Murder in Margaritaland: A Surprise 30th Birthday Party

First of all, I have the best husband, friends and family.  I've been saying for probably over a year now that I wanted a surprise 30th birthday party.  I knew there was no way anyone would pull it off because I'd been talking about it for so long and why would they even bother.  Boy was I wrong!  Not only did they pull it off, but it was absolutely perfect.  It's exactly what I wanted and I felt so loved all night long that so many people would go to so much trouble for me.  I was literally speechless when I realized what was going on.

To top it off it was a murder mystery party.  I've been wanting to throw another one of these since we did one for my sisters 21st birthday.  They are so much fun and a great way for guests to mingle.  I'll start at the beginning.  Earlier in the year Jessica's husband won a party catered by Hamburger Heaven.  We've been calling it the "Hamburger party" and decided we would have it this summer by the pool and it'd be a blast.  Well about 3 weeks ago Jessica called me and said Jeremy called and booked the hamburger party for July 11th and he wanted it to be adults only so we could relax and hang out and not have to cook.  We hadn't talked about it much but somewhere in the mean time I started planning my own birthday party at the lake the weekend before my actual birthday.  Everyone played along.  I started sending inspiration photos to Jessica and Brittany and they immediately said they would help.  So I kind of turned it over to them.  Fast forward to Saturday night, we're getting ready and Patrick keeps asking what I'm wearing.  Again I should have thought this was kind of odd.  And when I asked if I looked okay like I always do before we leave he actually looked before he said yes you look beautiful.  Most of the time he just says that without looking.  We were dropping Barrett off at his parents house and Patrick packed his bag and got him ready.  Also another red flag, I should have been more suspicious of Patrick being so aware of what time it was and what time we were supposed to be there.  He's usually a "we'll get there when we get there type person".  We dropped Barrett off and headed to Jessica and Jeremy's house for the "hamburger party".  Patrick said Jeremy called and said we need to go through the front door because he's treated his sidewalk with something and we can't walk on it.  (I'm an idiot.)  We pull in the drive way and I start fussing at how Patrick parked because no one else is going to be able to park in the driveway.  So we go to the front door and ring the doorbell.  Jessica answers and says "there's so much food, you're going to love it."  Which looking back is hilarious and I thought nothing of it. 

I opened the back door to 30 of my closest friends and family and was so confused at first.  I couldn't figure out why all these people were at the "hamburger party".  Then they were all dressed up in character for the murder mystery.  I quickly realized what was going on and was speechless.  I just couldn't believe they surprised me.  I was so surprised that I thought Patrick had no idea either.  I can't believe he kept quiet. 

Everyone was sweaty and hot and amazing for hanging out in the heat.  I'm still just blown away.
They had all my favorite foods.  Like this french fry bar.   With John and Hope!  I've got to gather all the pictures everyone took.   And if you've never been to a murder mystery party you should throw one because they are so much fun!  They're a lot of work.  It takes a lot of pre planning and there's paper work that goes with each character but it's so worth it.  It's just something fun and different.  They have several different versions & themes.  They have teen versions and all girl versions too. 
I am so thankful for everyone that took time out of their busy schedules to help and celebrate with me.  It was so special and it meant the world to me. 

Pancakes & Pajamas Playdate

For Barrett's birthday this year I opted for a small playdate with a few friends over a big party like last year.  I loved the big party last year but wanted to do something different this year.  Most of my friends are stay at home moms or work flexible schedules so I thought this would work out best.  It worked out that everyone was able to come.  I was so excited.  

The theme was "Pancakes and Pajamas" and it was perfect.  The kiddos and some moms wore their pjs and we enjoyed brunch.  (Brunch is probably my favorite meal.)

I kept things super simple.  We put the leaf in our round table to make it bigger.  I used a drop cloth as the table cloth and wrapping paper as the runner.  I let all the kids make a cute ornament to take home and I used those to decorate the little tree for a centerpiece.

One reason I loved the smaller party, I got to do a couple of personalized things for the kiddos and the mommies.  I'm loving the monogrammed coffee mugs.  Each mom got one to take home.  I also did the take and toss sippy cups for each child at the party and they took them home.
My menu for brunch was: pancakes, pigs in a blanket, fruit, breakfast casserole, hashbrown casserole and muffins. 

The birthday boy in his pjs.

This is the ornament they made.  I put the name and year on with vinyl and they painted the deer with their thumb print.  I added the antlers and nose before they left.

Poor Elise was the only girl.

I love this boy!

Cruz and Caleb enjoying brunch.

Caleb and Keegan.

Caleb and Cooper.

We got a group picture.  They all cooperated fairly easily.

They loved our little half step hearth.

I love this picture of Elise trying to give Barrett a hug.  He looks a little unsure.

These four are fun.  They are about three months apart and we've had so much fun with them.  They play pretty good together (lately you can tell they are all two.)

Time for cupcakes.

I don't know what this one is about but I love him cutting his eyes at me.

Sweet Drake.  He's a little younger than the other four but you'd never know it by looking at him with them.  He and Barrett go to school together.

And everyone's favorite part of the party...playing with all the new toys!
It wasn't long until everyone started melting down and heading home for naps.
This party was complete and utter chaos...but they boys had so much fun!  The boys were so much fun together.  At one point they were running up and down the hall squealing. It was so funny.
I loved having a big party last year, but this was perfect for us this year.  I just loved the small intimateness of it all.  We're going to have cupcakes with our families on Christmas to celebrate with them.
I can't believe my baby is going to be two in 4 days.
I have to thank Crystal for taking the pictures for me while also bringing and being responsible for an extra kid.  I'm also so thankful that the moms that work made arrangements to get to come or for their kid to come.  It really meant a lot to me.
I think we might make this our birthday tradition, at least for a few years.  I know Barrett won't want to have a Christmas themed birthday party forever so I'm trying to take advantage while I can. 

