Happy Birthday Riley!!!!

My baby boy Riley turned 4 on Saturday. We had a Toy Story party in the backyard and it was lots of fun. It was lots of work, and knowing we have another birthday party happening in two weeks leads me to the conclusion that this is the first and last time they will both have big parties the same year! Next year we'll just do something small for Kira and a BIG party for Riley because he'll be 5 and his birthday is on the 5th, so that's his Golden Birthday and there's 5 golden rings in the 12 days of Christmas...I just think it's cool that his Golden Bday is his 5th! After that we'll do one party for both of them until they complain about it or we don't feel like having parties anymore. Like that'll happen.

Now for some pics!

I love that a simple sandbox can keep them happy now...if only it was always going to be this easy....

My mom made this amazing Toy Story cake! It was her first time doing anything this fancy and I think it came out soooo cute!

Of course we had to have the Toy Story cupcake tower with cupcakes from the grocery store. For me, it's not a kid's birthday party if there's no fluffy sugary airbrushed icing involved.

Instead of beating the pinata with a stick, they pulled strings out of the bottom until the candy fell out. I was inside looking for the loot bags when they got the right one! :( But we're having another one like this for Kira's party so I'll make sure not to miss it. :)

I didn't mean for the iced tea thing to be in the background like this, but I'm glad it is because I love that thing! I'm thinking of reasons to have parties so I can use it!

This girl was a happy party baby, she turns 1 in just 21 days!!!! Impossible because she is my babydoll but I am excited to make a pretty pink party for her.

Riley and his best bud Ethan...now they're both 4! They discussed this alot that day. :)

i really love Valentine's day but....

Easter has the best candy! I am a sugar freak so I get excited for the candy that goes with each holiday. Yes I am a big *dork*. My favorite Easter candy is Cadbury Mini Eggs. If I have a bag of those in my reach I will keep eating them and eating them until I'm sick. Like a goldfish kinda.

One candy I am NOT a fan of is the regular Cadbury Eggs. I do think it's cute how the inside looks like a real egg yolk...but it also grosses me out. It's too oozey or something, I don't know. Cadbury Eggs are like Miracle Whip, you either love it or hate it. I also hate Miracle Whip! ha!

can't wait!

Next month we're going to San Diego! Scott's cousin had some water damage to his wood floors so he's going to repair it and we're tagging along. We have tickets to Sea World AND the San Diego Zoo, I am so excited! I already know what I want to do @ the zoo, see the PANDAS! I could sit and watch the pandas all day long, even if they're just sleeping. I also want to see the polar bears and the hippos. That zoo is gigantic so we're going to have to figure out our route before we get there to minimize the whine-time from Riley. The double stroller will be getting a workout! So will mom & dad pushing it!

We're only going to be there three days but I am so looking forward to it. Being next to the ocean just makes me HAPPY! :)

so much fun!!!

I come from a big Mexican family and one of the best things about that is...birthday parties! Lots of kids=lots of bdays and lots of parties. Today started a weekly celebrations of kids that could last until the end of June if everyone decides to have a party for their kid(s). The party today was for Melanie, who is the daughter of my cousin's daughter, I guess that makes her my 3rd cousin. She turned 2 and it was a princess party, so cute! There was a bounce house and a pinata and a big castle cake that the kids were fascinated with. A bunch of the little girls arrived in their princess dresses but changed into more comfy bounce house friendly stuff pretty quick.

Kira wasn't having the best time for a little while when we first arrived. She seems to freak out a little when we go to parties in a new place. Even if I'm sitting right there she just cries and looks around like "I don't know this place! What is going on?" I don't remember Riley doing this...he's always been ready to get in there and party! Never met a stranger, that type of thing.

There was a pinata at the party and that was just so much fun. The thing was SUPER heavy and it wasn't easy to break, but that was good because it was so cute watching all the little kids hit it. I took tons of pictures but with my dad's camera so I'll have to add those in later.

The party today made me really excited for Riley's party in a few weeks! He wants a Toy Story theme :)

Spring Awakening

Last night I had the pleasure of watching the opening of the national tour of Spring Awakening. A nice person I've never met from Facebook gave me the tickets. Thank you nice stranger!

I love plays and musicals but it's been ages since I've had the chance to go to one. I'd heard of Spring Awakening, I know Lea Michelle originated the female lead opposite Jonathan Groff, and I knew it was about teenagers and sex.

I didn't know our seats were going to be in the very first row. I didn't know the band would be onstage so we'd be able to literally touch the actors if we wanted to. I didn't know we'd be able to see every speck of spit that flew from every mouth...I don't mind that passion but it was distracting because some of them spat quite a bit. The songs are really rockin'. I also didn't know there would be partial nudity onstage. I knew there would be implied sex, but there was some actual boob going into an actual mouth up there-wo!! Guess I'm a prude because I think they could have gotten the point across w/out going that far...but that's just me. I would still go back and see it again if I could! It is a really great show and each performer is awesome. They all have amazing voices.

beverly hills friday

here's some random thoughts about the show last night....

No idea how people put up with Camille and her constant weird-flirty-sexual-innuendo crap she does with any male. She kisses another woman's husband on the lips...while the wife is right there? It's just too weird.

Paul is very brave to push Adrienne in the pool like that. I would not want to be on Adrienne's bad side, that's for sure! She seems like she'd take her time getting you back and she'd be really good at it.

Like alot of people I don't buy Cedric's sad childhood story. Something just doesn't add up there...could be why he is now no longer on speaking terms with Lisa?

Taylor-how SAD was that shot of her standing there with her cake waiting for the car???? I have a hard time feeling bad for her because she chose who to marry...but it's not like people can't make mistakes. I know I've made more than my share-so maybe she thought Russell would warm up after a few years of marriage and now she's seeing that's not gonna happen. She seems to have her own sh*t together so I hope she's not staying with him so she can keep throwing $60k bday parties.

Kyle's party looked so fun. Her family is so gorgeous. When they were all taking pictures in front of that damask backdrop-beautiful. I want to steal that idea btw.

I really like the dresses Adrienne wore to each party. The purple was pretty and the white & gold was hot! She definitely has her own style in clothing and I just love that.

I did not know you could have Fatburger at your house! Taylor can eat a double with no problem...Russell needs to mind what he's got a little better.

Loved seeing everyone boogie. Adrienne's a good dancer. Kim and Kyle both swing their ponytails when they dance...I wonder if that's how you can tell their drunk? For instance I start calling everyone "baby" when I get drunk. If I call you that, you should take away my keys.

Happy New Year

It's 2011! Of course I just typed 2010, for some reason when I go to type 2011 my fingers are trained to do 2010. 2011 sounds so futuristic. I think I probably said that last year too. I'll probably say it next year. Next year is the dreaded 2012 (just typed 2010 again). People think 2012 is the end of the world. Or some big spiritual awakening is going to happen in 2012. Twelve is my lucky number so I think it'll be a great year :)

2011 is going to be pretty good too, I think. I have two birthday parties to plan for my March babies. I get to see what it's like to have kids with birthdays at the beginning and end of the same month. Should be interesting to say the least.

As far as resolutions I never really make any. Some things I would like to make happen this year are increasing my scrapbooking biz and meeting friends I've known since 2006 but have never met in person. PW ladies I'm talking about you!

Oh yeah, on New Year's Eve we had a little party at the house. There were two guests besides us and that was just dandy. Here are some pics :) Happy New Year!