YiaYia's 60th

This past Saturday we celebrated YiaYia's 60th birthday. We enjoyed cake & champagne with the kiddies (well they didn't partake in the latter) before heading for a leisurely evening of drinks, dinner & desserts.

As for the party's "theme" we stuck to the classics: number 60, roses, champagne & chocolate cake served on crystal, china & silver. I really can't think of anything to improve upon. 60 red roses were a beautiful gift from Bopi to his lovely bride of 38 years. 

We all gathered around the dining room table to sing "Happy Birthday" before opening gifts.

As a continuation of the 60 theme, YiaYia was gifted 6 envelopes each containing a list of 10 reasons we love YiaYia….the tears were flowing before the first envelope was even opened.

After gifts, we headed outside to take a few family pictures. I snapped this quick shot of my folks…they couldn't be cuter. And by way of God's grace, we were able to get a family photo with everyone looking at the camera. And with that, we were off to wine & dine the night away. A special thanks to YiaYia Terry & Papou Yianni who helped make the evening's dinner enjoyable by watching the littles.

A very happy 60th birthday to my beautiful Mother.  I love you and am incredibly blessed to be your daughter. Can't wait to celebrate the next 60 years!!!

Shark Attack: Peanut's Pre-K Celebration Lunch

Peanut has a strange love affair with Sharks. He is smitten, but only from a distance. So while browsing the Pottery Barn Kids' clearance I was thrilled to find a shark beach tote which could function as a new library bag for Peanut (now that he is reading!!!) along with two shark pillowcases to help aid in a good night's rest. Nothing like lots of sleep and reading to start the school year off right.

So while Peanut partied it up in Pre-K, I went to work creating his "Attack Pre-K" themed lunch table. 

 

Using leftover cupcakes from YiaYia Terry & Papou Yiannis' Labor Day cookout I created shark fin cupcakes. A tiny cucumber from our garden was transformed into jaws. And our whale sandwich cutter made for a great bull shark PB&Js.

Peanut got such a kick out of the lunch and is thrilled to finally be getting his own library card. As for the shark pillowcases, they were deemed "too scary" and banished to the linen closet….win some, lose some:)

Peanut's 1st day Pre-K {2013}

Peanut's first day of school finally arrived today and I had to be sure not to disappoint with round 2 of the back to school celebrations. Familiar with the routine, Belle awoke Peanut bright and early (to the tune of 6:00am) to see what breakfast send off awaited him.

Pancakes are Peanut's favorite and he found a plate full waiting for him at an apple themed breakfast table. He was quite the happy student along with Belle. 

We all enjoyed and early morning breakfast before scouring over last year's class photo to determine which familiar faces Peanut could plan to see in class. After we saw Belle off to the bus, it was time to get dressed, snap the obligatory 1st day of school pic and head out. 

Peanut quickly scurried out the car door and into school, pausing only for a moment to let me snap a few quick shots.  Here's to a fabulous year my lil man!

Toothpaste Woes {Kids' Bath Update}

My kids' bath Pinterest board is full of inspiring photos of colored vanities. So naturally, I was certain that I would love the end results…..well not so much! So over the weekend I dove right into the leftover quart of Comfort Gray from the front door makeover & anticipated loving the playful minty-aqua tone.

To be quite honest, it looks like one of my boys covered the cabinets in toothpaste. I am hoping the color grows on me as I hate the idea of having to paint yet again. Perhaps different knobs will help update the color along in a new rug, freshly laundered towels, and a counter full of apothecary jars.

Sadly, the wallpaper must stay as the room is vaulted and the painters' quotes were completely unjustified to remove it…..someday. For now though it is prison stripes & toothpaste! Not exactly the look I was going for.

Putting the Labor in Day

Well summer is officially over around here and I'm back to work on the last items of our 2013 Home Goals: the Dining Room,  Kid's Bath and Roof.

Today I'm tackling painting the bath vanity (ugh I have very little patience for painting), having a seamstress come to quote slipcovers for a pair of Drexel club chairs in need of some TLC, and meeting with the carpenter to discuss the dining room wainscoting. Plus, the new roof is tentatively scheduled for next week.

I don't know about you all, but I say bring on the Fall!!! Enjoy the long weekend everyone.

Half Birthdays…Add them to the List

Remember this post I wrote a few short days ago about the joys of celebrating our children. I think I need to remind myself of exactly what I signed up for. It appears that Peanut has declared half birthdays a celebration in this house…rightfully deserving of all the pomp & circumstance.

Seeing big bro overjoyed at the prospect of throwing his lil bro a party made it impossible to say "no"? The simple request is concrete evidence of the loving bond these brothers share. It melts my heart and makes me on board for just about anything.

Peanut decided upon a rice crispy creation to mark the day. He attempted a rainbow cake inspired by an episode of "Wow Wow Wubbzy" (anyone else have to suffer though that show!?!)

I knew that Bear wouldn't be into the rice crispy treat so I simply grabbed a vanilla bean cupcake during our Target run. With the addition of a toy stegosaurus, the 1/2 birthday boy's treat was complete.

After dinner we sang and enjoyed our meteors ("rainbow rice crispy cupcakes"). Bear is shirtless in anticipation of the cupcake massacre.

Now Belle & Peanut are counting down the days until their half birthdays…..thankfully no present are involved. Anyone else celebrate half birthdays with your little ones? Or perhaps you did as a child?

Bestie A's Bridal Shower

With all the commotion of the summer, I have yet to post the photos from the shower YiaYia & I co-hosted (along with Bestie J & her Mom). Bestie A is Bestie J's sister and a life long friend so it was with the utmost joy that we spent the day toasting the couple-to-be. We sipped mimosas, took in views of Lake Michigan & ate far too many pastries. It was Belle's first bridal shower and she found it to be lengthy, but fun once the gift unwrapping began.

Love these two girls with all my heart. I can not be more excited or elated for the big day! And fingers crossed Bestie A & R, ditch the city & move out to our neck of the woods when it is time for their first little one.

Wedding is only one month away. Let the countdown begin.