Birthday Brunch

My poor, neglected second born...

As if it weren't bad enough we lost most of her baby pictures when our computer bit the dust, I also have not made the time to share her birth story or her birthday parties. It may be due in part to the fact she came so close to Christmas and her birthday parties are squished between Christmas festivities, it may be due to the fact that life with two children is, well, busier! Regardless of the reason I am committing to play a little catch up. My sweet, sassy, silly Marinn Lee is too important to me to let her feel left out!

Today I'm going to share her first birthday party. I wish I would have taken more pictures because we had a lovely time at brunch celebrating with friends and family. We ate yummy quiche, homemade biscuits with various spreads, and flipped our own pancakes at the pancake bar. (I have the best pancake recipe in my arsenal) The room was decorated with the Sunday funnies, festive oranges and blues, and bright colored flowers. We wore necklaces we made out of fruit loops and Marinn was dressed in the dress I made her. I think she rather enjoyed her chocolate and sprinkle covered birthday pancakes, which has stayed a tradition for birthday breakfasts. 

Bye Bye Binky

We have said goodbye to a very good friend. The green pacifier that made its way into our lives in the early days of Marinn's life and stayed with us through good times and bad, holidays and milestones finally is no more.

If you asked me my thoughts on pacifiers during my first pregnancy I would have boldly sworn them off. No child of mine would have one of those! The mindset maintained through the first child and into the second pregnancy would never be changed. Or so I thought.

When Marinn was born I knew right away she was not going to be anything like her older sister. She was not one to self soothe, she was not one to want to be left alone, she was not one that would allow sleep that I so desperately needed. We quickly found relief from the tears and discontent in a tiny green pacifier. I never even flinched as I stuffed that little thing in her mouth as I knew it was only for a season and would be gone before she would even have a memory of what it was.

Boy would I eat my words. When one year approached we were determined to rid our lives of the green monster that controlled the happiness, not just of Marinn, but of everyone. There was no sleep if it could not be found, there was no quiet moments if it were not in hand. You could forget getting groceries or walking through the store if it were not at the ready. This little green jewel that brought us so much peace was running the show. 

"We can do this! We can be strong! It will only take a few days of tears and we will be done," we encouraged ourselves. 

Then it was ready, set, remove pacifier. 

Halloween Costumes: Rooster and Sunshine

When it came time to talk costumes this year the husband and I had some pretty good ideas as to what we wanted to dress the girls up as. We came up with some pretty elaborate, family coordinated options and presented them to the girls only to have them shot down. Amelia had plans of her own.

If it were Barbie, Disney princess, or any other licensed character I think I would have cried and tried to get her to change her mind but this idea she had was pretty great. I had not heard of nor seen such costumes on anyone in the previous years trick-or-treating so how could I say "no" to such an original, creative idea?

So I set out to create the costumes she so wanted to wear.

A rooster and a sunshine.

Birthday Adventures With Pippi & Amelia

"Life is a breeze

We live it for fun

 

No apologies

To anyone

 

We live on the seas

We do as we please"

 

 

 

Our Week in Pictures

A marathon of a week! New carpet, more painting, costume making, trick or treating, and two birthday parties!

 

Hanging out on the new carpet

Our Week in Pictures

Another busy week here prepping for carpet installation, Halloween, and a birthday party!

We used temporary tattoos to decorate pumpkins

Fall Traditions: Pumpkin Patch

Starting shortly after my nephew was born our family started gathering together for a trip to the pumpkin patch. It was a good excuse for the whole family to get together and really, who doesn't like a pumpkin patch?

We make the long drive every year so we can visit the same pumpkin patch (even though no one lives close anymore) because it's our tradition. Plus who can turn down a hayride/petting zoo/train ride/ show combo? Add in a country store carrying delicious Amish made goods and a turkey leg and you've got the whole package.

I have even become less afraid of Tony the lama as the years have gone by. (My sister probably wouldn't say the same, she got spit on. Those scars will last.)

What started as a few of us has grown into 15. I love looking back at this time each year and watching our family grow.