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Monday, October 27, 2014

Two Turning Two - What I Want You to Know

Your second year of life has been incredible to witness.  Rather than a year of milestones, it's been a year of firsts. I've been able to take a step back and watch you take on life, form an opinion and see your imagination grow. Our bond has begun to bloom into a friendship. Every night my prayer is of complete gratitude for every moment we share and every memory we make together and humbly asking for many MANY more years of them.


The ways I love you, amount of love I have for you and what you bring to my life are infinite.  There are so many things I want to teach you as you get older, yet there are a few things I just want you to know now...
  • I'm so glad you happened to me.
  • You are my favorite work of art.  God is a masterful artist and you are His masterpiece.
    • "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."
  • Each day brings many moments that make me utterly grateful to have daughters.
    • Kara Rose, every night you stand on your stool and I brush your beautiful long hair is an intimate moment for me...
    • Every 'Manicure Monday' when you excitedly run to my nail polish drawer and pick out just the right color for me to paint your tiny toenails - I cherish these moments that can only happen bc I have daughters.
  • I hope you always look at yourself the way you do now, grinning from ear to ear the moment you see your reflection, knowing that's the reflection of the perfect miracle you are.
    • "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full and well." Pslam 139:14
  • I hope you always find joy in the little things like you do now.
    • Zoe Drew, the way you look up at the moon in amazement, think you see Tinkerbell in the stars and don't pass by a flower without noticing, takes my breath away. Thank you for reminding me to revel in God's creation.
  • I love witnessing you so confidently being you and not trying to be like your sister or anything other than who you are.
  • You are so incredibly blessed to have a twin sister who can walk through life right by your side! 
    • "Two are better than one... if either of them falls down, one can help the other up" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
  • I've got sunshine on a cloudy day... What can make me feel this way? My girls!


A little look at a few of the firsts you experienced this year:


The day you took your first steps - one week apart!

You're first 5K

First time you picked out your own shoes. This is that opinion I was talking about - I love it!

First day facing forward in your car seats - you were amazed!

First boat ride - You weren't so sure at first, but "fast boat" became the topic of conversation for quite some time afterward

Your first firework show - Kara Rose, you weren't too sure about this & no one could make you feel safe like Daddy

First trip to Legoland - Do you see how silly you are?!

Zoe's first selfie - haha!
You love having your picture taken and taking pictures of others, always telling everyone, 'Say cheese!'
First time berry picking

First Braves game

First experience body surfing - For weeks after, you'd both say, 'Surf ocean!'

First day of preschool - I'm sure I cried more than you did. Just look at you - you're growing up so fast!!

First mani/pedis at the salon. 
Kara Rose, you loved every moment and held your little feet and hands out so perfectly still!
Zoe, you loved having pretty nails, just not sitting still to have it done! 

Aaaand, I just want you to see how much you love your sister at this moment - you girls care for each other more than I would've imagined any 2 year old is capable of. 


I love you bigger than the whole world!

~ Your Mommy

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Two Shades of Pink Birthday Party

So The Kraze's 2nd birthday party was a week ago and I'm so anxious to see those photos!  I can. not. wait. In order to keep myself from stalking our photographer (who said I should have them this week, so stay tuned), I decided to do a little reminiscing of the 1st birthday party.

Much like the name of this blog, the theme for their first birthday party was 'Two Shades of Pink'.  There was so much significance put on this FIRST birthday party.  To all you haters who think, "They won't remember it.  It's more for you than for them." Boo-ya!  One day, they will see these photos and (hopefully) think I was AWESOME!  They will see the effort and hard work put in.  They will see all the people that showed up because they love them. Ok, and I love to plan parties!

We are so blessed to live in an AH-mazing neighborhood with a great park within walking distance.  We reserved the pavilion at our local park, which also happens to be pretty awesome! The party was set up around the three-sided fireplace in the middle of the pavilion.  That's right - no standard rectangle of a roof with just a bunch of picnic table sitting underneath!



See below for tutorial - easy!



Everyone took their mason jars home and filled their bags with sweet goodness to their heart's desire for party favors!
*Notice the straws in two shades of pink!

Note about tablecloths... If you plan to host more than one party, you should buy, not rent - way more cost effective!

Balloons in two shades of pink... catching on?!

These were the letters we used for each cake at our reveal party - it's those special touches people.
Maybe I'll go back even further in time to recap this special event?!
                                             Baby A                                                              Baby B





A kiss after her birthday song!
Although they share a birthday, we feel they deserve their own birthday song, so we've made the tradition of singing to them individually.  Naturally, big sister goes first!


One banner made of ovals & the other of penants - We don't match, we go!

First taste!
We gave them a few bites of sweets over the couple weeks leading up to their party, so they wouldn't be completely surprised by the sweetness! They liked it!


Kara Rose REALLY liked it!

Someone stuck the '1' cookies in the demolished smash cakes!

After clean up, we stepped away for a few family photos!




A year later, my little ZoZo still loves the camera!

Just look at those chubby cheeks and, as Zach would call them, her 'wrinkle bracelets'!



Aren't we a fun bunch?!

We've gone back & forth on whether to open their presents during their parties in the future.  When you see the pics from this years party, you'll see we decided to do it again after several comments from guests saying they didn't like it when the kids didn't open their presents because they wanted to see how they liked their gift and what all they got.
What are your thoughts?

 
Aaaand like any 1 year old, Kara Rose is eating her package in the background.

Clapping for a super successful first birthday party!  We are so very blessed with such loving, giving friends!


Details:

Vendors:
'My First Birthday' onesies - Mudpie
Boots - Frye
Cake: Sweet N' Sinful - Decatur, GA
Plates, napkins, plasticware, balloons - Party City
Favorite Things Chalkboards: Etsy - MoulageCollection
Photographer: Friend, Victoria Hurst


DIY:
A & B letters Future Post
Burlap & doily backdrop - Pretty self explanatory, but let me know if you want more deets!
*Cake Stand - My seriously awesome, hard-working, loyal & loving husband and dad cut this from a stump we took from a historic tree that had to be cut down in our neighborhood. I wish I could link to them here, bc this was no easy task!
Mason jar drinking cups - Maybe I'll share my secrets in a future post?
Mason jar glitter vases Future Post
Cupcake Liner Pom Pom click for tutorial
Rose Pom Ball - All I'm going to say is this takes much longer than the cupcake liners!
'I'm One' banners Future Post

Menu:
Mini ham & cheese sandwiches
Trader Joe's Salt & Pepper chips - Dollar Tree brown paper bags cut with the top half cut off w/scalloped scissors (again, it's the little things)
Princess Punch

Sweets/Favor Table:
Metallic gumballs
Rock candy
Frosted '1' cookies
Cream cheese mints: Michaels - rose mold
-       1 box powdered sugar
-       3 oz. cream cheese
-       1 T butter
-       1 T water
-       12 drops flavoring



 

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