when we grow up...

May 2013-

I saw this cute idea on Pinterest one day and thought it would be a fun way to capture the kindergarten class and display at graduation.  

I had another parent help me one day when the kids were in music class so we could keep it a secret from their teachers.

Each picture may have been a bit boring on its own.

But when I collaged them all together it turned out really neat, if you ask me.

One of the parents of a kid in the class has a frame shop and graciously printed them poster size at cost for us then mounted them to display at graduation.

Overall, I think everyone really enjoyed seeing them.  I also printed a 5x7 for each kid to keep and an 8x12 metal print for the teachers end of the year gift.  

If I can manage to hang on to the posters I'd like to display these again at their high school graduation.  Not sure if I could get them to pose again at that age!

About Pecos' wanting to be a paleontologist...that was news to me since up to this point he's always said he wants to be a cowboy like his dad.  

brazos' 3rd birthday bash {the after party}

May 2013- After the party there's the after party.  As if a construction birthday blowout wasn't enough, Brazos woke up the next morning (on his actual birth day) to a pile of presents...because we really needed more of that.  

For several weeks prior to his birthday he talked about getting a cement mixer truck.  Pecos picked out this one for him and he loves it.

He also loves this book, Good Night, Good Night Construction Sight.  It is very cute and rhymes and he memorized at least the first three pages within a week.  I bet we've read it at least a hundred times.

MiMi made him beignets for his birthday breakfast.  

From there it was a marathon Playdoh session with his new Playdoh construction toys.

 Paw Paw supervised.

He finally took a break (and changed out of his new dump truck pj's) for MiMi to read a new construction book.

The birthday boy chose to eat dinner at Fuddrucker's (perhaps a decision influenced by PawPaw).  While we were there we took a few pictures with the birthday boy.

It's just not a photo session with Brazos unless he sticks out his tongue.  And of course he did.  

For his final birthday request we stopped for ice cream.

With turquoise sprinkles.

Happy Birthday Brazos!

brazos' 3rd birthday bash

May 2013- Other than tractors Brazos is really into construction equipment, specifically front end loaders and dump trucks.  So naturally, a construction themed birthday party was the perfect way to celebrate.

Here's the invitation (courtesy of Etsy).  

I put this photo from his 3-year old pictures on the back of the invite.  This is his tough dump truck face in case you were wondering.

Here is the inspiration that started it all.  I saw this idea on Pinterest and from there it just escalated to a level that is typical for me when it comes to birthday parties for my kids...in other words probably too much.  

Can't have a construction party without hazard cones and caution tape.  Don't ask where these came from.

Here's some of the food set up.

I found these orange cones at Dollar Tree.  So I just cut a slit in them and used them to hold pictures of Brazos that I took on some construction equipment at our house that was part of a landscape project.  

If I had more time I'd put more pics into the little collages...

Construction Foreman ready to party:

Other than the tractor party for his 2nd birthday last year, this one may have been the easiest to decorate.  Brazos has soooooo many construction toys.  For the last several months I've made him keep the majority of them inside so they'd stay clean and serve as party decor.  Always a method to my madness.

Party favors for the crew:

Safety gear that we absolutely did not need.  Did I mention it rained 6 inches the day before and all day this OUTDOOR party was to begin?  We even had a fresh pile of dirt (left over from previously mentioned landscape project).  Plan B was not to make mudpies...we had to move the party inside.  

Yes, I did put this sign on the bathroom door.  

 Brazos liked his cake.  A lot.  Another Pinterest idea that was so very easy to make.  

These two thought they'd hide out under the table and eat their cake.  

I guess chocolate cake tastes better when you think no one can see you eating it.

We did make it outside briefly between showers.

 But this was the most of a break in the clouds we got all day.  

Brazos got way too many presents, but he loved every one of them.

It was a great party to celebrate his 3rd birthday.  

Party {and rain} is over, now let's dig!