Friday Festivities

We started the day with brunch to celebrate Hope and her bridesmaids.  We met at Another Broken Egg Cafe in Mountain Brook.  I'd never eaten there before but it was delish.  I studied the menu for a while and finally settled on biscuits and gravy.  It did not disappoint.  It was a fun morning getting to  hang out with these beautiful ladies.

Hope with her bridesmaids.

The moms.  

The Maxwell ladies.

After brunch we had an appointment to pick up our dresses from the seamstress. Well she wasn't quite finished with my moms so we had to kill some time.  We did a little shopping, I got Barrett a cute little bubble for summer and a pair of shorts.  We finally got the dresses and headed back home.  I went to the gym for my favorite class of the week with Kristen and Lorie then rushed home to get ready for the rehearsal and dinner.

This is where my picture taking slacked off big time.

The rehearsal went smoothly and before we knew it, it was time to head to dinner.  The rehearsal dinner and reception were held in the same space. 

I did manage to get a picture of my little family both nights but that's about it.  

Cousins, Friends.  These two are 5 weeks apart and have been buds their whole lives.

The rehearsal dinner was fantastic.  My parents planned a mardi gras themed meal and it was wonderful.  I put together a slideshow of Hope & John's life.  It was so much fun watching them grow up and seeing their relationship grow.  After the slide show several people shared some fun memories or words. All week I'd been thinking about what I would want to say.  When I finally decided I'd say a few words I couldn't remember anything I wanted to say.  I literally woke up at 5:00am Saturday morning thinking about all the things I wanted to say.

Since I write much better than I speak here it goes...what I should have said.

I think each of us would say that John is our favorite sibling.  He's kind, he's helpful, he'll make you laugh and he'll make you cry.  These are all characteristics he's had since he was a kid.  He would be the male lead in whatever the latest playhouse skit Elizabeth and I were putting on and in the same afternoon he'd be Patrick's assistant working on the go cart.  One of my mom's favorite Christmas gifts was the year John wrapped up an empty box with a sweet little poem about how he'd spent hours blowing kisses in the box.  Mom just cried and cried.  Then John said that he turned his box over and spilled all his kisses and had to start over blowing kisses in his box.  Mom was laughing through tears.  When he'd get kicked off the bus and Mom had to take us to school he didn't complain to much that he was usually late.  When I forgot to pick him up from school, he would call and just smile when he saw us turning in on two wheels to get him.  When I left for college he was a pudgy little 12 year old.  I left and he was little kid.  When I finally graduated and moved home he was practically a grown up.  He was in his last semester of high school and he had a girlfriend.   I didn't know much about her, I don't think he wanted us to scare her off. By the way, she apparently doesn't scare easily.  I'll be honest I didn't put a lot of effort into getting to know her.  After all John was about to move away to college and how many high school relationships work out.  As time went on it was becoming more and more obvious that Hope wasn't going anywhere.  She was always around but rarely said anything.  She probably couldn't get a word in with this family.  I watched John grow from a high school boy that had a girlfriend to a young man that was in a relationship with someone he really cared about.  I watched John become a better person and I fully credit Hope for that.  I think a spouse should make you the best version of yourself and I can see that in them.  So as you begin your life together, I want to share a piece of advice that someone shared with Patrick and I when we got engaged.  "Always put each other first.  As long as you love the other person more than anyone or anything in this world, you'll have a long happy marriage." I am truly honored to call you my brother and sister and the godparents to my son.  I am honored to be a part of your special day and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!

His and Hers Shower

Saturday night my cousin Adam and his wife and Patrick and I hosted a shower for John and Hope.   It was the first wedding shower and we wanted to get the wedding season started right.  We invited the youngest of the cousins and their spouses and several of John and Hope's friends for a low key get together.  We had mexcian food and margaritas.  It was so much fun.  Our siblings have all been so close that we've really gotten to know each other's friends so it's always nice to get to catch up with them.

Here are a few pictures.  

Some of Hope's people

The Bride and Groom

Some of the cousins.

Siblings

Cousins and spouses

Sweet cousin-in-law, Natalie in our furs!

We had such a fun night.  I'm so looking forward to the wedding in 6 short weeks!

Barrett's Winter ONEderland Party {Part 2}

These are mostly of Barrett eating cake.  In fact I've probably included way to many but they were all so dang cute!

All these people are here to see me!?!

Love my little family!

Singing Happy Birthday, he's not to sure about the attention.

It didn't take him long to dig in.

I love these pictures!

You can kind of tell just how much of the cake he ate.

These are my favorite pictures of the day.

I think he would have eaten the entire smash cake if we'd let him!

He had to have a bath in the sink.

He was eating the cake off the side of the sink.

Oh my goodness I love those chubby cheeks!

My sister kept the hot chocolate filled and I'm so thankful for her.  

I had to include these awesome runway-esque shots!

A close up of the sign at the sign in table.

He wasn't very interested in opening gifts.  Since we've unpacked them at home he's been way more into them.

My parents got him these cute chairs with an elephant on the back.

He was partied out by this point! ha!

My sweet friends.  (You can also see the huge pictures of Barrett in the background.)

I'm so sad the party is over.  I had so much fun planning and working on all the little details!  I loved watching him dig into that cake.  He kept looking up at me and smiling, it was such a sweet moment that I kind of want to give him a cupcake everyday just to watch him eat it.  I loved having so many of our family and friends there to celebrate with us.  I really thought I'd be more emotional than I was.   I loved celebrating our little guy so much.  Now we're enjoying our last few days with our baby before he turns a year old.