help with making the decorations (especially the Question Boxes). Even when the man thinks I’m crazy with these birthday parties, he just sort of shakes his head and gives me whatever help I need. That’s a good Daddy and husband right there!

Thanks to my wonderful friend, Heather, who captured these images of all of our kids having fun and helping my big boy celebrate. So here are some of the highlights from the Super Mario Party!

Decorations & Food

Question Boxes! They looked better before the wind tangled the mushrooms and stars together, but I still liked how they looked.

1 Up Marshmallows! I got this idea from Paisley Petal Events, and she was sweet enough to give me tips. The kids all loved them and I loved how they looked.

 

Power Up Punch (aka, lemon-lime Kool Aid). I used the figures and toys that Nicholas already had to add to the decorations. I thought Luigi was perfect here!

 

I had planned to make a Wii remote cake, but N wanted a round cake with his toys on it. The toys turned out to be too heavy, but he was happy with the cool candles.

Thanks to my crafty friends Rachel and Pam, I made these cool tie-dye cupcakes, with star sprinkles of course!

 


We kept the rest of the food simple with fruit, veggies and pizza. Water and lemon aid rounded out the drink selection. With lots and lots of ice on a very hot day.

Entertainment
The entertainment at an outside party, in June, in South Texas better include water! We borrowed my cousin’s inflatable water slide, we broke out the sprinkler and we got a kiddie pool (which only the big kids used!). And of course a big ol’ Super Mario pinata!

 

And I will leave you with a Pop Rock-covered smile

I would love to see your favorite party decorations! I need to start thinking about next year!


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Freeze Frame!

May 31, 2011 By 2 Comments

I wish I could freeze time for the boys right this second.  Right this second when they are both healthy and strong. There isn’t a virus in sight, no vomit or boogers or poo (oh my!). Both of them are breathing easy and can run and play and jump and tumble.

I wish I could freeze this time in their relationship when they are so in love with each other. With a few exceptions here and there, Nicholas thinks that Tobin is awesome. He loves his little brother so much and is so happy to have him around. N wants to hold T and hug him and squeeze him and play with him. And Tobin’s favorite place in the world is playing on Nicholas’ bed with him. The most perfect moment for them is when N is making T laugh (it’s pretty perfect for the parents too).

I wish I could freeze this moment when the boys are happy to just be with each other. I want to remember this when they are fighting over bigger things than just who gets to hold the Luigi doll.

I wish I could freeze this age for Tobin when he is learning something every second and there is so much delight and wonder. I love this time when Tobin wants to snuggle in my arms to fall asleep at night. I love this size when he is already becoming so independent but is still small enough to be swept up in our arms and swung around with ease.

I wish I could freeze this age for Nicholas when he had a wonderful school year and is completely sure that he is smart and school is great. I love watching him reading and asking us to add numbers for him. I love to see him transforming from little boy to big boy as his face narrows, his legs lengthen and the slight bit of baby chub he had melts away. I’m so glad he still folds himself onto my lap for snuggles.

My friend, Christie, had her oldest daughter a couple of years before I had Nicholas. She said one day that she thought she’d have a favorite age for her kids (that she’d like it better when they were babies or toddlers or big girls). Instead, she found that her favorite age was the age her daughters were right that second. I have to agree. I love to look back on Nicholas as a baby or even Tobin just a year ago, but the age they are right this second? That’s the age I want to freeze.

Do you have a favorite age for your kids? Or maybe a favorite phase?

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