We celebrated Jackson’s 4th birthday on Saturday!  For months he has been asking for a camping party. I browsed a few blogs to find some ideas and here is what we ended up with!

there were big storm clouds all day so Seth put the tent up in the living room

I made fish using cardboard and duct tape. We put magnets in at their mouths. Unfortunately we used a metal bucket which more often caught the “hook” than the fish

One of Jackson’s friends father makes amazing cakes. He brought a chocolate truffle cake. I had things ready to toss on the top for decorating. We found marzipan rocks at a shop here that looked like real rocks!

Nama read Curious George Goes Camping in the tent!

overseeing gift opening

And due to the weather and being nervous about lighting a fire with a bazillion kids we continued the fun and on Sun night we roasted marshmallows and made s’mores!

At bedtime after the party Jackson was already brainstorming next yrs party. I didn’t have the heart to tell him we will be living out of suitcases, moving who knows where and that his guest list would be none of the kids from this party. Each yr is quite different for him. Proud of the little guy he is growing into!!

A couple of weeks ago I hosted a baby shower for a friend from the Embassy with a few other ladies. With everyone bringing food it meant I could focus on decorating and doing fun projects like icing a zillion cookies! The shower went off without a hitch and everyone had a great time! The mom-to-be didn’t want to be the center of attention so we made it a family affair! Here are some pictures!

Katie and Haley made AH-mazing cake balls. Red velvet with chocolate icing were the best! I am going to have to make those at home at Christmas time!

the kids decorated onesies that we hung on this cute line

Sweet mom-to-be!

Katie and Jeremy found the best dad gift ever for when he has to come up with dinner!  Being away from the US we hadn’t seen this but they found the pizza cookie combo box at the commissary! So funny.

Last weekend I headed by train to Germany for what will likely be my last trip to see Leigh and her family. Seth and the boys came the next day to meet me in Germany.   It was a bittersweet weekend. I helped her pack boxes and helped her throw Katy Jo’s 1st Birthday party. It was so much fun to get to be with them and it was good to feel like I could attempt to help when they are going through a rough time with Bo in the hospital and their upcoming move approaching. But since I am still in denial about their moving I will focus on the party.

A few months ago Leigh mentioned wanting to do a French cafe theme party. She sent me this link….

French Cafe Birthday

Here is the invitation, if I had had more time I would have redone it but it was a quick job and it was probably better because the perfectionist in me would have likely given up and told Leigh I couldn’t help with it. Better I just sent it as is.

And here is how the cafe turned out…

Leigh’s parents made an amazing awning and she borrowed her neighbors patio. It looked like a real cafe.

Leigh’s friend, Heidi, made the window boxes with paper flowers…she also made homemade chocolate eclairs! So yummy!

what’s a French cafe without sweet macaroons?!

Leigh’s friend, Stefanie, made delicious chocolate cupcakes!

,

we used french yogurt containers on the cafe tables with a few daisies in them…when we go to France next week I have decided I will eat a daily yogurt so I can collect 10 more of these. Nope, not going for 10 days but maybe I can force feed some to my kid and Seth too!

Sweet birthday girl

KJ’s GiGi was in town helping out and made the yummy strawberry cake…and KJ’s daddy, Bo, got to leave the hospital for 2 hours to join in the fun!!

Jackson was reunited with his buddy Grayson. They were sitting on the step comparing bruises!

So cute together. I really wish they lived closer so the boys could play more!

Owen loved running in the grass and sneaking behind the bushes.

We all had a great time!  Happy Birthday, Katy Jo!  I hope I can help with your Sweet 16 one day…and your wedding! But that is way down the road. We want to keep enjoying you while you’re little! Thanks for sharing the past year with us! (ps-I’m sure glad I got to have pink heart-shaped waffles with you for breakfast and champagne mimosas with your mommy and GiGi to celebrate your mom successfully being a momma for a whole yr!!! )

I have to admit, Seth and I were both shocked to realize that he was turning 32 this year. All year long he thought he was only 30. Oh my. We are getting older faster than we thought. I think we still think of ourselves and post college, newly weds who just happened to have our kids at a young age. Anyhow, back to the birthday.

Last Sunday was Seth’s birthday. We let him sleep in and baked him a chocolate cake while he slept. When we woke him up we served him breakfast in…nope not bed, in a tent. And Ikea igloo tent. Jackson was so excited! He and Seth sat in the tent and ate breakfast sandwiches.

Late morning after Owen had napped we gave him his gift and had some cake (to avoid the boys having their sugar rush before their nap).  We gave him a tent to go camping with the boys! For those of you that don’t know we live just above the river and in particular the campgrounds along the river. I know the boys will enjoy lots of daddy bonding with the new tent!

Here are a few pictures.

being silly