Flash Dance

On Saturday March 14th, we hosted Emery's 2nd birthday at our house.  Why such a big gap between her actual birthday and our celebration of it?  I am fortunate enough to work 9/80's.  This means that when nothing crazy is going on, I have every other Friday off.  Thanks to the great mystery of the universe, Emery was born in a working-Friday week.  Are you comprehending the weight of this #firstworldproblem?  Knowing myself the way that I do, I am aware that it is standard practice for me to swear up and down that I will put together a simple event and then on my 45th trip to Target the week of said event realize that I've once again duped myself.   This fact causes me to try to book any events within my control (read: Em's birthday party) in a weekend following an off-Friday.  This year in particular I chose the one after her big day because the one before we uncomfortably close to the date I went back to work

Thankfully I recognize this about myself because I somehow thought making 18 animals out of those obnoxiously-difficult-to-work-with tissue paper poufs would be a cinch.  After a few 4 am dates with the alarm clock, late night cut and paste seshs after the girls were asleep and arts & crafts time during lunch hour in my office- I realized that was nooooot exactly true.  Death by Pintrest.

Exhibit A.  Free cookie to anyone who can guess what each of these are.

All of that aside, it wound up being an absolutely awesome day.  The weather had been horrendously rainy, cold and dark the weekend before (and was the weekend after also), so we were so excited to get to see the sun.  Somehow, thanks to the help of Grandma & Pawpaw M coming over early, we managed to pull things together enough to fool people into thinking we life in an organized home.  (Now it's your turn to get duped.)  Other than the fact that Nonnie & Pawpaw B were too sick to come, the star were really aligning.

You could probably shoot an entire Oriental Trading Co ad in my garage.

Per usual I took a picture before food was out.  WHOOPS.  Maybe one day I will learn.

You're getting sheepy.  You're getting verrrrrrry sheep-y.

I took a lot of pictures so my parents could feel like they were there.  I think they were pretty crushed when they realized they still weren't well on Saturday morning.

If anyone ever needs decor for a fiesta-  I am your woman.

Wasn't lying- I reaaaaaally wanted them to feel like they were there.

Queso station.  You know it isn't a Martin-sponsored event without Ryan's queso.

Grandma M was kind enough to hang all the extra paper lanterns outside.  Thank you, Grandma M!

Do you think by next year's party we will have actual patio furniture?  Ohhhh, the anticipation.  (Probably not.)

As I've documented multiple times on this little blog o' mine, my sweet eldest child inherited her father's extreme skepticism coupled with her mother's extreme aversion to risk.  Bless her, I know.  All week Ryan and I worked on her to get her ready.  We told her about her party.  We told her people were going to come see her.  We told her WHICH people were coming.  We told her there would be good food.  All week things seem to be going pretty well.  She was excited.  Enter the moment we came downstairs from her nap to a house full of people... not so excited.  She did not love a bunch of people in her house.  She did especially did not love being the center of attention.  She did not want to be put down.  At all.  Aunt Julie was Emery's personal chauffeur for a solid 10 minutes.  I eventually convinced Emery to let Julie and I attempt a hand off- trading E for B.  At which point I was really wondering why I had devoted so much time to mental prep for the birthday girl at the expense of bicep prep for yours truly.  

Luckily, not a moment too soon, cousin Kylie showed up and Emery relaxed.  She finally agreed to be put down and spent the remainder of the party running around and playing.  And grabbing cookies from the table while no one was watching.  I know because I can't begin to quantify the amount of hot pink icing Ryan and I cleaned up from the rug in the front TV room.  

It wound up being an incredibly awesome time for at least all of the members of our house.  We were humbled and so thankful to everyone who came out to show us their love.  Thank you so, so much for being such an awesome support network.  We are way too lucky.  Way, way too lucky.  We know that driving out to the 'burbs, even if there is the lure of lots of beer, isn't easy.  Again, THANK YOU.  And, of course, to my favorite two year old - happiest of birthdays.  I know you won't remember this one, but your Daddy & I always will.        

