No excuses! I have to have a party!

Sometimes I get these bright ideas to put together an over-the-top parties. I tried to talk my self out of this year thinking a nice quite family party would be sufficient to celebrate Anna's 4th birthday. Not to mention that Livie was born just a month before Anna turned four. That was my excuse for not planning a party. As time went by I just kept thinking about it and finally decided on a Garden Party. OK well Anna did have some say and she suggested a party to plant flowers. I know this came from the time she spends outside with my mom in her flower garden. So here it is...

Lots of food. 120 hot dogs, 2 salads, 120 bottles of water, about 60 hand squeezed lemons for lemonade, 3 watermelons, 80 bags of chips and a whole lotta grapes.
Sarah made and frosted over 80 cupcakes!Hand made chocolate butterflies. Lupe created 30 of these butterflies. They looked so pretty on the cake stand.

I free handed a giant butterfly for Anna's cake!This is what a 103 degree weather will do to a chocolate butterfly!
Lots of decorations. Many hours spent painting, ribbon tying, staple gunning, gluing, climing up and down ladders, even a special trip to Utah for one of a kind party decor! Aprons, pots, seeds and dirt is all you need to grow your very own flowers! The kids had a blast potting thier own seeds. Made a great favor!
Guest List. Birthday girl and her sister. What am I going to do next year when Livie turn 1 in May and Anna turns 5 in June? Add to that Chris is April and I'm in June!
We had lot's of friends and family. So happy they spent the day celebrating with us.
Mr. Anti-Social. He was so upset I wouldn't go inside with him. "Hey dude, the party is outside!!!!"Every pool party has to have a "hot" lifeguard. Well that what my cousins tell me.
Her bestest moment. All she's been wanting is a bike and her Aunties came through! You can tell from her smile that she loved it. Thanks to Auntie Lupe and Auntie Charo you made her day. Thanks to Uncle Albert who put it all togther and had it ready.
That about sums it up. I look at the smile on her face and the sleepless nights, swollen feet, tired legs, burning eyes and sore back are all worth it. Like usual I can't take all the credit, much of it goes to all my loving helping hands. Lupe, Mom, Mike, Chris, Andrew, Melissa and Sarah. Without them this party would have never happened. Until next year. With four birthday all in less than two months I better start planning now!

On the road again!

We hit the road again last weekend. This time to visit Grandma and Grandpa Evans. It was a full house since Chris's brother was visiting from Utah. I guess it's better that way because the entire weekend the house was full of kids. Anna and Luke had a great time playing with their cousins and Chris and I enjoyed time visiting with the adults.

Sharilyn and Livie just hanging out.
Rachel is so great to always bring over board games to play with the kids. Anna especially loves to sit and play.Grandpa and Lukie trying to figure out the DVD player. My handsome hubby finally had to come over and figure it out. Guess Lukie wasn't any help to Grandpa.
Cookies and late night chats with cousins.Madiline loved spending time with Livie. She kept telling me that "my baby was adorable." Coming from Madiline I believe it because she been know to say that Aunt Rachel's husband is not "hot." It's been a busy summer so far and I'm looking forward to some down time!

Let's Party!

I thought I wasn't going to give Anna a big birthday this year. But I just couldn't do without it! Full party mode this week!Funny thing is not everyone figured out the invite. I had several people call and thank me for sending them such a cute flower card. They had no idea that the flower came out of the pot to reveal party info. This is the second time I've done this with invites.

San Diego 2009

That time a year again. Our annual family vacation to San Diego was filled with...

a quick trip to Grandma and Grandpa Evans.

Fun in the sun at Carlsbad beach. This was Anna's favorite part of the trip. She loved making sand castles and playing with her sand toys. I was surprised Luke had so much fun. He is usually so fussy about being dirty. The sand didn't bother him one bit. He loved running up to the water and running away as the waves came in.

Hanging out at Legoland. Notice the dinosaur in Lukies hand, he carried that around for two days strait. OCD!

Anna has a need for speed. She only wanted to ride the roller coasters or any ride that was fast. No fear! Each ride she got on she immediately put her hands up.
(Before the ride started.)

(During the ride) Look at her smile.

Andrew being silly. Mom thinking he's so funny!

There is that dinosaur again!

Made out of Legos! Looks so real!We had a great time at Legoland. We spent two days enjoying the rides and parks. We were even able to meet up with some old friends from Las Vegas. I can't believe I didn't get any picture. Thanks for meeting us Ang, we had a great time and look forward to seeing you next year!
We were given some great food suggestions by Erica who lives in the area. Her suggestions didn't disapoint and our favorite was Swami's in Encinitas. Best eggs benidect ever!or how about Mole Enchiladas.
Anna eating everything! She loved this place!4th of July photo shoot.By the end we were all worn out.

If only...

This van would park in front of my house. A girl can wish!

I've Flipped!

I think I'm missing a pair! So many I could not find them all! It's a sickness, I know! SHOEITUS!

What can be better than two of my favorite things, Cupcakes and Cake Stands?! Together in Red, White and Blue.

Happy 4th of July!

Beach Babies

Our annual trip to San Diego meant a trip to the beach. I'm usually the parent who tries to steer clear of the beach because of the mess we end up with. But I thought since we didn't go last year we would go this year. I wasn't sure if Lukie would like it because he is so particular about being dirty. He LOVED it! Anna was right at home in the water and sand. She could have been there all day. I think we'll have to make a second trip to the beach this week.