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. 

Santa! I know him!

Last night we made our 2nd Annual trip to see Santa. (Last years trip is HERE.)  I was pretty confident that Barrett wasn't going to be a fan but he seemed so excited when we got there that I was hopeful.  All the way there we talked about Santa and this was his face when he saw him for the first time.

Priceless.

I had to hold him back from running up to him before it was our turn.  Then it was our turn.. 

He was not happy. 

Santa gave him some candy and he threw it down like a brat. 

I intended to get his outfit monogrammed but I'm glad I didn't waste my time because you wouldn't have seen it anyway.  Santa had the death grip on him because he was trying to escape.

I did manage to get a few not terrible ones.

I can't believe how much he's grown since last year.

Yes, that's my kid playing with the truck in the middle of the floor like he's the only one around.  He didn't like the table they had set up because he wasn't tall enough. So he just put the truck in the floor to play.   

I love his innocence.   

Then we decided to let him ride the carousel.  He liked it last year. 

This year, not so much. 

He cried and cried.  I guess I should have just gotten him off but I thought he would enjoy it once it got moving.

This cracks me up. 

I had no idea it would be torture for him to ride. 

 

He eventually quit crying bu the never loosened his death grip.  Later into the ride he pointed to the reindeer in front of us.  I asked him if he wanted to ride the deer and he said yes.  Of course he says yes to everything so who knows it that was really the problem.

He loved the fish.

He did not love the elevator ride.  He was in the buggy and when the doors closed he started shaking and crying.  It was the saddest thing.  Who is terrified of elevators?  He definitely convinced Patrick that we are still several years off from our first trip to Disney.

And just for fun...these two pictures crack me up.  Apparently our kid is a model and we can't keep our eyes open. 

All in all it was a wonderful family night out.  We've always loved Bass Pro Shops to visit Santa, my advice is if you go during the week try to get there before 5:30.  The line was very short when we arrived and was very long when we left.  One thing I noticed though and I'm not sure if it was just because the few kids I watched were young but Santa didn't ask them what they wanted.  If the kids didn't just pipe up with their list he didn't hear it. Other than that though it was a great set up.  I just love my little guy (and big guy) so much.  I love these little memories. I also apparently love that scarf that is on repeat this season, ha!.  I can't believe Barrett will be two in a week.  Time slow down.

Weekend Review

I guess it's time to get on with the weekend review.

Barrett was running a fever last week with a really snotty nose so we found our selves at the doctors office Tuesday morning.  It was just a virus and he's feeling better now. This is the face I get when I won't let him call people on my phone.
Most exciting thing from the week... my cousin and his wife had their baby!  They didn't find out what they were having so it was so exciting to hear they have a beautiful baby boy.  I can't believe we are parents and I can't wait to see our boys playing the lake together.  The baby is so tiny.  I can't wait for Barrett to meet him.  Since he'd been sick this week I left him behind when I went to visit. My sweet friend Anna kept him and she said he and Drake were so much fun together.  One of her good friends ended up stopping by while he was there with her baby and Anna said that Barrett just loved her.   He passed out on the way home.  He played hard. We had a busy weekend.  Saturday around lunch we headed to Patrick's cousins house for a fun little sock exchange party.  The highlight was meeting their new baby pig, Bella.  Oh my goodness she was adorable.  She loved me and Barrett liked her as long as I wasn't holding her.  I think he was a little jealous.
She was the cutest thing ever.  She sleeps in a crate and is litter box trained.  She let me hold her forever and then when I put her down and I sat in the floor she came over to me and wanted me to pick her up.  They started calling me the pig whisperer.
That's all the pictures I took and I'm sad about it.  Saturday night we went to Patrick's work Christmas dinner.  It was so much fun and then we headed to Marion's house to celebrate her 30th birthday.  My friends are turning 30, this seems a little premature but whatever time.  Barrett stayed with my parents Saturday night and was rotten for church Sunday.  He was the worst behaved he's ever been in his entire life.  It was rough.  But after a long Sunday afternoon nap he was in a better mood.  I can't believe there's only one weekend until Christmas.  Ours is jam packed from Friday morning until Sunday evening. I'm looking forward to it.  

Christmas at the Falls

Saturday night we wanted to venture out for a little family fun.  Alabama was playing for the SEC Championship and I felt like a traitor not watching the game but there are only 3 weekends before Christmas and we already have plans for the next two weekends so I knew Saturday night was our only free night for some family fun (mainly because Patrick is on second shift).  We went back and forth about what we wanted to do and finally decided on Christmas at the Falls at Nocculula Falls in Gasden.  It was a little over an hours drive for us but I think it was worth it.  I loved that it was $5 for a ticket in and that included everything except cookies and hot chocolate.   Before we left Patrick asked me if he would need a jacket.  I told him no.  I was wrong.  It was cold. I love that Barrett is waving in this picture.  The falls are behind us, you can't see them though.

I just love Christmas lights.  There is something so magical about a million twinkling lights.  You can't help but smile while you're walking through them.  

I love these boys.

The covered bridge was playing music and the lights danced to the music.  I loved watching the lights reflect on the pond. 

I love flamingos!

Every time we walked by one of these things Barrett would say "WOW",  It was the cutest thing ever and made the long trip worth it! 

The best picture I got of the Falls.  

Pointing at the water. 

Loved the nativity. They were playing the Christmas story and you could sit and watch the lights go along with the story.

They also had a petting zoo and you could visit with Santa.  We didn't wait in line to see Santa but Barrett loved the petting zoo. 

The last thing we did was ride the train.  It was the perfect ending to the night.   I enjoyed getting to spend time with my little family.  I've always loved Christmas lights, but getting to experience them through your kids is so special too.