This series of pictures really highlights what a sweet, patient cousin Kylie is.  The look on her face leads me to believe Emery just did something ridiculous.

... Like perhaps stealing her cousin's club?  Because clearly Emery needs both.

Sweet, sweet Madison.  She was such a cuddly little doll!

Babies and balls.  This isn't leading anywhere good.

Bahahahahahahaha.  Patrick demonstrating that he's absolutely all boy.

This is not what I envisioned when Emery kept telling me she would "shaaaare" all week.

Ahhh yes.  Our little lady.

Thank you for mothering our children, Lynda!

Aunt Niffy with her nieces.  (Is Brynn trying to karate kick Emery?!)

Just a Daddy and his beer daughter.

Yo, Mom!  Grandma said you cut me off from the cookie table?  Did you not hear that it's MY birthday?!

Sometimes when a jungle isn't available, Tarzan has to improvise.

I really think she might be the happiest 3 (now 4) month old on the planet.

What's that?  You dare me to put my whole fist in my mouth?  Challenge accepted.

Hey ladies.  Want to crawl into my make-shift Minnie tent?

Oh Uncle Matt.  You had no idea what you were getting yourself into, did you?

I think Kylie actually had a more firm grasp on how to put this together than Ryan did.

Let me get this straight.  You gave me a glorified stick... for play?  Which means... I can dust ANYONE I want ANYTIME I want?  Best. Gift. Ever.

Oh, nice.  This model looks like it has a longer handle for more reach.

Brynnie says parties are exhausting.  We all looked like this by 8 pm.

The aftermath.

So April Showers bring May Flowers...

... and May flowers bring amorous activities.  At least in the circles I travel in.  I've realized this as of late because we've been birthday party-attending machines in this house.  It turns out quite a few awesome people in our lives were born in late January/early February and EACH of them deserves some celebrating!  If Mama weren't trying to squeeze as much productivity into a short daycare trial run, they'd also each warrant their own blog post.  Hopefully in light of this fact they'll be ok with sharing the spotlight with others equally as wonderful as them.

First up?  Sweet, sweet Avery.  This little doll-face turned the big O-N-E on January 22nd.  Why does she matter to us?  Because she was born into one of my very favorite families of all time (see below).  Not surprisingly due to some stellar genetics- Av is just the cutest, smartest, most social little one year old girl on the planet.  Added bonus?  Homegirl is almost exactly right in the middle of my 2 crazy faces.  I envision a lot of trouble being caused by these 3 in the future.

Mama Mel threw the perfect celebratory bash at their house on Saturday January 24th and we were so pumped to be there.

The birthday princess.  Caaaaan I help you crazy-lady-with-the-iPhone-in-my-face?

As always, Melanie had a stellar spread.  Almost as amazing as big bro photobombing in the background.

Are you kidding with this dessert table?  This is where I was typically found.

From Northgate in 2003 to Jonathan's living room in 2015- not much has changed.  Except the chicks they're subjecting to sports/stock talk.  Soon enough they'll be smart enough to wander off like Mel & I are.

Avery, Melanie, Erin & Eva.  Gorgeous ladies.

Discussing how to keep their kids from doing the ridiculous things they did.

I'm just going to kick back and listen to how terribly out of tune you all are.

So THIS is cake, huh?  She will be attending brunches in no time.

The toddler stare down.  Apparently this really is genetic instinct in females.

Emery and Avery sharing some deep thoughts.

This is a shockingly good picture for how many children are included.  (Good these days equates to people looking at the camera, not actual photogenic-ness.)

Lynda trying to woo Brynn.

So, isn't this where we're supposed to be sunbathing?  Anyone?  Anyone?

Up next was my dear, dear friend-worker (should it be co-friend?) Becca's birthday.  She was also born on January 22nd, just a feeeeew years earlier than Miss Avery.  Why does she matter to me?  Because she was my very first friend at my current job.  We started on the same day, she forced me to talk to her in the lobby and the rest is history.  And by the "rest" I mean countless walks to Starbucks, trips for snacks and laps of the floor in search of chocolate.  I really can't imagine what on earth I would do without her support, friendship and listening ear.  Not only that but she's just an all-around awesomely fun, hilarious lady.  I adore you Becca!

