Gracie's 4th Birthday Party

I was under it with a book deadline, so the rainbow party I had planned on Pinterest was too ambitious. Instead, I opted to throw a party I've done three times before! We rented the preschool for a morning of playing, cake & presents. I even impressed myself by how quickly we were able to set up, party, and clean up!

Grace loved getting to play with her preschool buddies and other special friends...all girls! Hayden was thrilled that a few other big brothers showed up. I think he was a bit worried he'd be the only boy. It was great fun to see the girls playing hard in their party dresses.

The adults seem to have a good time watching the kiddos...or throwing them about. Sometimes I think Jeff had kids so he could act goofy and people wouldn't think he was off.

Burke Brothers' Birthday Bash!

Once again, I managed to talk the boys into a combined party. It's just so much easier - especially when you go to a party place! Because of my trip back east and the kitchen facelift, a house party was out. Lucky for us, a new pizza & play place recently opened - John's Incredible Pizza.

We took the boys a few weeks back to make sure it was party-worthy, and they just loved it. They were quite excited to bring their friends there. For the last week they've had carnival ride wishes and bumper car dreams.

They have a seperate area to corral the party kids while the adults do the check in, and then they parade them back to the party room to make balloon animals - which with a tangle of eight and ten year olds quickly became a sword factory.

Once the duels calmed down, they marched the kids to the buffet for pizza, pasta, salad (yeah, right), and desserts. They have an option to just bring pizza and drinks to the room...if we go again, I'd do this. It would be easier, faster, and they'll bring the kids whatever they want. Our collection requested the nacho pizza in addition to the standard pepperoni. I think it was just to try it.

None of them pigged out, because the games and rides were right there, calling to them. The party hosts explained about the pre-loaded game cards and the boys rushed out of the room like bulls in Pamplona.

They sampled a bit of everything, from the jump rope game to the laser room. They even got me to go on the twister ride (one of Hayden's friends didn't make the height limit). They played until the money on their cards ran out, then headed to the prize counter to cash in their winnings. The giant blow up hammer was a favorite...and so were the toy rings. Pirate treasure, perhaps?

We gathered them in the party room once more for cupcakes (Portland Baking Company was at Costco yesterday, such a win) and gifts. and then, we timed out. Which was good, because Grace was over the shenanigins.

The boys loved it, and want to go back. As soon as possible!

Happy Birthday, Natalie!

It is hard to believe it, but Natalie is already a year old! Too soon, she won't be able to hold on to her Baby Natalie nickname. But, for a couple more years, I am sure Grace will make sure it sticks.

Family and friends gathered at Munchkin Playland, an indoor play area for kids, for pizza, playing, pink cupcakes, and presents! The wee ones all had a great time...when they weren't dodging the large kids! Once the pizza arrived, the boys hunkered down for a few slices of pepperoni. Afterwards, it became a tired game of telling the boys to watch out and making them get out of the play area all together. After a while, Bayley gave up and opted to DS. Hayden and Eddie...could have played tag in there for hours.

Every moment of the party was documented, and not just by my camera happy self! There were so many flashbulbs going off as she opened her presents, that I decided to take a picture of the papparazzi!

Oh...and for the record, Bayley's pants did not have a hole in them when we left the house!

Babies Who Brunch

Gracie's 3rd Birthday party was a big success! We managed to book the Tyson rec center, which meant we had a classroom and the indoor play area all to ourselves! The kids had such a good time, I'm hoping one of the baby girlfriends has a party there too.

We let the kids have free reign over the playroom, and enjoyed watching what they came up with. Bayley & Hayden both went to preschool there, so it was quite cute seeing them revisit old favorites. Bayley has always liked the giant building blocks, and promptly built Grace a house, then a cage...and finally...a coffin! Kids!



Grace in the house, Hayden in the cage





Steven in the coffin (with Ava, Brennan & Isabel)



Grace was more interested in the slide and rocking toys than anything else. She did take a moment to try her hand at basketball...before she dropped the ball and gave it a swift kick, soccer style!

Instead of having the other kids watch as Grace opened her deluge of gifts, we tried to do it one at a time with the gift giver. It worked for the most part. I think it was less overwhelming for Grace that way, and it gave her time to explore each new present instead of having it spirited away.



Mikaylin, Gracie Mae, Sarah Jane 



Since it was a morning party, we side-stepped the usual cake in favor of muffin mania. And I went crazy with the variety - carrot, pumpkin chocolate chip, chocolate, chocolate raspberry, blueberry, banana, corn, blackberry corn...and now our house is poised for muffin week!