Becca invited me to dinner to celebrate this milestone* birthday at America's with her crew on Sunday January 25th.  Not only was it awesome to finally meet some people I'd heard so much about, but we got treated to THE most delicious chocolate and strawberry homemade cake.  She deserved nothing less.

* I won't say which because a lady should never reveal another's age.  Okay, okay.  It was 18.  You've dragged it out of me.

Flaming tres leches.  Did you think that having a homemade cake might stop us from eating the dessert provided by the restaurant?  Ha.  You're hilarious.

The birthday girl taking a picture of her out-of-this-world cake.

The next birthday in the parade is sweet Melanie's.  Her birthday is January 27th.  Why is she important to us?  Ugh, let me count the ways.  She is the matriarch of the family that could only be described as our spirit animals.  (At times, with the men faction, "spirit" is used in the booze-y context).  I truly am not sure what we would do without them.  From Italy to Geneva to carnivals at elementary schools- we have had way too much fun with these characters over the years.  We sure do love our McClains.  Plus, Melanie has literally done far, far too much for me in my mama-ing journey.  One night when Emery was about 2 months old, she woke up every hour all night.  Melanie did not ask a question and just drove over here to watch her, with Jake mind you, so I could take a nap.  She also watched my crazy child for part of a weekend away when Em was just about 3 months old.  WHILE she was in the first trimester with Avery.  Super hero?  Yes.  Yes times a thousand.  Oh, did I mention she kept Emery for the first half of our trip to Punta Cana for my sister's wedding?  What about that time she just drove over and brought me Starbucks when Brynn was little because she knew it was hard for me to get out with her?  Seriously- I don't deserve her.

We celebrated Melanie's 21st (don't audit my math) birthday with a girls dinner on Wednesday January 28th at The Corner Table.  The food was fabulous and only very slightly outshined by the conversation.  We really shouldn't be allowed out in public.  We especially shouldn't be allowed out to nice places.  It was an awesome time and the birthday princess more than deserved it.

Jen: "this tastes like a bath candle."

So many of my favorite people all in one place.  Happy tummy and happy heart.

Moving right along, we cross over into February.  Sweet baby Patrick turned one year old on February 3rd.  I know, I know- when they're 1 they aren't babies any more.  Whatever.  Why does he matter to us?  Because over the course of the last year and a half his Mama has become such a good friend to me.  She truly is a treasure.  There is absolutely no way I could have made it through the past year anxiety-attack free without her daily texts of hilarious stories.  If there's one person I can always count on to laugh at a gross Mama story or to share her most recent ridiculous story to make me laugh- it's Lynda.  Not only that, but I think Emery and Patrick have the same naturally skeptical, difficult-to-impress personality.  Clearly this friendship was meant to be.

We celebrated Baby P's big day on Saturday January 30th at his house.  Lynda pulled off an ah-mazing birthday party.  This is evidenced by the fact that I took zero pictures.  Trust me when I say it was gorgeous.  And there were chocolate chip cookies.  I may or may not have eaten my body weight in them.  Great decor AND baked goods?  That's my love language.  All of us, Emery included, had an awesome time.  

Lynda's Pintrest game is strong.  Almost as strong as Patrick's toy game.  Seriously, homeboy has it all.

Lynda sent us home with like 4 of those cupcakes.  My hips are angry about it.

Emery monopolizing the slide.  Sharing is not a strong suit.

The birthday prince and his proud papa.

Jakey showing off his athletic prowess on the world's most massive pinata.  Ever.

I/We have genuinely had the best time celebrating all of you the past few weeks.  Happy, happy, HAPPY Birthday to Avery, Becca, Melanie & Patrick.  Thank you so much not only for inviting us, but for all you do for my little family.  We adore all of you more than you know!